Page 42 of Until I Find You

“Was notdesperate,” she retorts.

“And then the second you were married, you were pregnant.”

Geoff holds up a hand, attempting a smile. “It took a couple years, so–”

I’m watching a family break down in real time. And I have the sinking feeling this isn’t the first time they’ve had this conversation.

“And who cares about a grown kid with a man you hate when you have two babies in the span of–”

“I don’t hate your father,” Mari says, all the joy melted off her face and, in its place, stone.

My hand on Jack’s thigh has gotten so tight my fingers are aching.

“Well, you’re constantly reminding me exactly how I’m like him like it’s some sort ofdiseasewhen the truth is I’m like him because ofyou.” Jack points a finger at her.

Mari leans back in her chair, mouth hanging open.

“Jack, you can’t talk to your mother like that,” Geoff says in a soft tone I’m sure he used with Jack plenty of times when he was a boy. A tone Jack probably disregarded over and over.

“Going to live with your father was your idea, Jack, don’t you forget it.” Mari’s face is still, but her eyes are watery.

Jack is quiet. An odd smile spreads across his face. Then, he knocks back the rest of his whisky in one go. The clink of the glass on the table as he puts it down is so sharp it feels like glass in my chest. “Didn’t you ever wonder why the hell I wanted to leave?”

Mari’s eyebrows screw together.

“You’ve never given as much of a shit about me as you have about Kelly and Winston. And I saw it from the second Kelly was born.” Jack’s teeth grit together.

I place my other hand on his bicep. “Hey, let’s go take a walk.”

“Thesecond,” he repeats.

“That’s not true,” Mari says.

I try again. “Jack–”

Jack leans forward. “You’re really gonna deny it?”

“Of course, I am. You’re my–”

All of a sudden, Jack stands, his chair scuffing loudly. Tables are starting to look over at us, and I’d be embarrassed if I weren’t so damn worried about him.

He says nothing before walking away.

I watch him go, weaving through the tables, servers, and guests, his head ducked low. Not at all tall and proud like yesterday.

He’s wounded.

I glance back at Mari. She’s leaned her elbows on the table and tucked her head in her hands. Geoff lays an arm over her back and moves his mouth toward her ear to whisper something comforting.

That’s what partners do when their lover is hurting.

They comfort.

And it will ruin the illusion if I don’t go after Jack. Yes, that’s the reason I’ll give why I’m going after him, even though the pull in my chest is so strong to go find him.

“I’ll be right back,” I mutter in a soft tone, unsure if either of them hear me. It doesn’t matter if they do.

I get to my feet and follow Jack’s path through the restaurant. The feeling in my chest grows with each step, so strong it’salmost like I’m not in control of where I’m going. My feet move without my understanding.

---