Page 134 of Third and Ten

“You should go. I’ll have Mr. Mark reach out to you later.”

I throw my purse over my shoulder, preparing to stomp out of his office. “Good, because I think I’d prefer to work with someone who has the balls to help me do whatever it takes to get my kid back.”

“What did you just say?” he asks, leaning over with his hands on his desk.

“You heard me,” I step closer again, hoping to show him I’m not intimidated.

“And you seriously think I’m the chicken here?”

I shrug. “I’m not the one running…not anymore.”

“Then why the hell did you torture him for so long? How am I supposed to believe you really want to marry him after you wouldn’t even consider dating him?”

I frown. “I knew he was far too good for me from the beginning, so I pushed him away at first. I didn’t think I deserved him, and I couldn’t trust myself not to screw things up.”

“None of us deserve him,” he mumbles.

“You’re right. But I’m not going anywhere, and I plan to spend the rest of my life trying to make him as happy as he makes me, with or without your blessing. So, do you think you can get over yourself and help me, at least for your brother’s sake?” I stare him down with my hands on my hips.

To my surprise, he laughs. “For my brother’s sake, huh?”

“Look, we both know what this is really about. Not that it’s any of your business, but we have our reasons for waiting, and I promise I’ll make it up to him later. Now, would you please tell me what I have to do to get Ethan back?”

He stares at me with an amused expression for a second longer, then he gives me a short nod and settles behind his desk. He picks up the phone and asks his receptionist to get Ryan from the Jameson Law Office on the phone, narrowing his eyes at me and gesturing for me to sit.

“Hey, Ryan? It’s Blake Bourgeois. How’s it going, man? Yeah, yeah,” he begins, leaning back in his fancy chair and crossing his legs. “Listen, I’m sure you already know why I’m calling, right?” he says with an obviously fake laugh. “Right. But look, you know Tenley still has custody for now, and Ethan wants to come home. Sure, he does. Well, have you asked him, buddy? Oh, yeah, teenagers, right?” He forces another laugh before his tone gets more serious.

“But seriously, she’s willing to call off the sheriff’s department and give you some weekend visitation for now if you send him back this afternoon. No, no, we know he’s not in school over there yet. He was never withdrawn from Camellia High. How do I know? Come on, Ryan, I’m sure he’s told you that JD and his aunt are pretty hot and heavy, which means E and I are tight, too.”

I can’t help it when Blake’s claim on Ethan warms my heart.

“No, I understand. I do. But I’ve got friends at the DA’s office, same as you, and this is personal for me. So, what do you say, man? Are you sending Ethan back today so you can have him next weekend, or do you want the whole neighborhood to witness the deputy knocking on your door within the hour?”

Blake’s cocky expression looks promising. I bite my lip, barely able to contain my excitement.

“Great, no, that’s great. I’m just glad we’re all on the same page. Oh, yeah. Appreciate it. See you next month in court. All right, later, man.”

He hangs up the phone and waggles his eyebrows. “Big E should be home for dinner.”

“Are you serious? Oh, my gosh, Blake, thank you so much!” I can’t help myself as I lean over his desk and squeeze his forearm in a gesture of gratitude. But I pull my hand back quickly once I realize it’s probably unwelcome.

He shrugs, ignoring the contact I initiated. “I did it for Ethan.”

“You could have done it for Ethan a few days ago, you know,” I grumble playfully.

“I wasn’t sure it was in Ethan’s best interest until today,” he replies. “And I wasn’t going to make empty threats unless I knew you’d be willing to back them up.”

I smile. “Blake?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you. And I meant what I said before. I’ll do everything I can to make JD happy.”

He nods. “I’ll hold you to it, Tenley.”

CHAPTER 40

JD

---