Page 23 of Challenging Jayce

"I don't think he meant anything by it when he asked if you knew. He was probably just shocked and trying to process everything."

Shaun waved her off. "I'm not talking about that. I would've done the same thing if I was in his position. I'm talking about Jasmine. I knew she would never win mother of the year, but I never thought she would be stupid enough to put our family at risk."

She wished she could say the same, but unfortunately nothing Jasmine did surprised her anymore.

"She was selfish. I always knew that."

Shaun sighed. "Yeah, I know. I guess I was just hoping she had morals."

Kennedy wanted to laugh. Jasmine was the last person who understood the importance of morals. "What are you going to do?"

"I already reached out to Annie and Frankie while you were walking Jayce out. They know that area. I told them what Jayce said. They are going to look into things and get back to me."

"You don't trust Jayce?"

Her brother looked at her curiously. "I trust him, and I trust Caden, but they don't know that area the way Annie does. Caden is relying on information he can access. Annie will have boots on the ground."

Fair point. She had met Annie and Frankie twice before. Jasmine wasn't a fan because like Shaun, Annie was Army. Jasmine did her best to distance Shaun away from anyone with that connection. But it only took meeting them once to know they were good people; childhood sweethearts who adored one another. Kennedy had never met a couple more in love than those two. It was almost sickening how endearing they were to the other.

"That's true. For your, and Michael's, sake, I want Jayce to be wrong, but my gut is telling me Jasmine was into some shady shit. The whole bored-housewife thing. She never had enough to keep her busy."

Shaun gave a sad laugh. "I know exactly what you mean. Nothing was ever enough for her."

"Then why the hell did you put up with that?"

She had wanted to ask him that question a million times even though she knew the answer.

"Michael." Yup, she was right. "I would do anything for Michael. I wasn't an idiot. I knew what I was getting into when I married her. I watched Jayce go through with it. I told myself repeatedly it was what I deserved for my part in things. Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing because it protected Michael. Divorcing her would've meant leaving him to be raised solely by her. I would never subject my son to that. He needed at least one parent who cared."

Kennedy hated how right he was. She saw it firsthand. Michael was nothing but a tool for Jasmine to use. She only cared about him when it suited her. She missed more of his activities than she attended and that was before she was diagnosed with cancer. After her diagnosis, she used the excuse like a weapon to make Michael and Shaun feel guilty any time they asked for something. It was sickening, actually.

"I'm glad he had you, and now Jayce as well.”

“Me too, but I wish Michael had known Jayce from the beginning. He would’ve made a great father.”

“I can see that.”

“Care to tell me what’s going on between you too?” Before she could object, Shaun cut in. “I saw him pull you in his arms out there. I walked away before I could see much else but it was clear he cares for you. I never thought I would see the day Jayce cared about anyone again after what Jasmine did to him.”

She thought about all Jayce had told her.

“I’m falling for him. I know it’s soon and I know it’s messy but I can’t help it. I see my future with him.”

It was crazy to think like that so soon but she couldn’t help how she felt. She wanted to blame it on the house project and how it was giving her romantic ideas, but it was more than that. It was just him in general. Most people would pity Jayce but she saw beneath all that and saw the strength he tried to hide.

“It’s not crazy if it’s real. There were so many days that I wished I had the opportunity to find my soulmate.”

“You still can,” she encouraged her brother.

“I know and maybe someday I will, but right now I just want to get Michael through high school and ensure he has a good relationship with his father.”

This was why she loved her brother so much. He cared more about others than himself. He was the complete opposite of Jasmine. Those who said opposites attract clearly never saw her brother’s relationship. If they had, they never would consider that a trope, which was the reason she never wrote it.

It was silly to think how much her life affected her writing without even realizing it. Speaking of writing . . . “I’m going to go get some words in. I’ll see you for dinner.”

“Okay, sis.”

She had a new book she needed to plot and a certain someone she wanted to base the hero off of.

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