Page 94 of Just Like That
I listened to the rhythm of her breathing until it felt like we were inhaling and exhaling in tandem.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I like when you’re honest with me.”
I hadn’t told anyone else about the meeting with my father, and I found Ilikedbeing honest with her. “He’s taking a deal.” My bitter voice cut through the darkness.
Hazel rolled toward me. “Who? Your dad?”
I nodded, reining in the seething hatred his presence produced. “I went to confront him, and he practically laughed in my face.” I let loose a pathetic sigh. “He’s pinning it on Bootsy and Bowlegs and taking a plea deal. I have to face the fact that he’s won.”
“Isn’t there anything you can do?” she whispered.
A dark chuckle rumbled through me. “Besides hiring someone to kill him and make all of my problems go away? Unlikely.”
Hazel went stiff beside me. “You wouldn’t ... I mean—you’re joking right?”
I was, wasn’t I?Sure as hell didn’t feel like it.
“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t want to think about him right now.” I curled into her, pushing away my problems and bathing in her warmth.
Her hands found the sides of my face. “Promise me, JP. Promise me you won’t do anything that you’ll regret later.”
I looked into her caramel-colored eyes and told her the only truth I knew. “I won’t lie to you, and I will never promise you anything I can’t deliver.”
She swallowed hard and nodded.
I knew I hadn’t done a very good job reassuring her, but I meant it when I said I wouldn’t lie to her. I still hadn’t figured out exactly what I was going to do about my father and his impending plea deal. He sure as fuck wasn’t about to go free and think he could come back here to find things the way they once were.
I’d worked too long and too hard.
My hands stroked across her soft skin until her breathing was deep and steady.
“Hey, I have an idea.” I said it into the darkness, unsure whether Hazel was even awake.
“Mmm?” Her hum indicated she was on the cusp of dreaming, but I kissed her head and continued anyway.
“We did the camping thing and the thrift shop date thing ... but now I want to show you what a real date with me is like.” I was already grinning like a fool as one idea leaped over another.
“That sounds good.” Her hand reached up, and she clamped a drowsy hand over my face. “Now shut up and go to sleep.”
I chuckled, pulling her into me and settling into sleep.
She’s got no idea what’s coming for her.
THIRTY
HAZEL
“You didwhat?”Surely he wasn’t serious.
JP glanced at me as he filled his mug with strong black coffee. His face twisted in that pissy way that always made me want to smile. “What? I made a few calls so Teddy has viable options.”
I blinked at him. “So you’re telling me that you’re giving a seven-year-old the option between sleepovers and Lego camp orItaly?”
He took a sip and shrugged. “Essentially. But ultimately, I’ll leave the decision up to you.”
My brain couldn’t keep up and the room started to spin. “Italy.”
“That’s the plan.” He walked past and dropped a kiss on my head like he hadn’t just told me that we could be leaving for Italy in two days. “But first we’ll go to the Fireside Flannel Festival. I didn’t want to miss showing Teddy the carnival.”