Page 151 of Eight Years Gone

“But I don’t know if I can do this again,” she confessed in a whisper, losing her battle with her tears, never feeling more torn. “He’s hateful and awful the way Logan became. I don’t know if I can ride that roller coaster a second time.”

Jagger gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “I get that, too, but if this is something you want to take on, I’ll be right by your side.”

She sniffled as she wiped at her cheeks. “But you don’t like him.”

“I don’t know him. But I see what you see—a kid in trouble. He’s on a fast track to juvie or worse. I’m not sure I can walk away from that any more than you can.”

“He seems determined to hate me—to hate us both. We might not be able to help him.”

Jagger nodded. “That’s true. He has to want to help himself. But we can try. We’ll do what we can to help him together.”

She swiped at her cheeks again. “What does that mean to you? What does that look like?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it’ll look like whatever it needs to look like.”

“We have no idea where Jessica is. Colton’s been arrested twice. Things don’t seem to be going well in Millsdale.”

“So maybe he stays here for a little while. For a fresh start. But he has to go to school and get a job. He needs to stay out of trouble—to stop being an asshole.”

“That’s a lot to ask of you, Jagger. You were so good to Logan, even when he didn’t deserve it. You’ve always been so good to me. You really want to take this on?”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I love you, Gracie. I’m on board if you want to give this kid a chance.”

She wrapped her arms around him. “I don’t know what to do.”

He slid his hand up and down her side. “We’ll do what we always do—the only thing we can do. Take things one step at a time.”

She eased back again to hold his gaze. “We need to find Jessica. And I have to tell Aunt Maggie. I haven’t wanted to, but Colton’s here.”

“We’ll get everything figured out.”

She exhaled a long breath, trying to believe his reassurances. “You’re truly the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Ditto, baby.” He touched her cheek. “You know, you apologized to me, but I have an apology I owe you.”

She frowned. “For what?”

“For going to see Colton without telling you. I know we don’t keep secrets from each other, but I also know how much all of this has been hurting you. I needed to try to do what I could to fix things.”

She leaned into his touch. “I appreciate the apology, but I’m not upset. You were trying to help me, Jagger.”

He nodded. “I was. I want to make this better for you.”

Her heart melted from the way he loved her so beautifully. “Thank you.”

He tucked her hair behind her ear. “How do you feel about trying to get some sleep?”

She nodded, growing tired as the worst of the emotional storm passed. “We can talk some more in the morning.” She rolled her eyes because it was already after four a.m.

Jagger stood, holding out his hand. “Come on.”

Moments later, Grace locked the door behind them, then walked to the hallway, noting that the light was still on in Colton’s room.

“Do you think we should check on him?”

Jagger shook his head, closing their door before he took off his jeans and shirt, tossing them on the stool in the corner. “Let’s let him be.”

Grace quickly changed into a pair of yoga pants and a sleep cami as Jagger pulled back the covers and got into bed.

---