Page 205 of The Long Way Home

Forty-Nine

BJ

“Been meaning to ask you something,” Jo says without looking away from the TV.

We’re on the couch playing Madden. About as normal as life has felt since I accidentally got a live-in girlfriend and the love of my life started fucking an international art thief.

“Alright—” I glance at him. “Go on then.”

He hits pause.

“Who was going to be the baby’s godfather and don’t you fucking say Henry.”

I start laughing, shake my head at him.

“I’m serious.” He stares at me.

He is being serious, actually.

I glance at him, a bit amused. “Why not Henry?”

“Because he would have been an uncle.”

I roll my eyes, unpause the game. “You would have been an uncle.”

“Yeah.” Jonah looks annoyed. “But he’s blood.”

I pause it again, look over at him. “You might as well be.”

Jonah watches me for a few seconds. “Is it weird you’re as okay as you are?”

Jordan’s not here, glance around for her anyway. Just in case. She’s out with her work friends, she said. Wouldn’t be dead surprised if she was out with that DJ. Saw his name pop up on her phone. I didn’t say anything. What could I say anyway that wouldn’t cut my own legs out from under me?

I peer at Jo out of the corner of my eyes.

“I wasn’t okay for a bit,” I tell him with a shrug. “But Parks and I went through this all already like ten years ago. New information for you. Not for me.”

He nods slowly.

“You were my pick for godfather,” I tell him, looking back at the TV.

“Yeah?” He grins over at me.

“Yeah.” I flick my eyes between him and the screen. “Parks was pretty hellbent on trying to get Jennifer Garner to be godmother though.”

Jonah starts laughing.

“Garner or Bridge...”

“Does she know her?”

“No.”

Jonah’s face flickers, amused. “Does her Dad?”

Our eyes catch and I smirk. “No.”

We both chuckle and I miss her. Feel angry at the her-shaped hole there is in my life.

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