Page 64 of Inked Persuasion

“Well, you are our boss,” Dustin said, coming up beside Seressia. “You’re allowed to get all growly. We hide our moods better.”

That made me laugh, and I shook my head. “Seriously, I’m heading out. But I’ll have my cell on me.”

“Tell your parents we’re thinking of them.”

I nodded at Seressia’s words and then gathered my things.

I made my way to my parents’ house, trying not to think. Trying to breathe. It was hard not worrying when everything seemed to be moving so quickly. I had moved to Fort Collins to help my dad, and that was what I was doing. Only some part of me hadn’t let myself think of the exact reason I’d moved here.

“I can’t lose her,” I whispered, my voice cracking. My hands squeezed the steering wheel, and I let out a breath, grateful when I pulled into the driveway. I wasn’t sure I should have been driving right then. I put my head back on the headrest and did something I hadn’t done in far too long.

“Jonah, I miss you so damn much. I don’t know what to do right now. You were my baby brother, and I always thought you’d be here, even when we knew life didn’t always work out that way. But I can’t lose Mom, Jonah. I’m not ready to say goodbye. And I know we have time, but every day seems to come faster and faster, and I don’t know what to do.”

My brother didn’t answer. He hadn’t before, and I knew he wouldn’t. But just saying his name aloud, saying the words to him, seemed to help. Or maybe I was kidding myself. I needed someone to talk to. Needed to do something. And because Annabelle’s face came to mind, I pushed that thought away.

No, talking to her about this would be too serious. It’d be too much. This wasn’t what we were, wasn’t what we wanted. I couldn’t rely on her. Because if I did, then I’d love her, and I refused to love anyone else. Not after everything with Susan. Not after everything I was already dealing with.

There was a knock on my window, and I jumped before I looked up and saw my dad standing there, worry on his face.

“Hey, Dad,” I said as I got out of the car.

“Hey. Do you want to talk about it?”

I clenched my jaw and shook my head, but I hugged my dad tight, leaning into him just a little bit. When he wrapped his arms around me and leaned against me even harder, I knew he was just as scared as I was. Jesus, I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do. I was supposed to be the pillar of this family—the strong one.

And I wasn’t doing that. Things needed to change.

“Okay, I’m here,” I said, my voice firm. “Tell me how you need me.”

My dad met my gaze but didn’t say anything. Instead, we walked into the house, and I did what I was supposed to do, I became the son I should have been before. The one they needed.

The only son they had left.

By the time I left,I was a wreck, but things were okay. The doctor hadn’t said anything different, other than that things might be more challenging for a little while longer. But my mother had laughed and smiled through it all, and I knew I would remember that laugh every time I got worried.

I pulled into my garage and did my best not to look over at Annabelle’s house. I didn’t want to know if she was there or not. Didn’t want to talk to her.

I was so tired.

I walked into my house, set my things aside on the table, and went for a beer. I had work to do, thousands of emails and phone calls to deal with, but I just needed a moment. After, I would deal with all of it because that’s what I did. I dealt with things. Meaning I needed to push aside things that were in the way and deal with what was necessary.

My doorbell rang, and I frowned, hoping to hell it was someone selling me something, because I didn’t want to face anything or anyone else at the moment. I looked through the peephole, set my beer down, and held back a growl. When I opened the door, my ex-wife stood there, a small smile on her face, and flowers in her hands.

“Hi. One of Bob’s friends said they saw you at the hospital while they were there getting stitches. I was worried about you.”

That seemed like a very far-fetched story, but Susan knew many people and seemed to get information out of anyone. That’s what made her good at her job.

“What is it you want?” I asked, my voice icy.

Her eyes widened. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. And I got these for your mother. I’m just so sorry that everything seems to be going downhill.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Excuse me?” What exactly had she meant by that?

“Well, that’s why you were at the hospital, isn’t it?” Her eyes widened. “Oh, no. Was it you? Are you sick? Here, go inside. Sit down. Let me tend to you.”

I blocked her from pushing inside. “What is this? What the hell are you doing here, Susan?”

“I miss you, Jacob. I’m just so sorry that everything happened the way it did, but I’m here now. I’m here to help. This must be so much for you, but I’m here.”

---