Page 41 of Playing For Keeps
She slaps his hand away. “So what if I have? What difference does it make?”
“All the goddamn difference. I don’t want to be with someone who I have to worry about sleeping with every man she knows.” Jonah hikes a thumb at Jamison. “Have you fucked him too?”
This day has got to be the most crazed day in history.Everyone’s fighting and tense. I have to believe it’s the stress of not knowing where Dorothy is.
I hurry to Jonah. “Knock it off. This isn’t the time or the place.”
Jonah breathes heavy, quick puffs of air as he stares Melanie down. She glares at him with tears pooling in her eyes.
I take Jonah by the shoulders. “You need to cool off. Take a break in one of my rooms and figure yourself out.”
His jaw clinches, then he scrunches up his face. “Fine.”
He spins away and storms off down the hall to my bedroom.
I turn to Melanie. “Sorry. He’s probably taking his worries out on you.”
“That’s no excuse.” A tear rolls down her cheek, and she bats it away. “This is the second time he’s tried to start a fight with someone I’m talking to. What’s his problem?”
I grimace. “He’s never had a girlfriend, so maybe he doesn’t know how to act properly.”
“Well, I’m not going to be his punching bag while he figures out how to treat a woman, especially one he claims to care about.” She turns to Jamison. “I need some space and want to go on a walk. Would you come with me?”
Aiden cuts in. “I’ll go with?—”
“No.” She spins to him. “You’re the last person I’m leaving here with.”
“What did I do?” His brow furrows.
“Nothing, but I’m not going to make this shitty day worse by going somewhere with you.” She faces Jamison again. “Jami, do you mind?”
He checks his phone, then glances at Mel. “Sure. I could use some fresh air, but I don’t want to be gone long.”
“Thank you. We’ll be back soon. I just need a break from all the stress.” She gathers her belongings from the kitchen, and they leave a few moments later.
I round the island and stand across from Aiden. “Try not to provoke Jonah when he comes out. This day is already bad enough.”
Aiden sits on a stool. “Agreed, but I wasn’t trying to instigate anything. I was just leaning on Mel for support. She’s closer to Dori than anyone here.”
“Melanie and Dori are best friends, but I’m not sure she’s the closest one to your sister.”
Aiden pulls back as his expression bunches up. “Then who is? You?”
“No. Jamison is. They’ve been together since the day he was shot. She practically lived with him over the last couple of months. I wouldn’t be surprised if they spent every night together before he moved.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with that. They’ll only end up hurting each other, and if my dad is being straight with me, she’s in danger just being with him.” Aiden pushes off his chair and stalks to the window in the living room.
I follow. “Have you considered that your dad threatened that in order to manipulate you so you would stay in line with what he wanted and needed you to do?”
Aiden takes a moment of silence. “No, but I believe his threats.”
“Why? You see what his motives are.”
“That’s the point. He’s been fine coming after me all these years so I’ll help him, which makes me believe he’s willing to go after Dori if needed.”
“Understood, but it might do you justice to look at things between Jamison and your sister differently.” I laugh to myself because I’m starting to sound like my therapist.
Who would’ve thought I’d be sitting here with Aiden Fisher, trying to get him to accept his sister’s and Jamison’s relationship?
