Chapter 22

Joey knocked on Rebecca's door with one hand tucked in the front pocket of his jeans before dropping the other down to slide it in the other. Layne was stuck getting all her hired hands to dig into more information surrounding Russell and his connections. How deep had Eric's influence sunk into the dark underworld of New York's criminal organizations?

The door swung open and Rebecca gave a welcoming smile. "Hey, you made it just in time, I just got back." She had been out watching the children for the family she nannied for while the parents had a brunch date together. Layne had always said that punctuality had always been Joey's thing. She wasn't kidding. Rebecca stepped back, opening the door wider to let him step inside her apartment.

"Thanks. You said you had some stuff for Layne to look at for the wedding?" He shut the door behind him. His eyes surveyed the inside of her apartment that she always managed to keep clutter-free, except for all the various wedding-related items she held onto for Layne.

Rebecca nodded as she walked over to a stack of boxes she kept in the corner of her quaint living room. Each box was meticulously labeled and organized. Samples, favors, flowers, music selections, brochures, and color swatches. "Yeah, she still needs to decide whether she wants the Kelly Green or the Hunter Green for the chair sashes."

He lifted a brow. "Aren't they both just green?"

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No! You see, Kelly Green has a little more—you know what? Never mind. She just needs to pick one. Tell her that I think the Hunter Green is more aesthetically pleasing, but the Kelly Green fabric feels nicer." Rebecca dug into one of the boxes pulling out a small plastic bag containing two fabric swatches.

Joey smirked. "You know she's going to close her eyes and pick one at random, right?"

She hated to admit it, but she knew he was likely right. Rebecca groaned at how difficult of a bride Layne was turning out to be. "Don't tell me if she does."

As she extended the samples over to Joey, her facial expression changed slightly. One that Joey was having a hard time deciphering. He may have been able to read Layne in an instant, but he hadn't yet been able to interpret the many expressions of her best friend.

He pocketed the samples she handed over. "Is there anything else?"

Rebecca stood there quietly, debating with herself before deciding that it was a topic of conversation worth bringing up. "Do you have a few minutes so we can talk?"

Joey shrugged. "Sure."

Rebecca headed over to her kitchen table and pulled a chair out for herself. Joey followed behind but remained standing, unclear of whatever was weighing on her mind. If something was bothering Layne's bestie enough to bring it to his attention, he was interested in hearing it.

Fidgeting with her fingers in her lap, she looked at him. "I know I occasionally give you a hard time." She grinned at her choice of words. "Maybe more than occasionally."

He grinned knowingly. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

She nodded. "It's just… Layne has been my best friend since we were in elementary school. I always knew her family was different - that she was different. She has never been one to back down from a fight. I remember she beat the crap out of the first guy who ever broke my heart."

Rebecca softly laughed at the memory. Poor Kevin had been on the receiving end of Layne's anger in front of the entire high school in the auditorium. "She got suspended from school for a week, but she had said it had been worth it to see the regret and embarrassment on his face after getting his ass handed to him by a girl."

Joey smiled, imagining a scrappy teenage Layne putting some kid in his place. "Sounds like her." Part of him wished he had known Layne in both of their younger years, it would have allowed both of them to spend even more of their lives together.

Sitting back in her chair, her pale blue eyes looked over him. "You know how much she has been through. I don't think I've ever seen her as happy as she is when she's with you or even just hears your name."

Joey did his best to keep Layne happy, even with her challenging personality that matched his equally challenging temperament. "I'm sensing there's a ‘but' coming."

She gently smiled at his accurate prediction. "But, I still worry about her. I don't pretend to understand what she's involved in, and she has never been one to allow me in so that I can understand it. All I know is that it carries a lot of risk. The whole thing with Eric was…eye-opening." That was putting it mildly. It was the first time that she got a front-row seat into just how much Layne stared danger in the eyes without fear.

He shifted in his stance knowing that Layne had made it clear in no uncertain terms with him that she didn't want Rebecca knowing more than necessary. After Eric had threatened Rebecca's well-being, he couldn't exactly blame her. Layne had tried to go as far as to entirely ghost her friend in the name of avoiding any other incidents. However, he knew that Layne needed Rebecca in her life. It had taken weeks of convincing on his part to persuade her that she needed the time with someone who wasn't in this line of work. Rebecca was the moral compass they all needed every once in a while.

Joey ran his hand over the back of his head, smoothing his dirty blonde hair down. "Look, Rebecca…"

She was quick to shake her head. "I'm not looking for the nitty gritty, Joey. I'm just pointing out what I do see." A concerned frown came over her face. "I'm just scared. I worry that one day…" Tears began to form in her eyes as her chin quivered. Quickly, her fingers swiped away the first two tears that escaped her blue hues. "I'm just scared I'm going to wake up one day to the news that my favorite person in the world is no longer in it."

Legitimate fear filled her face despite trying to push back the emotions tugging on her soul. She glanced down and shook her head. "Sorry, I-I just can't imagine not having her to call up any time something stupid comes up, like the hot mailman smiling at me or that I had a great day or even a shitty one." Rebecca sniffled and attempted not to entirely break down. "I would rather be helping plan this wedding than planning a funeral."

Joey furrowed his brows and walked over to where she was seated. He squatted in front of her so he could look at her face. Taking her hands into his he gave them a firm squeeze. "I don't want you to be sorry."

His voice was gentle as he began to realize in his own way he shared the very same fears. "There isn't a single moment of my day that I don't worry about her. Even when I'm sleeping, keeping her safe is all I dream about." Taking a deep breath, he prepared to share with Rebecca some of his most vulnerable feelings. "I promise, I will always do what I can to keep her safe and mostly happy."

Rebecca raised a brow at him at the last part. "Mostly happy?" She was ready to lash out at him for not wanting to keep her one-hundred-fucking-percent happy.

He gave her a knowing grin. "Have you met your best friend? She can be a real stubborn pain in the ass that doesn't even know what is good for herself some days."

She laughed out loud knowing that he was spot on. Layne really could be her own worst enemy at times.

His hand patted hers. "I love Layne more than I could ever tell you or anyone else. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her. I can't tell you that her life will ever be without very real risk and danger. All I can do is promise you that for the rest of her life, she will never go a single day without all the happiness I can give her."

Rebecca full-on burst into tears after hearing his words. She pulled her hands from his so she could toss herself at him and wrap her arms around Joey's neck in a massive hug. She nearly knocked him over while he was balanced on the balls of his feet while in his squat.

"Oof!" His hand had to grab onto the table for a moment so he didn't lose his balance. He wrapped his other arm around her, squeezing in a hug full of reassurance.

She pulled back and eased herself back from him, her hands hastily wiping off the tears from her cheeks. "You tell her I went all mushy like this, I will kill you." Rebecca joked as she smiled at him.

Joey pushed his hands against his knees as he stood back up. "Your secret is safe with me." He winked at her.

Now that she had gotten all of that off her chest, she finally was able to move the conversation to something a little more lighthearted. She grabbed a tissue to dab underneath her eyes at the last couple of tears that hadn't dried.

"Layne still hasn't told me if you guys are going on a honeymoon. She keeps telling me it all depends on work." Based on the expression on Rebecca's face, she was none too happy with that response.

He smirked. "Don't worry, I will steal her away from the city for a little bit, even if she kicks and yells the entire way."

They sat and chatted with one another for another twenty minutes, going over a few minor details about the day of the wedding. Most of it related to things he could give an opinion on, like the freely flowing booze.

When he finally left Rebecca's place, he began jogging down the stairs of the apartment building while checking his phone for any new calls or messages.

There was one in particular that caught his attention. It was a text from Layne. When he opened it up, he was greeted by a selfie of her scantily clad body and her flirtatious smile. It looked like she had found the black lace piece of lingerie he had bought for her and had been hiding as a surprise. Underneath the picture, she had sent him another text.

LAYNE

Finders keepers.

You need better hiding spots.

Joey had to grab onto the handrail to prevent himself from tripping over his feet at the delicious distraction displayed on his phone. He quickly texted her back.

JOEY

Funny, that's what I always say about you.

I will be home in ten, you better be ready for me.

He had found the one woman in this world who could make him want for nothing and planned to always keep her.