Page 46 of Mine to Keep

“She’s my ex. I wouldn’t know, and I honestly don’t care.”

“Why do you have to be like that?”

“Because you keep trying to push me back together with a woman who cheated on me with a friend of mine. Who isstillsleeping with him. And you don’t seem to understand why I don’t want to be with her anymore.” He glared.

“I’ve never thought you gave your marriage enough—”

“I don’t care what you think about that subject. Now, drop it.”

“Fine. What about your friend who makes the jewelry? What’s her name? Isn’t she coming?” his mother asked.

“Her name is Bryn. She’ll be along soon enough. She’s bringing Willa with her.”

“That’s nice of her to do. Willa is so sweet. I’m glad she can make it.”

“Bryn’s a kind person.” He rounded his shoulders and did his best to calm his fucking nerves. He’d promised his dad that he wouldn’t start a fight today and that he’d do his best not to be sarcastic and grumpy as his father described him.

He hadn’t gotten off to a great start.

His mother waved Nathan over. “I need to speak to you for a moment. Privately.”

Fuck. Whatever this was about, he wanted nothing to do with it. “Now? We’re in the middle of a party. Can’t it wait?”

“No. It can’t.” She took the spatula from his hand and gave it to Nathan, who immediately stepped in front of the grill and started flipping the burgers.

His mother looped her hand through his arm and tugged him toward the kitchen. Jamison had never been inside Steve’s house, and he really didn’t want to see it now. But it looked like he wouldn’t get a choice.

This was why he needed to stop making promises to the people that mattered in his life.

He stepped through the largest sliding glass door—no, scratch that, it was more of an accordion-style thing. The kitchen was not only massive, but it also had all state-of-the-art appliances. He was afraid to touch anything for fear he’d break or stain it.

His mom led him through a family room the size of Bryn’s entire house. The television had to be one hundred inches, at least. It was incredible. He’d never seen anything like it before in his entire life. Watching porn on it would probably be more like viewing a horror flick. He pushed that thought right out of his brain as he followed his mom down a hallway, around a bend, and into an office.

“Oh, no,” he said, backing up.

She grabbed him by the wrist and tugged. “Ten minutes. Just give him that.”

He met her stare, ignoring the man sitting behind the large, cherry wood desk. “Why should I?”

“I know if I were to say because I’m asking you to, you’d laugh.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” he said. “However, I don’t owe either of you anything.”

“No. You don’t,” Steve said. “But I’d like the chance to talk to you. Man to man. And since you won’t take my calls, this was the only way I thought that might happen.” Steve stood and waved his hand toward one of the big leather chairs in front of his desk. “Why don’t you take a seat?”

“I’d rather stand, thank you.” Jamison folded his arms across his chest, keeping himself closed off emotionally.

His mom curled her fingers around his biceps. “All I’m asking is that you listen to him.” She squeezed. “I’ll be out back.”

Jamison said nothing. He just stood there. He’d hear the words, but he wasn’t sure he’d take them in. What difference did it make? Steve had made his choice. There were no do-overs when it came to becoming a parent. Especially this late in the game.

Steve pressed his hands to the top of his wood desk. He glanced between the glass doors that looked out over the patio and Jamison. “I’ve lived here for three years, and I believe you and I might have shared ten sentences with each other.”

“I’m standing here not because my mother wants me to, but because I’m tired of being mad at my brothers and I miss them. I am doing this for them. And for my dad. No other reason. So, speak your mind.”

“You remind me of your mother.”

“I get that a lot,” Jamison admitted. In the past, he’d have taken that as a compliment. Actually, he still did. He was proud of his mother. Being the chief of police was no small feat. And she was good at her job. She was a kind woman, too. A good mother.

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