Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“That’s fair,” he says quietly. “Thank you for taking care of them. Because I know as I sit here rotting away, deservedly, you’re taking care of our family.”
“My family.”
He grins sadly. “I know they’ll be okay because they have you. And even though you hate me, rightfully so, I wanted to look you in the eye and tell you how much I respect you, kid. I’ve fucked all the way up. And you slid into my spot and became the man I never was.”
What? It takes me a minute to process what he’s saying. Or to try to, anyway. I’m going to need time to sort this shit out in my head.
“I’m going to sign the plea deal,” he says. “And my attorney will settle the rest of the disputes, and I’ll admit my responsibility. You have nothing to worry about, son.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say. Do you want me to say thank you for doing the right thing? Because that’s funny.”
“I pray for you every night.”
“Don’t have my name in your mouth to God or anyone.” I glare at him. “Maybe He believes in second chances, but I do not.”
He balks. “That’s pretty harsh, isn’t it?”
I laugh, shoving my chair back. It screams as it claws against the floor. “I learned from the best.” Then I turn to leave.
“Jason!”
I glance over my shoulder to see tears flowing in rivers down his cheeks. I can’t even find it in me to care. I hate that. I hate that I don’t have the heart to see through his transgressions and find it in me to love him still.
But I don’t.
“I love you, Jase,” he says, his eyes red. “I’m sorry for all of this. It doesn’t fix it. Nothing can. But maybe you can have a little satisfaction that I’m dying inside.”
“Yeah. You’re right.” I smile at him for the last time. “I do.”
I turn away before he calls out again. The guards get me signed out and released from the prison quickly.
The rain pours from the sky in buckets, and the water sloshes in my shoes again. I splash through the puddles to my car and ignore the burn in my chest.
I get inside and don’t start the car. My attention goes first to Chloe. I grab my phone from the passenger’s seat and call her right away.
My heart pounds as it rings. She’s breathless when she answers.
“Jason,” she says. “I’ve been waiting for you to call. Are you okay?”
I sink against the seat, water dripping from my hair onto my shoulders. “Yeah. I’m fine.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath, letting the soft whisps of her breaths settle my soul. “Thank you for encouraging me to come here.”
“Did it go okay?”
“It went as best as it could, I guess.”
She hesitates. “Jason, I’m sorry about earlier in the parking lot. I had all of these thoughts running in my head and I—”
“I don’t want to have this conversation over the phone.”
“But I need to talk to you.”
“And I need to talk to you, too. But this isn’t the way to do it, Chloe.”
Panic rises in her voice. “This has been such a shock to me in so many ways. I told you I didn’t want to get married—”
“But you did marry me. And I fell in love with you.” My voice cracks. “Hopelessly in love with you, Chloe. I’ve fallen so fucking hard for you that I can’t breathe.”
“Jason, I—”
Click!
The line goes dead.
“Fuck,” I growl, combing through my pockets and the glove compartment for a phone charger. But there is none.
I throw my phone in the seat beside me, the car in reverse, and try to get home as fast as I can.
Chapter 27
Chloe
“Ihave a bad feeling, Mimi.”
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” She removes her glasses and sets them next to her crossword on the table beside the recliner. “You’ve acted strangely all day.”
A thunderbolt strikes overhead, sending a rumble through Mimi’s house.
I have acted out of sorts all day. I’ve been out of sorts all day.
I’ve avoided this conversation with my grandmother in hopes that Jason will be back so we can get back on the same page. Today was just too much for both of us. Jason had Renn to take care of and his father’s situation on his mind. I was thrown for a loop hearing him say I love you and watching him hold Arlo … and feeling like my world just shifted upside down.
I was caught off guard and didn’t mean to make Jason think I didn’t love him back. But I know that’s what he’s thinking … I just hope he didn’t hang up on me a few hours ago.
Things are a mess and it’s my fault.
“What’s wrong, Chloe?” she asks.
I can’t tell her that Jason just told me he loves me. That would sound the alarm. She’ll wonder why he’s just telling me now, and I’ll have to explain everything. I’m trying to limit drama today, not add a whole mountain of it.