Page 59 of Reclaim

Like a dog with a bone, Joe steps towards me. “Listen to your girl, tough guy.”

I reach over her shoulder to grab him, and he takes a quick step back, my hand cutting the air instead.

”Dakota, honey, hold your dad’s hand.” Small, trembling hands slide into mine. Emerson is right. It’s the only reminder I need. Glancing down, Dakota’s fear-filled eyes slice right through me. This should’ve never happened in front of her.

“Here.” Emerson shoves a heavy set of keys into my empty hand. “Go to my place. I’ll meet you there when I’m done.”

I can’t read her right now, the look on her face unrecognisable. “Em.”

She shakes her head. “Not now.”

* * *

I turnmy head towards the sound of the apartment door unlocking. Weary and defeated, Emerson walks in with the world on her shoulders.

In a practiced move, she places her bag on the bench and takes a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Does anybody want a drink?”

“No, thank you.” Dakota answers, filling in the awkward silence.

“Jagger, can we talk in my room for a minute please? That okay, Dakota?”

“Yes. I think my favourite show is on now anyway.” She grabs the remote.

Taking Dakota’s agreement as permission, Em heads for her room, and warily I follow.

She sits on the edge of the bed and removes her heels, one by one.

Ripping off the bandaid, I blurt out our only solution. “We should break up.”

A throaty laugh leaves her mouth. “Sorry, what?”

“We knew this wasn’t going to work out,” I continue. “Before I disappoint you anymore, or better yet, end up back in jail. I’d rather just end it now.”

“You think I’m mad at you?”

“You’re not?”

“I am. I’m also mad at myself and Joe. I’m mad he now has this over you. Above all, I’m fucking livid Dakota witnessed the whole thing.

As she solidifies all my thoughts, it proves to me even more how right my decision is. “I still think we need to end it.”

“How about you give it a few days? Time to process before either of us make irreversible decisions.”

“No.” I take a seat beside her. “Three out of the five things you’re upset about were avoidable. And I went in, all guns blazing without giving a second thought to the consequences. I got so angry. And I was right there, at the edge of the cliff, looking over. And if you and Dakota hadn’t been there, I would have jumped and landed back in lockup. I’m no good, Em. Can’t you see that?”

She places her hand on my thigh. “You were protecting me, Jagger. Your heart was in the right place.”

“My heart is always in the right place, Em.” Intertwining our fingers, I selfishly keep her close to me, knowing I’m about to break both our hearts. “It doesn’t change a fucking thing. I always end up hurting someone.”

“I think you’re looking at it wrong.”

“For the first time in a while, I’m looking at it right. I’m don’t want to keep waiting around for hindsight to learn my lessons. I want to avoid putting the people I love in these situations. When you keep apologising for the same thing it means you’re either stupid or not really sorry. And I’m not either of those things.”

“So one thing happens and everything between us suddenly means nothing?”

“No.” I pull her up so we’re both standing, facing one another. I grab her face and make sure she’s concentrating on me and all I have to say. “I’m doing this because you mean everything to me. You’re better than what happened today. You don’t need anyone to try and bring you down with all their flaws. And I won’t be that person.”

Tears begin to fall down her face and my thumbs continuously skim her cheeks, wiping them away.

---