Page 44 of Jackass

Jack’s words caught me off guard. I turned my head to him, confused.

“What do you mean,ifshe continues working?” Carrie asked before I could.

“Exactly what I said.” Jack turned to me. “You don’t have to work, Sammy, unless you want. I can support you and Charlie. And any more babies we might have,” he added with a wink.

Shit.

“How can you support them? You don’t even have a suitable place for them to live!” Carrie gaped at me. “Sammy, you aren’t having more children, are you?”

I closed my eyes. I couldn’t do this right now. The two of them had my head spinning.

“Jack, Carrie, you both need to stop.”

Oh my God, I forgot Beck was even here.

I looked over and mouthedthank you.

“But—”

“No, Carrie. Samantha has been through a lot the last few days, and she will not, nor should she be expected to make all her life decisions right here in this moment.”

At that moment, I wanted to be Beck when I grew up.

“Carrie, it was nice getting to know you. Now it’s time you headed home. Jack, Sammy, and Charlie are going to spend some time together as a family,” Beck said. “Oh, and Jack?”

“Yes, ma’am?” Jack answered with a smirk.

“Don’t you ma’am me, asshole. No making plans for the future today! Let Sammy and Charlie have fun and see the less angry you that we all love.”

Beck ushered Carrie out the door while I picked up the coffee and snack remnants left on the coffee table. I wasn’t leaving her to clean up the mess Charlie made.

Walking into the kitchen, I left Jack and Charlie whispering in the living room. Beck came back inside after seeing Carrie out to her car.

“Thank you, Beck.”

“My pleasure. It was getting a little tense in there for me. I can’t imagine how you were feeling,” Beck said as she rinsed the dishes and placed them in the dishwasher.

“I don’t know what has gotten into Carrie. I’ve never seen her act that way.” Where had my sweet, helpful friend gone?

“She’s probably just feeling the upheaval as much as you are. Charlie, however, seems to have settled right in with Jack and the rest of the guys,” Beck marveled.

“I think she might have a little crush on King. She informed me there were no bad words, only grown-up words, thanks to King,” I said, shaking my head.

“I mean, who doesn’t?” Beck chuckled. “I did myself until Ifound out he was my uncle.” There was a noticeable shiver when she said that, then she added with a smile, “I am still in awe of him, though.”

“I don’t know. He’s always seemed scary to me. Though Grace isn’t the least bit afraid of him.” I laughed. “She gets right up in his face. The other day, she flat out challenged him when he tried to intimidate her.”

“I love Grace. I want to be her when I grow up,” Beck stated. “I have a bit of clout with the guys because of my dad and my uncle, but there are still a few that make me nervous. And don’t get me started on the guys from the mother chapter.”

“Beck, can I ask you something?” I asked, looking toward the living room.

“Samantha, you can ask me anything,” she assured me.

Turning back to look at my friend—we had only known each other for a few months, but I definitely counted her as a friend, and one who might have answers for me.

“How did you feel when you found out the sheriff was your father?”

Beck’s eyes softened when I asked the question. I could tell she knew exactly what I was asking.