Page 114 of Other Side Of Never
Or maybe after the talk with Kian.
My stomach twisted.I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.The men in my life were driving me to drink.
The pounding of Jake’s feet coming up the stairs interrupted what was sure to be another emotional volcano and I smiled instead.BecauseJake was here.With me.And for once, I had a chance to do what was best for him.
The door swung open before I got to it, and Jake came barreling in with one of Anita’s treat boxes in his hands.“Want to see what I made?”
“Absolutely,” I replied.
His smile faded and he stiffened up as he looked around.
“What’s up, buddy?”I murmured.
He shrugged, then straightened his spine.“I just want you to know, I don’t intend to be a burden.”
“You have never been a burden, Jakey.”
His eyes twinkled.“Jake.”
I rolled my eyes and corrected myself.“Jake.You will never be a burden.I have always wanted you, and that won’t change.”
He waved his arm toward the boxes.“Then what’s all this?”
“That is everything I pulled out of your closet.And it’s mostly junk,” I replied honestly.“This apartment was only supposed to be temporary.You coming gave me a reason to get organized.”
“Did me coming here force you to have to move?”
I shook my head.“Not at all.In fact, when you asked me if you could visit, my—Kian and I repainted the room and Kian put in shelves for you.”
“Then why is all this stuff out here?This wasn’t here last night.”
“Because I didn’t get to it before.Now I am.You are not the problem, Jake.You’ve never been the problem.”
He grimaced.“You’re the only one who thinks so.”
I offered him a tight-lipped smile when what I really wanted to do was wrap him up in my arms and never let him go.“Consider your sources.”
“Yeah…” His voice trailed off as his eyes skittered away.“I suppose you’re right.”
“I am,” I replied firmly.“But only you can decide how much of your life you’re willing to allow them control over.”
He broke into a grin.“Judging by their long list of complaints about my behavior, not much!”
I laughed and gave into the urge to hug him.“I’m happy to hear that.”
After a brief hesitation, he hugged me back.“Am I going to be okay?”
“You are,” I replied firmly.“You’re safe.You have a home with me.And your future is wide open.”
“He’s going to come for me,” he professed quietly.“He hates to lose.”
I squeezed him tight then drew back to meet his eyes.“He’s going to have to get used to it.”
He stared down at me for a second, those dark eyes searching mine, before offering me a barely perceptible nod.
“Good.”I smiled.“Show me what you and Aunt Anita got up to in the kitchen.
While we stuffed our faces full of badly misshapen cookies, I pulled open my laptop to start ordering the basics for Jake.
