Page 68 of Hard To Leave

“He is.”

I wanted to hit the pause button and freeze time before the shit hit the fan. Deep down, I knew once he found out the truth that things would change. I just wasn’t sure how much.

After taking a quick shower, I blow-dried my hair and got dressed as quickly as I could. I still had deck stain all over my hands and laughed, thinking I should just pay somebody to finish up the job. I’m sure Phil would be more than happy to do it, but there was no way I could ask him. Jack would flip.

“Are you guys ready?” I asked, making my way across the room and almost tripping over a pair of dirty cleats. The three of them were involved in a game of UNO. They looked to be having a good time, so I picked up Tanner’s shoes and threw them out on the back deck without reprimanding him.

Jack rose from the couch and placed his hands on my shoulders. “I like you like this.”

My eyebrow lifted. “I’m not wearing any makeup,” I answered as if that comment would change his mind.

The pad of his thumb grazed along my cheek. “I know. I think you look better without it because it reminds me that you don’t really need it to begin with. You’re much prettier just like this.”

My heart melted right there on the spot. The clock ticking on the wall reminded me that my time was running out. I closed my eyes and prayed like hell that we would be able to get through the train wreck that was about to crash through my life.

After gathering our stuff, I turned the TV off and followed everyone out the door. “I forgot to ask, how did your conversation go with your mom?”

Jack took the key from my hand and slid it into the lock until we heard it click. He placed his hands on my hips and led me down the steps. “She invited us to dinner tonight.”

I stumbled as we reached the bottom. Thankfully, he was there to catch me. I’ve never met his mother before. Not that I didn’t want to. I just knew that our first meeting would be a little awkward. “What did you tell her?”

“I told her I would talk to you first.”

“How do you feel about us having dinner with her?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Honestly, as long as you’re comfortable with the idea, that’s all that really matters.”

“What about Tanner?”

“What about him?” He arched his eyebrow, waiting for me to speak. I stayed silent.

The thought of meeting his mother for the first time was terrifying. Bringing Tanner into the potential chaos didn’t seem like such a good idea.

“You know,” Carly said, breaking through the awkward silence, “I could take my godson overnight and give him a little break from all the kissing you guys have been doing lately.”

Jack stared at me while speaking to Carly. “You don’t have to do that. Tanner’s always welcome.”

She placed her hand on her hip and cast me a glance. She could tell I was unsure about this. “I know I don’t have to, but it’s Chloe’s first time meeting your mom, and it might be less stressful if it’s just the three of you.”

Jack laughed sarcastically. “I don’t know about that. Stress is my mother’s middle name.”

His comment wasn’t making me feel any better about meeting her.

“See. That’s all the more reason why I should take him.” She didn’t even give me a chance to say yes before she called out, “Hey, Tan, wanna spend the night with your favorite aunt tonight?”

Tanner poked his head out of the car and frowned. “Will Jack still be here tomorrow?’

My damn heart twisted. Tanner was becoming so attached to Jack, and I wasn’t sure what do with that. It bothered me when I thought about how much their relationship could change once Brogan entered the picture.

“I’ll be here, bud.”

“Speaking of tomorrow.” Carly twisted her long blonde hair around on her fingers. She was up to something. “Wanna do me a favor, Jack?”

“Sure,” he answered without even asking what she needed.

She cut her eyes to mine before sliding them back on his. “I was trying to convince your girl here to go to a concert with me tomorrow night. Would you be up to a little one-on-one time with Tanner while Chloe and I had a girls night out?”

My feet paused on the pavement. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I didn’t like feeling forced or pushed into anything. And that’s exactly what this felt like.

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