Chapter 39 Smashed To Smithereens

I grinned as I finished up my report, saved it, and powered down my laptop. Three weeks later and I was anything but disappointed.

Since that night at Pierce's house our friendship had cemented and the casual aspect of our relationship had definitely crossed over to personal and was starting to inch even closer to intimate. Though we were not yet lovers, I knew that would change soon.

Pierce wanted it to. I was pretty sure he had wanted it to almost from the first day, though he never pushed me. It was, surprise, surprise me that was holding up that side of things. Though in the last few days I started to realize that was no longer the case.

The kisses lasted longer. The hugs were tighter. The hands wandered further. Saying goodbye was getting more difficult. And all of this was just what I was feeling. The way Pierce trembled against me, the way his voice got gruffer and his body tighter made me know I wasn't alone.

My grin grew as my mind wandered to all the intimate moments we had shared thus far and my heart raced as I thought about what was to come.

I sighed out deeply as I glanced at my watch. First things first, though. Pierce and I had to get through tonight.

We'd finally arranged that gathering between Pierce, Branson, Noah, Mick, Archer, Percy, and me. It was supposed to be a casual get together just like any other but my friends weren't just any other kind of friends and Pierce was most certainly not just any other kind of man.

Tonight, would be interesting to say the least.

Pierce genuinely wanted to get on better footing with my friends. He knew their importance in my life. He knew it was what I wanted most. He'd quipped a few times that it would be much easier on him if I would just ask for a new car or house or race horse. I always just laughed and shook my head at him. My relationship with my friends was priceless. Money wouldn't fix this problem.

Thankfully though, with a little bit of help from Archer and his better half, I had high hopes Pierce would be able to win them over in the end.

The first part of the plan had already been initiated. With Peirce's permission I had talked with Archer and told him some of Pierce's story. I'd left out details but said enough to give Archer the gist. In turn Archer had shared what he knew with the others. My hope was that they would at least see Pierce's mindset that night.

I didn't expect all to be forgiven over night but I hoped it would at least open them up enough to give him, at the least, a chance. That is all Pierce would need.

Though he could be obnoxious and arrogant and snarky as hell, Pierce when it came to me, was different. He didn't miraculously turn into a teddy bear nor did he become a big old softy.

He was just Jackson-sensitive.

If he could make me happy, he would. If he could decrease my worries, he would. If he could make my friends like him, he would. For me. It was only one of the things I loved about him.

And I did love him.

I.

Loved.

Him.

I was pretty sure he loved me, too.

We hadn't exchanged the actual words, yet. I felt them though. Every time he smiled at me or kissed me or held my hand. Whenever we ate dinner out or strolled hand and hand during a leisurely walk. Whether we were playing with Cissero or Ziggy, playing pool or tennis, or just lazing in the pool.

Any given moment on any given day, I felt his love.

I in turn strove to give back every look and action and attention that he showered on me. I wanted to make him feel as good as he made me feel. He never asked anything of me. Only ever gave of himself. It inspired me to respond in kind. Not because I felt I had to but because I wanted to.

I hoped after tonight the last obstacle of my friends would be achieved. I couldn't say that my friends liking Pierce and accepting him was a make it or break it thing anymore as I once would have. But it did make things tense and uncomfortable.

I didn't feel like I was just one entity anymore in a way. I couldn't just keep me at me and exclude anything about Pierce when I was with them when Pierce was now such a big part of who I was and what I did. Over time that would become more and more awkward and difficult. I feared I would even start to resent it and ultimately them.

There had to be a reasonable solution. If I could just for once make my often times unreasonable friends understand then I knew it would all work out.

Unfortunately, a few hours later, not thirty minutes after everyone arrived, I started to believe there was no solution in this world that would bring these guys to a mutual meeting of the minds.

It started off well enough. Pierce was with me to greet them as they came in. Branson, Noah, and Mick were on their best behavior as they were obviously under some threat of retribution courtesy of Percy. I didn't know what he was dangling over their heads but they were being very cordial. Hope had grown freely in my heart.

Only to be smashed to smithereens out of the blue over a simple misunderstanding, shortly after.

I had been standing with Branson and Mick as they talked about a few girls they had met, teasing me with the too much information, details. My ears were totally red and my face stiff as I walked away towards Pierce who was walking towards the kitchen area to check on the bacon wrapped brussels sprouts in the stove.

Pierce, instantly on alert, asked what was wrong.

Things went downhill from here.

"N...nothing," I replied, ducking my head, not wanting Pierce to see how red it was. I was still embarrassed by the things the guys had said and I didn't want to get trapped having to repeat them.

Pierce frowned and looked out around the group as if looking for the culprit that had seemingly upset me, before looking back at me.

"Please note and give me credit for not jumping all over the fact that your color is high and your stuttering but that's as good as it gets. I repeat... what's wrong?"

I sighed, shaking my head at him.

"Seriously, nothing," I assured him and turned to walk back out to where Percy and Archer were talking with Noah.

I only made it a step before I felt Pierce's large hand grasp my wrist in a firm hold and tug me back around to face him, his expression serious.

"Jackson?" Pierce said. "Talk to me. What's wrong?"

I turned quickly back to Pierce to clear up the misunderstanding, pulling at my hand as I twisted and wincing slightly as I succeeded in pinching the skin of my forearm with my unthinking movement.

As I opened my mouth to explain things to Pierce, two large looming figures appeared from out of the blue to suddenly and somewhat aggressively settle in between us.

"What the fuck!" Bronson exploded, Archer at his side.

I instantly froze and looked up at both of them. Pierce, too seemed stunned by their sudden appearance. I glanced around noting that Mick, Percy, and Noah looked as shocked as us.

Archer however wasn't looking at any of us. He was looking down as he grabbed Pierce's hand and pried his fastened fingers from around my wrist.

"Let him the fuck go right now!" Archer ordered.

Pierce looked down at where his hand clasped my wrist. He immediately released his hold as if singed by my warm flesh once he realized what had gotten Branson and Archer so worked up. He held his hands up, palms out in a placating gesture as he sensed my friend's very real anger.

"I didn't..." he started to say but Branson broke in.

"But you fucking did!" he stated, facing off with him, Archer still by his side, the other three quickly closing in on us.

Percy stepped over by Archer while Mick and Noah flanked me on either side, their hands fisted, their jaws locked tight as they looked on in anger. They hadn't seen what transpired but they had heard every word. Their first and only instinct was, as usual, to protect me while Percy stepped into his role as mediator.

I swallowed.

"He wasn't," I tried to say, but the look Archer threw me told me to keep silent.

As I always had, without thought, I obeyed.

"I saw you wince, Jackson!" Archer commented unequivocally.

"But..." I tried once again, knowing the misunderstanding was growing out of control.

I needed to speak up but these guys made it so difficult, especially when they had seen what they saw. They just hadn't seen it in the correct context. If they would just give me a chance to explain.

"I. Saw. You. Wince," Archer repeated with distinct enunciation as if that said it all.

"I wouldn't ever," Pierce tried interjecting, his eyes boring into mine with a look of contrition along with a hint of the helpless confusion that mirrored my own.

Things were escalating rapidly and we seemed powerless to halt the current trajectory of crazy this ship had taken.

"But it seems you did," Mick pointed out from over my right shoulder, his tone dark.

Pierce's eyes flashed fire at Mick but he didn't try saying anything for a second.

His eyes, as icy cold as I had ever seen, flashed from one face to the other as he gaged each of my friend's reaction. His frustration was visible as he slowly realized that they all thought he would actually hurt me in anyway. I could see his jaw tense as he gritted his teeth to reign in his temper and keep from saying anything that could make this bad situation worse.

Archer sighed. The sound was one of anger and deep disgust. Percy looked at him and his frown deepened even more.

"Tell us exactly what happened," Percy ordered, apparently trying to remain at least somewhat objective and fair, considering Pierce's and I's attempts to explain of a possible misunderstanding.

Archer turned to Percy, his face starkly fierce and dead serious.

"He laid hands on, Jackson. That's what happened," he gritted out.

Branson nodded his ahead, backing up Archer.

"We saw it happen," he added.

Archer crossed his arms over his chest, looking as imposing as he possibly could. In a tone that allowed for zero leniency he growled, "And that just doesn't work for us!"