Page 172 of Embracing the Change

My eyes started stinging when I saw the wet in Morgan’s.

And I whimpered out loud when Morgan asked, his voice no longer gravelly, but croaky, “Can I hug you, son?”

It was Dru who whimpered when Jamie stepped out of our hold and into his father’s.

Judge wrapped his arms around Dru.

Rix curved his arm around my shoulders.

And Jamie hugged his dad.

I was pacing the suite, my phone to my ear.

“I knew we should have gone with you,” Mika declared.

“It happened in the lobby, dearest. I don’t think Jamie needed a larger audience when he went through that,” I replied.

“I’m talking about supporting you,” she retorted.

I so loved my dear friend.

“I can so totally believe AJ is not Jamie’s sire,” she remarked.

I’d had the time to fill her in on a great deal.

And it was, indeed, very believable, and not only because it was true.

“So, he’s…what? Catching up with him now?” Mika inquired.

“I left him in the bar with Morgan, Judge and Dru,” I confirmed.

“Jamie was down with you leaving?”

“I think Jamie sensed that Morgan doesn’t need Jamie’s entire posse breathing down his neck at this juncture. His grandkids, yes. His woman and sister, not as much.”

“Posse?” she teased at my use of a word I didn’t think I’d ever used my entire life.

“I’m in Texas. When in Rome…” I trailed off.

She laughed then said, “You know what I love most about this?”

I knew what I loved most about it.

The fact that Jamie, right now, was sitting down with his real father, drinking bourbon with him.

“What?” I asked.

“That AJ thought this was a big play, that he’d fuck with Jamie’s head, and kick Jamie’s real dad where it hurts, but they ended it hugging.”

Yes, that was a good part too.

“I think we’re going to be longer here in Texas,” I noted.

“Or you’ll go back,” she said.

“Yes,” I agreed.

“And how was Paloma at the funeral?”