Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
What the fuck?
“Not forever! It’s not like that. Just until I can figure it all out. Honestly, everything just kind of happened really fast and your dad is—”
“An asshole.”
“I was going to say protective and stubborn.” She nodded. “But your adjective works too.”
“My dad moved you in?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Maybe. You’re confusing me with your trickery, like your dad did this morning.”
“This morning? He spent the night with you?”
“What? No!”
“No?”
“Well, kind of, but not like that. You’re twisting it again.”
“I’m not twisting shit. I’m going off of what you’re saying.”
Between yesterday and today, I swear I was already losing my mind. She went on about what happened, and I tried to pay attention as best I could. Though she was just as confusing as Harley was.
“So, what you’re saying is you got shitfaced, hooked up—”
She interrupted me, going on and on about one thing or another. Until I finally questioned, “Are you okay?”
She was surprised I followed it up with that, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t as well.
“Yeah, for the most part. I didn’t want any of this to come about, and I feel horrible because it did. Your dad thinks I’m in danger if I stay in my apartment, and he might be right. At this point, I honestly don’t know.”
“So ‘Don’t Answer’ is that bad?”
She could see the remorse in my eyes.
Why was I feeling so much toward her?
“I mean, I didn’t think so until I realized how he’s always treated me. Jackson, it’s hard to explain. I didn’t grow up like you.”
I considered what she said for a few seconds, and before I knew what I was saying, I snidely remarked, “I’m sure my mom would love you living here.”
She sighed, stepping away, but I grabbed her arm stopping her.
“I didn’t mean that. I mean... I did mean that, just not in the asshole way I said it. My mom wouldn’t want you to be in danger either. Besides, you stay over most of the time anyway. She’d be happy you’re here. For Journey.”
She nodded, not knowing what to say.
“And for Jagger.”
“And for you?”
I grinned. “Don’t push it.”
It was the truth. After everything she’d done for us, if she was in danger, then she belonged here too.
“Don’t let it go to your head, Mary Poppins. I mostly just like your cooking.”
“I thought you accused me of trying to poison you?”
“That’s probably true.”
“Probably, huh? Did you probably help me last night because you kind of like me too?”
“I already told you, I did that for Journey.”
“Well, whatever the reason, thank you.”
“You’re not going to get all mushy and want to hug me, right?”
She laughed. “I don’t know, Jackson. Maybe we should hug it out. Maybe you’re a closet hugger and you just don’t know it yet.”
“Ask Harley. She’ll tell you what happened after she tried to hug me last night too.”
“Aww. I saw you guys on the roof. You were so cute, I think you lov—”
“Finish that sentence and watch how fast I slam the door in your face. She caught me at a moment of weakness, it’s not going to happen again.”
It wasn’t. It couldn’t. I wouldn’t allow it.
“Maybe it will.”
“I’m positive it won’t.”
“Why are you so mean to her?”
“Cuz I can’t stand her.”
“If that were true, you never would’ve let her comfort you in the first place.”
“I was thinking with the wrong head.”
“Ugh!” She stepped back. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that.”
“Then you shouldn’t have asked.”
“I’m going to go now. Are we cool?”
“I’m not happy about you being the one who told me you’re living here now. But it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with him.”
“Jackson, give him a break. I’m sure he was going to tell you. I just beat him to it. He had to go to the hospital.”
“After the way he treated you last night, you’re still defending him?”
Why was it so easy for people to forgive him?
What was it about my father that had an effect on people?
“Journey keeps calling me ‘Ma’, and every time it comes out of her mouth it hurts my heart. I can’t imagine what it feels like for your dad to hear her say it.”
“What does he expect?” I nodded, feeling that statement in my conscience. “He’s never around. Journey is with you all the time. I could think of worse things she could say.”
“Especially with what comes out of your mouth.”
I chuckled. More truth.
“Your dad loves you, Jackson. I know that sounds really hard to believe right now, but it’s accurate. He wouldn’t have asked me to move in if he didn’t love you as much as he does.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Because it’s the first thing that flew out of his mouth this morning. What you guys would say to him if something happened to me. See, even he knows you like me.”