Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 141464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Neutral ground.
Margot said the house should be empty today. Paul might be home but unless Jezzie and I get into a screaming match, it should be fine.
Jezzie tears into a brownie while I try to remember how to breathe.
Margot leans against the counter, watching us. Jezzie turns in her seat, raising an eyebrow at Margot. “What’s up. Why do you two—oh! Are you guys getting married?”
Margot ducks her head with a laugh, brushing her hair behind one ear.
“Not yet,” I say.
Jezzie blinks. “Wait, what? I thought you never wanted to take a wife.”
I bite back a smile. Sometimes she still slips into those antiquated phrases.
Jezzie finishes the brownie and grabs a chocolate chip cookie, biting into it like a little savage. “So, what’s with the weird faces?”
I rub my palms over my thighs. The words are right there, but they catch in my throat.
“I have something I need to tell you,” I say.
She freezes, mid-chew, then slowly sets the cookie down. “Are you sick?”
“No. Shit—no. Sorry. It’s not like that.” I glance at Margot. She gives me the smallest nod, like she’s willing me to go on. “At least, I don’t think it’s bad.”
Not anymore.
Rip off the Band-Aid. Just say it.
“Cain came and found me.”
Jezzie’s whole body goes still. Her breath catches. Eyes wide, locked on mine.
“Cain?” she whispers.
I nod.
A dozen emotions flash across her face—shock, disbelief, something like hope. “Really? How is he?”
“Uh, okay. Good.”
“How’s his mom?” she asks, picking up the cookie again, though she just holds it now, forgotten in her hand.
“She actually passed away.” I hesitate. “That’s why he wanted to find me… us.”
“Shit.” Her voice drops. “That’s awful.”
I nod slowly, giving her space, watching closely. Waiting to see where she wants to go with this information.
She sets the cookie back down. Doesn’t look at me.
“Where is he now?”
“Not far. I’ve got him set up in an apartment.” My thumb taps against the side of my thigh. “Friend of the club found him a job. He’s planning on sticking around and going to school here in the fall.”
Silence stretches between us—heavy but not angry, yet.
“Did he ask about me?” Her voice is so soft I barely hear it.
“Yeah. He… asked about you right away.” I clear my throat. “He wants to see you.”
She finally looks up, eyes shining, jaw tight, like she’s holding back a flood of memories. “I didn’t think I’d ever see him again.”
I nod again, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “Yeah, I know.”
That had been my plan back then. To forget he even existed.
“Is he mad at us?” she asks, voice cracking on the last word.
“I don’t think so.”
She frowns, maybe considering how much I’ve revealed. “You got him an apartment? And a job? How long has he been here?”
My chest tightens. There it is.
“Not long,” I say carefully. “Couple weeks.” I cough and glance at Margot. Couple months.
Jezzie leans back in her chair and stares at me.
“A few weeks?” Her voice doesn’t rise, but her disbelief hits hard. “And you’re just telling me now?”
“I wanted to wait until your semester was over.” I shift in my seat, the words thick in my throat. “And I wanted to make sure… he wasn’t dangerous.”
She lets out a short, bitter laugh. “Oh my God. Are you kidding? He’s like the shyest, sweetest kid—”
“He’s not a kid anymore.”
Her mouth opens—ready to fire back—but nothing comes out. She clamps her lips shut, nodding slowly, breathing hard through her nose. Her eyes go glassy again, jaw working like she’s chewing through anger and heartbreak all at once.
“It’s not an excuse.” My voice scrapes up from somewhere low and ragged. “But I’ve never forgiven myself. For leaving you there. For what our father…” I can’t even say the words. I swallow hard. “For what he did to you.”
“Jensen.” She lets out a strangled sob. “But you…saved me.”
“I should’ve done it sooner.”
“But you were…shit, you were younger than I am now.” She frowns, blinking fast. “Wow, I really need to get my act together.”
A muffled laugh huffs from Margot.
Jezzie shakes off the moment of self-reflection. “I never blamed you. I was just thankful you got me out of there.”
“Yeah, but then you were mad at me for leaving you with Aunt Angela—”
“No, I wasn’t.”
I blink and stare at her.
“I was mad you didn’t stay there with us.” She shrugs. “I thought we were going to all live together. I realize now, that would’ve been weird for you and her. But I was mad you wanted to live with a bunch of bikers instead of us.”
It’s a subtle difference—but it changes everything.
I glance over at Margot. No smug I told you so in her expression—just soft eyes, glistening with tears. She brushes them away and gives me a quiet, wobbly smile.
A chair scrapes over the tile and Jezzie approaches me slowly. I stand and pull her into my arms. She sniffles against my chest.