Page 34 of I'll Carry You

Chad Duncan had proved to Jason that even the people you thought of as friends could turn around and stab you in the back.Smile to your face and then fuck your wife in your bedroom while you’re away on a business trip.

Dan shifted his weight. “Is Mildred Price your actual grandmother?”

Jason nodded.

“Then I guess she’s been lying to Jen the whole time, too. They see her once or so a month for lunch. She’s had more than ample opportunity to tell Jen the truth.” Dan released a frustrated breath. “But whatever reasons the old coot has for doing that, I think that’s more than enough people knowing that Kevin’s dead, wouldn’t you say?”

Whether he wanted to tell Jen more, Jason wasn’t in a position to argue. Dan unknowingly held damaging information to Jason’s claims in the whole inheritance mess. “Mildred just found out about Kevin’s death, actually. So I don’t know what, if anything, she’s lied about.”

“All right. I’m happy to make you the liar in this scenario.” Dan gave him a hard look. “Don’t fuck with someone special. She’s been through enough.” He left the cabin. As Jason stared at the space he’d vacated, a strange mixture of relief and guilt filled him. He didn’t want to lie to Jen. But that was exactly what he’d agreed to do.

ChapterTwelve

She must have taken toolong to text him back. Then again, his lack of response could also be a lack of interest. He might have found someone new. Gone out to lunch, met a girl in town, and taken her back to his cabin. That was his MO, right?

But his texts hadn’t appeared as delivered either.

Jen’s throat was tight as she gripped the steering wheel, glancing in the rearview mirror at Colby. He caught her looking and flashed her a smile.

His smile did wonders for her heart. Always had. There were times, especially when he was a newborn, that he’d look at her with those big blue eyes, and she’d whisper to him,“You saved me, buddy.”

She looked back at the road. Maybe Jason’s phone had been disconnected? A knot of pressure pushed in on her ribs.Nope.The likelihood of his phone being disconnected wasn’t huge. Unlike her, he probably had the money to pay his bill. She’d gotten another text from the phone company saying her bill was late on the drive over.

Everything was late. Her rent, her electricity, and of course, the preschool her son could no longer attend.Crap.What was she going to do tomorrow? Mom was working and Dad had a meeting. She’d even asked Laura Dawson and Sam Doyle. The sisters both loved Colby like a nephew and watched him occasionally. But they, too, had been busy.

No one she’d texted had been available.

She’d have to call out of work. She couldn’t do that to Travis, though. Bunny was out of town, and Jen did most of the baking when that was the case.

Maybe Travis would be all right with Colby coming with her?

Really, she didn’t have time for worries about why Jason hadn’t answered her all afternoon. And it didn’t matter that she’d be a stone’s throw from him tonight at work.

She wasn’t about to go over there and see if he’d brought back another fling.

Ugh.She wasn’t supposed to be jealous of an imaginary date with a guy she’d known for a few days. A guy who had clearly told her that what he looked for in women was sex only.

She didn’t want Dan to be right. She wanted to have fun and—

Crap.

Why was Jason sitting on the porch of the guest lodge? It was dusk, but she saw him clearly enough, right there, on the rail of the porch.

Her heart dipped. She pulled up to her parking spot and killed the engine. As she climbed out of the car, she tried her best to look breezy and laid-back. As though she hadn’t noticed his lack of communication. Casual meant not getting hung up on things like that. Clingy emotions would probably repel him.

And you can’t afford to get attached to a guy who’s leaving soon.

Getting Colby out of the back of the car meant a few extra moments to settle her thoughts. Colby hopped out of his seat the moment she’d unbuckled him, reaching for his favorite train on the floor of the car. He grabbed it and then slipped out past her onto the gravel. “Hang on, Colby! Wait for Mommy.” She grabbed his backpack and her overnight bag, then closed the door.

Colby ran up to the guest lodge, then halted when he saw Jason. Colby hung back, waiting for his mother. Jen reached for Colby’s hand and smiled at Jason. “Hey there.”

“Hey.” Jason didn’t exactly return a smile, but his eyes were warm. “That’s right, you’re working tonight.” He looked good, even in a sweatshirt and gym pants. Considering how baggy his clothes were meant to be, his muscular frame filled them out well. And she’d seen him with his shirt open—he had the muscles to back it up.

But he seemed cold. His hands were stuffed into the front pocket of his sweatshirt.

He said it as though he hadn’t been sitting waiting for her. Which meant what, exactly?

“Um, yeah.” She stepped onto the porch beside him. “What’s up?”

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