Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“I missed you, too,” I say softly. “And right before you came in, I told Polly that I was excited for you to join us. I’m sorry that you were taken off guard. I didn’t mean to do that to you.”
“I know.” He blows out a breath and wipes his eyes again. “I guess it surprised me, that’s all. I figured we’d have our first breakfast at the table today, but instead, Polly got to do that, and maybe I’m just being pushed out of the way.”
I gape at him. “What? Pushed out of what way?”
“I’m probably a pain in the ass,” he continues. “I mean, sure, it was fine when it was just the two of us and everything, but now you’ll want to be with her. I get it. She’s nice. I’ll be eighteen soon, and then I’ll be out of your way, so—”
“Stop. Fucking. Talking.”
I’m so damn frustrated that I have to stand and pace the goddamn porch.
“I don’t even know where this is coming from. You were all for the trip to Paris. Everything seemed fine until you came to my office this morning.”
“I am fine,” he says stubbornly.
“You’re not being pushed out of the way,” I insist, my hands balled into fists. “I told you before, you’re my kid. My boy. I love you, no matter what, even when you’re being an idiot.”
“Hey!”
“You’re my family. Yeah, I have the hots for a woman, and I plan to spend some time with her. Hell, a lot of time with her, but that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t want you around. If anything, Polly will be joining the two of us.”
“Ew.”
“Don’t be gross.” I point my finger at him, and he grins at me. “You know what I mean. Now you are being rude. Neither Polly nor myself have ever given you any reason to think that we don’t want you around. Hell, Polly asked about you every day, and when I said I hadn’t talked to you, she called you herself.”
“I know. That was kind of nice.”
“Then why would you think that we’d want to push you out?”
“Because you’ll want to be together, and maybe you’ll get married and have your own real kids, and I’ll just be a third wheel. You did something nice for me, and I’m grateful, but I’m not your real kid, and—”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and decide right this minute that Jake needs a counselor. But before I can make that happen, I simply reach out to take his hand, but he flinches as if I’d hit him.
“Whoa,” I murmur and frown.
Jake licks his lips.
“Come here.” I pull him to his feet and tug him against me. “Never in this or any other lifetime is there a moment when I would lay hands on you; do you hear me?”
He nods against me.
“You are my boy, and I am not any of the people you’ve ever been with before. I’m here to protect you and to love you, and that does not include ever striking you. I’m not even mad at you. I’m concerned, and I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I don’t think I’m okay,” he whispers against me. “I know you don’t want to hit me. I know that I’m safe with you. I don’t know why I did that.”
“Habit,” I reply grimly and take him by the shoulders so I can look him in the eye. “We’re going to get some help. For both of us.”
“Like, a therapist?”
“A therapist.”
“I don’t want to do that. The horses are my therapy.”
“Just a session or two,” I reply. “Just to work some stuff out. Because, Jake, I’m never going to intentionally hurt you, physically or emotionally. I’m very sorry for this morning, and I know Polly is, too. She cried.”
“She cried?” He looks mortified at that and pushes his hand through his hair. Shit, the kid needs a haircut. “Damn it, I didn’t mean to make her cry.”
“She cares about you almost as much as I do. So, the next time we hurt your feelings, you need to stay and tell us so. Tell us off. But give us the chance to make it right.”
He sniffs, wipes his nose on the sleeve of his green flannel shirt, and nods. “Yeah, okay. It hurt my feelings when you were eating breakfast at our table.”
“I figured that out.” I grin at him ruefully. “I’m damn sorry, Jake.”
“Okay,” he says and clears his throat. “Can I still fish with Russ, or should I go apologize to Polly?”
“You could text her,” I suggest and clap him on the shoulder. “Go fish. Russ doesn’t look like he knows what he’s doing.”
“He’s shit at casting,” Jake says with a grin. “Okay, I’ll text her. Thanks, Dad.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jake hurries off to help Russ with his casting, and Chase joins me on the porch.