Page 29 of The Usual Family Mayhem

The whole thing lasted a second. Then he held my water bottle and put it on the counter next to him. Now I had no idea what to do with my hands.

A buzzer stopped me. His version of a doorbell. “Are you expecting someone?”

He gestured down the front of him. “Would I be dressed like this if I thought people were coming over?”

Yeah, I wasn’t touching that.

He pushed off from the counter and walked back into the entry hall. Harlan’s voice boomed through the condo a second later. The deep sound bounced off the high walls and those big windows. I couldn’t make out the words, but that wasn’t a problem because he stopped talking as soon as he stepped into the kitchen area and looked at me.

“Kasey.”

No matter what emotion his plastered-on smile was supposed to convey, he didn’t sound happy to see me. That made me want to pummel him with niceness. Maybe add a littlebless your heartinto the conversation.

“It’s good to see you again.” It really wasn’t but I said it to be nice.

His gaze moved over me in ayou shouldn’t be herekind of way. “I didn’t know you were visiting.”

“What’s up, Dad?”

“I called and texted this morning. You didn’t respond. We were supposed to meet up and...” Harlan’s gaze switched to me for a second before going back to Jackson. “Discuss some outstanding business issues.”

“We never set a time. Could we meet later?” Jackson asked.

Harlan’s gaze traveled around the open room. Zipped to the couch then to the stairs. “Are you two going to be long?”

We were now. He would need a crowbar to get me out of this condo. “Possibly.”

Jackson smiled at my response. “I can be at the tennis club at noon. We can talk over lunch.”

Harlan still lived in the big house where Jackson grew up. That sounded like a better place to meet, but what did I know about dealing with a father?

“Fine.”

Harlan didn’t sound fine. He sounded pissed. He was accustomed to people jumping at his command. Jackson didn’t look ready to move one inch in his father’s direction.

Harlan shot me one last glance. Heated behind the fake smile with a hint ofyou’re in the way here. Then he turned and left. Didn’t bother to say goodbye.

The tension wrapping around the room eased once he walked out the door. Something about his presence made my confidence plummet. I second-guessed every word I said. Ididn’t want to give him that much power over me. That meant not letting Harlan see me back down. No overt cowering here.

“I bet he’s not used to you scheduling an appointment to eat with him.”

Jackson shook his head. “That’s not what I did.”

I borrowed one of Gram’s snorts. “Okay.”

“I need to shower and go deal with Dad.” Jackson looked at his watch. Pressed a few buttons. “I have plans tonight but I can come to the house tomorrow.”

My mind screamed with the need to ask if he had a date and with whom. Questions that weren’t my business. The answers that could lead me to a dark and grumpy place.

No, I did not care. He could do whatever he wanted with whomever he wanted. If I repeated that ridiculous thought a few more times I might actually believe it, but probably not. When it came to Jackson my usual ability to stay emotionally detached faltered.

“I’ll text you later and we can figure out a good time,” he said.

Dismissive. That’s how he sounded. The last time a guy talked to me like that, made those assurances, he ended up ghosting me. I couldn’t remember that man’s name or anything about him. I wish I could feel the same way about Jackson because this crush was beating stronger than ever.

If I didn’t leave town soon I could be in trouble.

Chapter Fifteen

---