Page 30 of Love Under Protection

“I thought so.”I will not cry. I will not break down. Sawyer isn’t worth it.

“In the meantime, you still may have to move. Do you need a place to stay? I’ve got a rental over in Leesburg that’s all yours, because I know damn well if I don’t offer, Liv will beat me, you’re welcome to come stay with us in New York. Hey, you may even get to make friends with our neighbors,” he teases.

Neighbors like Harley,I think to myself.

It’s on the tip of my tongue wondering how he’s doing, something I’ve wondered nearly every day. I won’t let myself cross that boundary line, though. He made it clear where we stood when he kissed me goodbye at the airport. And, I’m okay with that. I wasn’t looking for anything more and there’s no way I’d drag him into the mess that is currently my life.

“Jameson, I don’t know what I’d do without you and Liv. I’ll get back to you on a place to stay if that’s okay.”

“Yeah, of course. Like I said, either option is yours if you need it. Let me give Dad a call, and you call us back if you need anything else too.”

“Always. Thank you.”

I hang up the phone and take a look around my place. I moved here right out of college. Before I met Sawyer. There’s nothing extra fancy about it, but it’s mine. I always kept it because it was important that I had a place to come home to without having to truly put down permanent roots anywhere. I wasn’t ready for that yet—which, thinking back on it, was a huge arguing point for Sawyer. He always wanted me to get rid of my condo. Looks like he’s really going to get his wish or at least part of it.

Chapter 17

Harley

ESPN blasts in the background of my place. I grab a beer from the fridge and the sandwich I just made off the counter and head for the living room. My butt is about to touch down on the comfy leather recliner when I hear a knock on my door.

“Son of a bitch.” I get one damn night to myself after another two weeks of double overtime. We finally closed that damn robbery case once and for all and I planned to enjoy a little R&R, but it seems someone has other plans.

One look in the peephole reveals Jameson’s smiling face. I debate ignoring him, but I know that’s useless; he won’t go away. Chances are he’ll resort to blowing up my phone if I don’t open the door.

“Oh, hey, he lives.” Jameson laughs at his own joke when I open up.

“What’s up?”

Jameson holds up a twelve-pack, “Thought I’d hang out with someone of the male species tonight while Olivia’s off at some work function with a bunch of women. Haven’t seen you since we got back, figured it was overdue.”

He brought beer; the least I can do is let him in. Not that he even waits for an invitation. Oh no, Jameson pushes past me and sets the beer in my fridge before grabbing one for himself. “I thought we could order delivery, looks like you already made dinner plans though,” he says, pointing toward the living room and my lonely sandwich.

“There’s more where that came from, help yourself. You already know where everything is.”

Nothing has changed here since Jameson moved out.

“You sure? I can go if you’re expecting someone else.”

The look in his eyes tells me he’s trying to get a rise out of me. It’s working too.

“Funny, asshole. Make a sandwich or order delivery. I don’t give two shits. I am going to catch up on sports highlights while you make up your mind.”

I’m almost done with my sandwich and beer when Jameson plops down in the second recliner. He hands me another beer then takes a huge bite of his sandwich. If I expected him to be silent while he eats, I would have been dead wrong.

“So, where the hell have you been? I haven’t even seen you at the gym or coming and going around here.”

“Nice to know you care, Jay.”

“You know, I really hoped that getting laid would improve your mood. From the looks of things, I think it actually made you grumpier.” He takes another bite, chews and swallows then starts again. “Whoa, wait... it’s withdrawal, isn’t it? You’re withdrawing from your sexcapades.”

I grind my teeth. “Alright. I’m going to say this once. Back off. I’m not talking about my sex life with you. Because you like to kiss and tell doesn’t mean I do.”

Jameson smiles like a Cheshire cat. Damnit. I played right into his hand. “Proved my point once again.”

I glare across the room at him. His comment doesn’t deserve a reply. But of course, my quiet doesn’t shut him up.

“So, have you talked to Raylynn since Hawaii?” he asks around his almost gone sandwich.

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