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❛ ʟᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ & ʟᴀᴄᴇ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ɪɴᴛᴇʀʟᴜᴅᴇ : ɪғ sʜᴇ
 ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ғᴀɪᴛʜғᴜʟ ꒱

❝ IF SHE COULD HAVE BEEN TRUE
 THEN I WOULD'VE BEEN CHEATED, I
WOULD NEVER KNOW REAL LOVE, I
WOULD'VE MISSED OUT ON YOU ❞

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It had been a hell of a night. 

Scratch that— it had been a hell of a month, of a year, ever since he'd found out that his wife had been cheating him. Not in the having-an-affair-outside-of-marriage way, either; that he could have handled. His accountant had been suspicious of her since the beginning, but Janet was sneaky and had funneled away his money into accounts of her own before they could catch her. Now it was too late: she'd up and left without so much as a clue to where she'd gone and he was stuck trying to track her down so they could get a divorce.

The night was gloomy and rainy beyond the warmth of his fogged-up taxi windows. He'd taken a last-minute trip to New York that he could now ill-afford, but he'd just had to get away; he couldn't stand another minute stuck in that stuffy old house that could only speak of ghosts and loneliness. As the cab trundled slowly along the water-slicked roads, Jack Montacute stared out past the glass panes to the blurry streets beyond. There was the odd, lone figure huddled on the sidewalk or under an awning, but most pedestrians were either warm in their homes or cozy in a restaurant somewhere.

The bright lights of a diner came into view when they turned on the next street. The sign read Nighthawk Diner, and the yellow glow of the lights inside drew him in like a moth to a flame. Leaning forward, he asked the driver, "can you pull over? Here is fine."

Nodding, the driver nosed the car into the next lane and stopped at the side of the road as soon as he could. After paying the fare— which, normally, he wouldn't balk at, but the feeling of the meager bills in his wallet leaving his hands made him wince now— he stepped out into the drizzly evening. He hadn't been expecting a downpour and hadn't brought anything with him for his last-minute trip, so he was soaked through instantly.

A slight ding of the diner's bell announced his entrance, which went mercifully unacknowledged by the other patrons. He knew that he must look exceptionally bedraggled with his sodden, rumpled suit, unkempt hair that was plastered to his face and dark eye-bags. Jack didn't even have the energy to go up to the register and decide on what to order; he just went to the nearest seat and flopped down in it, exhausted.

He rested his head on his arms, which were folded on the table. The darkness that surrounded his vision was a comfort and paired with the quiet murmur of diner-goers, he was tempted to fall asleep right there.

The faint clink of something being set down next to his ear made him look up blearily. With his unfocused gaze, the blonde woman bringing him coffee and a slice of pie looked nothing short of an angel. Blinking to get her into view, he looked up at her in awe, still finding her beautiful— even more so now that he could see her properly. She had short, blonde hair that curled around her shoulders, the front parts held back by a clip. Her wispy bangs framed her brown eyes, which were as warm as the coffee that she set down before him.

Clearing his throat to rid it of the persisting raspiness, Jack mumbled, "I-I didn't order this. . ."

"It's alright," she answered kindly. "It's on the house; you look like you could use it."

He knew that he was probably staring up at her with too much adoration for a woman he'd literally just met, but he couldn't help it. "I'm. . ." he trailed off as he struggled to remember his own name, distracted by the way the light reflected off her whiskey-colored eyes. "Jack. Jack Montacute."

"Katy," the blonde responded with a smile.

"Thank you, Katy," he told her earnestly. "You have no idea how right you are."

To his disappointment, she went back to work, leaving him to the food she'd brought. Too absorbed in his pie, he didn't hear Katy's coworker murmur to her, "he's cute!"

🌎🌎🌎

The next time he went to the Nighthawk Diner, he was, luckily, a little more put together. It wasn't raining, but it was just as dark as the first night when the bell dinged! again. Jack didn't feel so down on his luck now that he had something to look forward to: a pretty woman who served him delicious pie.

He went straight to the register this time and was pleased to see that she was still there, wiping down the counter in front of her. "Hello."

"Hi," she greeted him, her brown eyes lighting up with familiarity as she recognized him. "Back again? Jack, right?"

"Yeah," he agreed, unable to keep the grin off his face. She'd remembered his name! "It's nice to see you again, Katy."

"You, too. I don't get many regulars," she said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Customers usually aren't a fan when I spill soup in their lap."

Jack gave her an amused look. "Well, then it's a good thing I didn't get any soup— I definitely want to keep coming back."

To his delight, a light pink flush rose to her cheeks. She avoided his gaze by scrubbing harder at a nonexistent stain. "I'm glad you like the food so much. What can I get you tonight?"

He wanted to tell her that it wasn't the food he'd come back for, but that seemed a little forward when this was the longest conversation they'd had yet. So, instead, he replied, "I really liked the house special. But don't worry— I'm going to pay for it this time."

"House special it is," Katy said with a smile, her cheeks still tinged with a faint pink. She punched in the order with practiced efficiency and Jack watched her movements with interest, noticing the way her hair fell in loose waves around her face as she worked.

As she handed him his receipt, she said, "thanks for offering to pay this time but don't feel obligated. It's on the house."

Jack shook his head, insisting, "no, I insist. I want to pay. It's the least I can do for such great service and amazing pie."

Katy chuckled; her eyes sparkling. "Alright, if you insist. But next time, I won't let you get away with it."

"Deal," Jack replied with a grin, feeling a sense of warmth spread through him at their easy banter.

As he waited for his order, Jack glanced around the diner, taking in the cozy atmosphere and the few other patrons scattered about. It felt comfortable being there, like a second home almost, and he couldn't help but think how much nicer it was with Katy's company.

When his food arrived, he thanked her and took a seat at one of the booths by the window, enjoying the view of the darkened street outside. He savored every bite of the pie, feeling content in a way he hadn't in a long time.

As he finished his meal, the blonde approached his table with a fresh pot of coffee. "Refill?"

"Sure, thanks," Jack replied, holding out his cup. As she poured, their fingers brushed briefly, sending a jolt of electricity through him. He glanced up at her, meeting her gaze, and for a moment, it felt like time stood still.

But then the bell above the door jingled, signaling the arrival of another customer, and Katy pulled away with a smile. "Enjoy," she said softly before turning to greet the newcomer.

🌎🌎🌎

"You should really bring an umbrella," Katy commented a few meals later. Jack had been caught in the rain again and he used the towel she offered him to wipe his face.

"I never check the weather before I leave the house," he admitted sheepishly. "I'm always in such a rush to go somewhere else."

"And what has you in that much of a hurry?" she asked curiously.

He handed her the now-drenched towel guiltily. "Sorry about the towel. Um, here, actually."

"Oh," the blonde replied, the light blush appearing on her cheeks again. "Well, I— ahem, the diner, appreciates your business."

She went to go back to her usual duties now that Jack was mostly dry, but he stepped smoothly in front of her. She was much shorter than he was, forcing her to look up at him. Quietly, he asked, "waitresses get breaks, right? Uh. . . if you want to, I'd like it if you joined me on your next one."

The blonde let out a nervous laugh and glanced around the diner as if seeking an escape route. Her heart pounded in her chest as she processed Jack's unexpected invitation. "I. . . I don't know. I'm sure you've got better things to do than spend time talking to me."

"Katy," Jack began patiently, "I literally left the house without an umbrella. Do you really think I had the forethought to bring a book? Or anything to do?" He dropped his teasing tone to add more seriously, "it's okay. I totally understand if you're busy or not interested. I just. . . wanted a chance to talk with you more."

Her expression softened and, after a moment, she nodded. "I'd really like that, Jack." She glanced up to check the clock on the wall. "I'm due for a break in thirty minutes if you're willing to wait that long."

Jack grinned. "Thirty minutes? I've waited longer for a good cup of coffee," he said, leaning casually against the counter. "And you, Katy, are definitely worth waiting for."

Her cheeks flushed again, but this time with a mix of embarrassment and pleasure at his compliment. "Smooth talker, aren't you?" she teased, trying to hide her smile behind her hand. His blue eyes sparkled at her in response before he went to go claim a table.

--

Thirty minutes later, Katy was sitting across from him in the booth with her own cup of coffee clasped between her hands. "So, if I may ask, what brought you in that night— the first one when it was raining?"

"You mean when I looked like a drowned rat?" he asked wryly, causing her to laugh. He shook his head. "It's a long story."

"Longer than fifteen minutes?"

So Jack launched into an explanation of how he'd met Janet. They both had a passion for learning foreign languages and had met during his travels abroad. They'd spent a few years emailing and video chatting while they travelled the world. Eventually, they reconnected in the States and sparks had flown. (His attraction to her had been helped by the fact that she was certainly not someone his father would've approved of, seeing as she wasn't from a 'wealthy' family.)

Maybe that was where all the trouble had started— Janet had grown up with a lower income childhood and tended to panic whenever their money fluctuated noticeably. While he couldn't blame her for the trauma response, she had always pretended like everything was fine and never talked to him about her problems. Jack and his accountant didn't know quite how long she'd been squirreling away funds but it was very likely she'd always done it and had just gotten comfortable enough to take larger amounts over time.

It was only when Jack had tried to have a conversation with her about it— so they could come to a compromise— that more cracks began to appear in their marriage. Janet lashed out at him for being 'controlling' among other, unpleasant things. And then she'd left, leaving him to pick up the pieces.

He'd only meant to share the barebones of the story but there was something about Katy that made her easy to talk to. He was pretty sure it had to do with the sympathy in her earnest, brown eyes. And by the end, where, in a breaking voice, he shared how it felt like his entire life was falling apart, she reached across the table to place her hand comfortingly on his arm.

"I'm sorry that your relationship with your father was so rocky," she apologized gently. "A child should think well of their father."

He gave her a curious look as the words sounded like an echo, as if she had repeated them in an effort to convince herself that they were true. "You got experience with bad fathers?"

"I got. . . left by my husband when my daughter was young. I haven't heard from him since, but it's for the best. I'd rather not have Maya blame him for something that wasn't even her fault." She sighed, running the tip of her finger over the rim of her coffee mug. "But even though he did ruin my life, he also made it better; I love that little girl with my whole being. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."

Jack's expression softened and he laid a hand on top of hers, which was still resting on his arm. "She sounds like a lucky girl."

"Thank you," Katy answered with a smile.

🌎🌎🌎

To his dismay, it was a few weeks before he could return to the Nighthawk— and he hadn't thought to get Katy's number since it still felt too soon to ask for such a thing. It was taking some time to get his accounts back in order, which required his presence in Philadelphia. He was quite a bit poorer than when the whole Janet fiasco had started, but maybe that was for the best; he'd always wanted to sell the house and this could be the push he needed. But, his busy life kept him from the woman he was quickly growing fond of and he was anxious to see her again. So, he was on the earliest flight he could get once he was able to leave again.

When he got back to the diner, he all but rushed to the register, though he was disappointed when an unfamiliar woman was in Katy's usual place. "Hi," he said quickly, not wanting to seem rude but too worried about the blonde to truly care. "Is Katy here?"

The waitress— who'd been the one to say "he's cute" all those weeks ago— raised a brow. "What's it to you?"

"I wanted to see her again," he replied honestly.

The other woman sighed. "She's here, but she may not want to see you; we've all been privy to what a jerk you've been."

He winced. "Sorry. I'm going to explain."

She nodded and went in the back to bring out her coworker. When the blonde appeared, Katy's face was pulled into a pinched, disapproving expression as she eyed him warily. "Jack. It's been awhile."

"I know, I'm sorry. Things have been crazy with the whole Janet thing and I would've called but I didn't have your number—" His spill of words came to an abrupt halt when the blonde handed him a slip of paper.

"Now you don't have an excuse. The next time you think you're going to disappear, let me know, alright?" Jack stared at her in surprise, having anticipated a verbal tongue-lashing. Her features smoothed over, becoming gentler as she looked up at him. "I understand that you had a lot going on, but it's not fair to leave me hanging like that." Her tone softened and she gave him a small smile. "But I appreciate you coming back and making the effort to explain. Just. . . don't do it again, okay?"

"I won't, I promise," he reassured her, knowing her history with men who left. He swore to himself that he would prove to her that she could make a man stay— even come back for her. "I missed you. More than I realized." He took the slip of paper with her number, carefully folding it and tucking it into his wallet.

Katy smiled, a gentle and considerate look that eased the tension in his chest. "Well, you're here now. That's what matters. Let's start from here, okay?"

Jack nodded, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Okay. From here. How's your daughter?"

Her smile brightened into a full-on beam. "You remembered."

"Of course I did. I make it a point to remember wonderful people."

Despite herself— how she swore she'd give the man before her an earful if he ever dared to show his face again— she blushed, her resolve crumbling under his pretty blue eyes and charming demeanor. "Wonderful?"

Jack chuckled. "Absolutely. You're kind and fiercely independent. And your daughter, well, she's a reflection of you, isn't she? That's what makes you both wonderful in my eyes."

"You've never even met her," the blonde protested.

"Well, whenever you're ready, I'm willing to change that," he told her warmly. "I've heard so much about her from you that it feels like I know her already."

🌎🌎🌎

As it happened, Maya met Jack completely by accident. Katy would've preferred to have known Jack for a little longer before introducing him to her daughter, but his frequent visits to the Nighthawk Diner only increased his chances of the two crossing paths. Maya hadn't really wanted to visit her mom at work, but Riley had complained that she was hungry and couldn't wait until they got back to the Matthews'— though Maya was convinced it was part of her best friend's meddlesome tricks to help repair her relationship with her mother.

The bell let out its customary ding! as they entered. Maya wanted to shrink from the noise and leave before Katy noticed her, but Riley's hand suddenly tightened around hers. The brunette pointed an incriminating finger towards the counter. Her gaze followed its direction to find a very attractive blond man leaning against it as he smiled charmingly at her mother.

"Who's that?" Riley demanded. "Who's that-that?"

Maya glanced between her best friend and the stranger once before she marched up to him confidently. Crossing her arms against her chest, she demanded, "hey! Who are you?"

He straightened and smiled, seemingly unmoved by her aggressive display (which irritated her to some extent.) He put out his hand and in a calm voice, he replied, "I'm Jack. Jack Montacute."

She squinted at him in a way that would've made most people uncomfortable enough to avert their gaze. All he did was drop his hand once he realized that she wasn't going to shake it. Maya subtly looked towards her mother, who was twisting a cleaning rag nervously in her hands. She turned her attention back to the man— Jack, apparently. "Oh, yeah? What's it to me?"

Now he finally appeared unsettled and he cleared his throat as he exchanged a glance with the woman next to him. "I— well, that is to say, Katy and I— we. . ."

"Jack," Katy began carefully, "this is my daughter, Maya— and her best friend, Riley. Maya, honey, Jack's become a regular at the diner. He's. . . a friend."

The blonde gave him a once-over now that she had some context. The way he'd been leaning in closer to Katy, the residual pink color of her cheeks and remaining apprehension— not from her daughter's sudden appearance— clued Maya in to the fact that maybe they were more than 'just friends.' But both Harts were cautious when welcoming new people into their lives after being burned in the past, so Katy's hesitancy was understandable.

"It's great to finally meet you, Maya," Jack said. "Your mom's told me a lot about you."

"That's funny," Maya responded in a tone was as cold as his was friendly. "She's never mentioned you."

He nodded, unsurprised as he remembered what Katy had told him of her relationship with Maya. Katy sighed at her daughter's hostility, though it was to be expected. "Maya, give him a chance. He's. . . he's been really wonderful to me. I'm sure if you got to know him, you'd see it, too."

She eyed him critically, pressing her lips together in a suspicious line. "I wouldn't count on it." But, her mother did seem to like him, and for all her faults, Katy was still her mom and Maya did care about her. She took two of her fingers and jabbed them towards her eyes before she directed them at the older man. "I'm watching you, Jack."

Riley had been watching the exchange with unabashed interest. She knew that Maya was too mistrustful for her own good, which made potentially wonderful opportunities slip away from her. But Riley's unrelenting optimism counteracted Maya's cynical outlook. Where her friend was reluctant to believe that anything good could come her way, Riley could see what was possible. And now, taking in the three of them together— Jack, Katy and Maya— an idea began to take root in her mind, one that she couldn't shake loose. It joined the other seed that was already growing there, having been planted during Christmas break. She wouldn't be able to enact either scheme on her own, she knew, but she could certainly nurture them as she bided her time.

Riley clapped her hands together, breaking the tension with her obvious excitement. "This is going to be so much fun! We should all go out sometime. Maybe to the park or for ice cream!"

"That sounds like a great idea," Jack agreed, his eyes never leaving Katy's. "Absolutely perfect."

A/n: oh my god, we're back again! uhh. . . what's up, guys? Hopefully you didn't think I'd abandoned this book forever. Even if you did, you'll like this news: if you didn't see my announcement from earlier today, the reason for this absence was because I got re-obsessed with HTTYD and focused on finishing my fanfic, Khaleesi. Now that it's done (and there's only 25 more days until TUA s4!!!) I don't want to start a new project, so I'll be working on this one while I wait. My goal is to finish act 1 by the end of the week as my make-up for keeping you guys waiting.

As for the events of this chapter, I bet no one saw that coming, huh? You didn't think I'd leave our girl Maya hanging, did you? I know some people were sympathetic towards her since I put Shawn with Juliet and not Katy, but this was always in the plans. Plus I feel like we didn't really get to see Shawn and Katy's relationship develop (not to mention the fact that I don't like them together) and I wanted to give Jaty a bit more oomph than the canon pairing got before we returned to the last episode of this act. And don't worry— Jack's presence won't cause too many problems for Shuliet (at least, not more than they already have.) Any 'trouble' he does cause will mostly be for comedic relief. (And here I'm hinting at that Angela episode, but instead of Angela returning. . . (are you picking up what I'm putting down?))

See you guys soon!