147 - The chapter where Jack wants answers

Christian

"Jack..." I stood up from the couch, hoping to hear from Rose.

My father-in-law held up his hand for me to stop talking, his gaze focusing on Joshua, who quickly stood up as well, not quite knowing how to react to the man's presence.

"Three pieces of information I need before anything else. Who are you, how old are you and what is your relationship with my daughter? " he addressed the tattoo artist directly.

" 'I'm Josh, I'm twenty-eight years old and I'm a... friend of your daughter's " he answered after exchanging a brief glance with me in search of confirmation of the identity of the man in front of him.

" Friend? " Jack didn't seem to buy that version very much.

Joshua and I exchanged a look, before I got suspicious, deciding to get him out of that situation, since it was my fault he was there in the first place.

"He's our tattoo artist, the only person I knew from off campus, I called him when Rose started feeling bad," I explained to the man.

Jack didn't seem so convinced by that answer, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs distracted the man, who turned around in time to see Carly approaching.

" How is she? " I hurried to ask, concerned about my girlfriend's situation.

" 'As you guessed, it's an intense panic attack, and based on everything she's told me has happened, it's not a surprise " she sighed before turning to Jack" I've given her a tranquilizer, and she'll probably get some sleep. Her mother asked me to let you know that she expects you to take care of this once and for all while she keeps her daughter company.

" Shall we go, Carly? " Joshua hurried to get rid of my father-in-law's suspicion.

"Her mother asked me to give you the prescription for the tranquilizer, and here's my card in case you need anything," she handed over a business card, "I hope things get better for you.”

" Thank you," I took the card, tucking it into my pants pocket before turning to Joshua, "Thank you too."

"Keep me updated on her," he asked before turning to Jack, "It was a pleasure to meet you, sir."

Jack just shook his head, before thanking the girl, walking them both to the door. I picked up Brigitte's key from the sideboard, deciding to go to the pharmacy to buy what Carly had prescribed. Jack seemed to have taken advantage and left with the two of them, and that gave me some peace to think about my next steps. but just as I was about to leave, the man walked back into the house, holding his suit jacket and tie.

" Where are you going with Brigitte? " he frowned when he saw the key in my hand.

He walked over to a mirror on the sideboard, placing the items there before buttoning up his shirt to put on his tie, then putting on his jacket.

" I'm going to buy Rose's tranquilizers," I explained, watching the man take a comb out of his inside jacket pocket, combing his hair back carefully.

" 'We can stop there on the way to campus, and we'll go in the Jaguar,” he warned.

For a moment I thought about arguing, but my curiosity about what he would do on campus won out, making me follow him without question. I boarded the man's car, observing the extremely clean and well-maintained interior that gave me the impression that he had just taken the car from the agency, even though I knew he had been with that car for some time.

Jack started it up and put us in motion, and for a few seconds, we both remained silent inside the car, to my surprise, Jack looked so closed and concentrated, that I hardly looked like the same man who threatened to drag me out of a laboratory weeks ago.

" 'So, are you going to tell me what happened between Rose and that guy now? " he muttered.

"What? 'He's our tattoo artist,” I frowned.

"You really want to play with me today, Davis? " he snorted "Don't underestimate my intelligence, since when does a tattoo artist care so much about a client? And I saw the way you looked at him, you could hardly stand to be in the same environment as the guy.”

I rolled my eyes, watching the scenery pass by quickly outside as we made our way through the center of Grayfox Mills, feeling irritated by the situation. Is it not possible to hide anything from this man?

" So what? We don't have all day.”

"Rose and I had a big fight at the beginning of the year, we broke up for a few days and to provoke me after an argument, she spent a whole weekend with him " I muttered, deciding to hide the kiss on Alícia, since I intended to live until the end of that day to support my girl " The pharmacy is on the next block on the right."

Jack deftly stopped the car by the curb, turning to me, analyzing me for any sign that I was lying, before shrugging, opening the door and getting down.

" 'And yet he's the one you called? " he didn't look too convinced.

" 'It was either that or take her to the campus clinic,” I returned snidely, ”'can we change the subject now? “

I took the lead, going to the pharmacy in search of the medicine, but the man followed me without any difficulty.

" I must say you surprise me, Davis. " he commented.

" Really? And why is that? " I muttered, handing the prescription to the clerk.

" 'You knew she was having a panic attack and that we were coming soon, we could have handled it without involving anyone else,” he pointed out.

"I figured it was a panic attack, but I'm not a doctor and I wouldn't risk it," I corrected him.

He stayed silent, I got the medicine prescribed by Carly, and he was quicker to get his card when it was time to pay. Jack didn't speak up again until we were in the car.

" Thank you." His serious voice caught my attention.

"What? " I frowned as I looked at him.

" For looking after her, it's nice to know she's not all alone here, away from home,” he explained.

For a second I didn't know how to respond, but I recovered quickly, looking away.

" 'I've never said it openly, but I'm crazy about your daughter, Jack. I will always take care of her.”

He nodded, accepting that answer in silence as he drove us to the campus.

" Is it official then?”

" 'Yes. We decided to stop wasting time a few weeks ago,” I shrugged.

" 'Good, it's a relief to know she's with someone like you,' he gave me a brief glance.

I remained silent before that sentence, surprised once again by the calmness the man displayed. He was nothing like the out-of-control being who almost had a heart attack from too much caffeine the last time he was on campus.

"Jack, can I ask you a question? " I decided to take advantage of our newly acquired intimacy to satisfy my curiosity.

" What do you want to know, Boy? " he asked without taking his eyes off the road.

" How can you be so calm about what happened? I mean, the other time I thought you were going to have a fit and storm that campus and now that the situation was much worse, you're.... “

" Acting like a calm, responsible parent who's in control of the situation? " he added "You know Davis, when I say that Addison and I are experts when it comes to parenting, I mean it. And one thing we've learned is that someone has to be the voice of reason. Addison stopped me from sending Rose to juvie with the bottle story.”

He sighed as we finally approached the campus and Jack looked for a parking space near the entrance to the administration building.

" And today, I have to be the controlled part, because Addison... She has no control when it comes to Rose. And I have to keep my head on straight to be able to think this through and work it out in the best way for my girl, because if I was going to let my will get the best of me, boy, I'd have already brought this place down.”

" How do you do it? " I surprised him with the question.

" What?”

" Keep calm. At least on the outside. " I voiced my concern, wondering what it would be like to get out of that car and face all the people who were walking around campus.

Jack stared at me for a few seconds, wondering what he should say to me at that moment.

" Davis, it's not going to be easy, but the moment we get out of that car, I want you to put that annoying expression on your face that I wanted to rip off with my bare hands because I knew you were fucking my daughter and I couldn't do anything about it " he instructed me " I want that arrogant fucking pose you always keep, and no matter what you hear, you're going to ignore it, understand?”

" When I find out who did this…”

" We'll figure it out later... But right now, I want you unshakeable, you understand?" He said.

I shook my head, preparing to go downstairs and accompany the man to the dean's office, and we would have a lot to solve that day.