Page 91 of Bump and Run
I glanced down at Jones, who was staring up at me. His hazel eyes were filled with fear. “Do you want to listen to what he has to say? Because all you need to do is say the word, Bashful and he’s gone.”
“I don’t know,” Jones whispered, and his eyes grew wide. “Do you?”
I held him closer. “I want whatever you want.”
“And I want what my wife wants,” Dad murmured. “Don’t look so surprised, Jones. I love your mother. I know that you both probably think I’m not capable of that, but I knew the moment I met Alice that she was going to be the love of my life.”
Jones chewed on his bottom lip before he looked at my father. “So, you’re doing this for Mama?”
Dad nodded.
“And not for us? Because Charlie is your son. He deserves to be loved, too. I don’t care if you don’t like me, but he’s my husband, and I want him to be happy.” Jones wrapped an arm around my waist. “Charlie deserves the world.”
The smile that spread over my face nearly split my face. “As long as I have you, I have everything,” I whispered.
“Which is how I feel about your mother, Jones. And...” Dad sighed. “What I want for my sons.”
Wait, what did he just say?
A soft gasp escaped Jones’s lips. “I’m sorry, but could you repeat that? Because it sounded like you said ‘sons,’ and—”
“I did say sons.” Dad held up a hand. “I realize that the things I’ve done—trying to keep the two of you apart when it was more than obvious now that you were supposed to be together—was wrong. And I’m sorry.”
Tears stung my eyes. In my twenty-four years on this earth, I had never heard my father apologize for anything or to anyone. I waited for lightning to strike or the ground to open to swallow us whole, but when that didn’t happen, I released Jones to take a step toward my father.
“Do you mean that?”
“Yes, I do. I realize that it won’t change things. I still said and did some terrible things, but I’m willing to try to fix it. For you. Because I love you, Charles,” Dad whispered.
Jones beat me to the hug that I was about to give my father, but that was okay. I wanted Jones to be happy, and if this was what did it, then he could have this moment. Dad wrapped his arms around my husband and gave me a smallsmile before Jones pulled away. He held his hand out to me, and when I linked our fingers together, he tugged lightly. Hugging my father had never been something I did often and certainly something I hadn’t done since I was a child, but when he returned my embrace, it felt right.
“I’m sorry, Charles,” Dad said again, and this time, I couldn’t stop the tears that fell. “I wasn’t the father you deserved, but I want to change that now if you’ll let me.”
I sniffed quietly and brushed the tears from my cheeks. “I’d like that.”
“And Jones?” Dad asked, his eyes behind me. “I’d like the same with you. But only if you want that.”
Jones nodded. “I think I would, sir, thank you.”
“Come here, Bashful.” I opened my arms so he could step into them. He pressed his face into my chest, and I combed my fingers through his hair as I met my father’s eyes. “It’s going to take a lot more than a few ‘I’m sorry’s’ to fix things between us.”
He nodded. “I’m aware of that, Charlies, and I’m going to be better. Do better. And I wanted to start by investing in your careers.” His lips turned up into a smile. “And offer to throw you a wedding reception. I didn’t get to see my sons get married, but I can at least be part of the celebration after the fact.”
“Yes!” Jones exclaimed with excitement. “I mean, that would be wonderful. Thank you.”
I chuckled. “You want a party, Bashful?”
“Yes, please. With all our friends and family. A photographer. Oh, and a s’mores bar.” He beamed up at me.
I kissed the tip of his nose. “Then that’s what we’ll have.”
***
We ended up going out to a very late brunch with my father and stepmother. Jones was practically bouncing off the seat next to me as he giggled and spoke to his mom, his hands moving a mile a minute as he tried to eat and talk at the same time. He was so damn adorable. His smile lit up the entire restaurant, his laugh filled my ears, and his warmth radiated next to my body. I was a lucky bastard to be able to call him mine.
“Charlie, this food is so amazing.” Jones grinned at me right before he stuffed a pancake into his mouth.
I chuckled. “I can see that,” I teased. I put my hand on his thigh and squeezed. “Just like you.”
