Page 50 of Needing Your Love
“He’s lucky to have you,” Chaz said. “I know what it’s like not to have the best relationship with your dad, and if it hadn’t been for Jamie and Sutton…” His voice trailed off, and Jamie entwined their hands together in my periphery.
“But there’s hope things could get better between them,” Chaz continued. “Not sure if you knew, but my dad was a major asshole to me up until the beginning of this year. We’ve bothbeen going to therapy and are working to better ourselves and our relationship.”
Therapy.
Inwardly, I shivered. No fucking thank you.
“You’relucky,” I suggested. “Not many guys get a second chance like that.”
None of the men around the fire offered condolences for my loss. I guessed they were well aware I didn’t mourn my dad’s passing. There had been no apologies from him, no forgiveness from me, but I didn’t carry a burden of weight over that part of my life. Yeah, my childhood had sucked ass, but even if he had crawled to me on hands and knees, wallowing and horrified over how he’d treated me, I would have turned my back on him.
Boundaries and all that shit.
Just because he’d been blood didn’t mean I owed him a goddamned ounce of affection or moment of my time.
Dex slapped his thigh, pulling me into the present. “Well, I have to be in at the station early tomorrow. Gonna call it a night.” He stood, and Jamie and Chaz did the same.
Sutton didn’t argue their leaving earlier than I expected they usually did but pushed up to his feet to hug his friend and family goodbye.
Jamie was the last to walk away, clasping his dad’s shoulder with a wink before glancing at me. “‘Night, Jimmy.”
“Thanks again for the invite.”
“My pleasure.”
I stared after the three guys as they made their way around the house toward the front.
Was Jamie…encouraginghis dad with that little wink?
My gaze fixed on Sutton’s back as he shoved his hands in his pockets. His shoulders hitched near his ears, and he took a steadying breath before turning toward me.
Our gazes clashed over what was left of the fire, and heat sizzled through my blood.
Car doors slammed, and seconds later, engines roused to life. The crunch of gravel faded as the two vehicles drove off, leaving me and the chief alone.
Fucking finally.
“Sorry I don’t have any wine. Want another beer?” Sutton asked, his voice a little hoarse, and I wondered whether his tone hinted at desire or fear over my still being there.
I didn’t care either way. He hadn’t suggested I leave—and he’d offered me a reason to stay.
“Sure.” My voice shook, and I slid damp palms down my chilled jeans.
“We can go inside if you’re getting too cold.”
I nodded, and after he set a screen lid over the fire pit, I followed him into the house.
The silence felt heavy but not stifling, thick with tingling anticipation as we cracked open our beers and headed into the living room.
Sutton sat in the corner of his couch, and I settled not quite in the center but close enough he could touch me if he wanted to.
Arm across the back of the cushions, he angled toward me, gaze sliding over my face as though searching out all my secrets. But I didn’t take his suspicion personally. Chief gave everyone that inquisitive look—it was his damned job and probably deeply engrained in his brain to root out any possible danger to his community. Naturally, he would do the same with his heart.
“What’s on your mind, Sutton?” I asked without the usual sass or suggestive smirk.
“What kind of trouble did you get into down in Boston?” He asked the question carefully, and I recognized the test for what it was.
I could lie and prove myself to be a man he couldn’t trust, or I could be honest. Vulnerable. Give him what he wanted that could very well make him grimace even though Jamie’s stance on sex work gave me hope he might not hate that part of my past.
