Page 145 of Eight Years Gone
He hurried around to his side, determined to keep the light in Grace’s eyes. Things weren’t working out as she’d hoped, but he and Grace were going to pick up the pieces and get back to the damn good life they were building.
Thirty-Five
Jagger pulled up in front of Mario’s Pizzeria, parking in the same metered spot he occupied yesterday.
He took off his seat belt and then killed the engine, staring at the kid through the restaurant window who’d told him and Grace to fuck off.
He’d planned to leave things the way they’d been left, but he’d watched Grace force too many smiles at the water park and then at dinner last night.
When they got out of bed this morning to start their day, she’d wrapped herself around him, telling him she needed a minute to hold on.
She was hurting—a consistent theme in her life when it came to matters with her father.
Steve had always been an excellent provider, but as a loving, supportive dad, he’d sucked ass. Even from the grave, he continued to bring his daughter pain.
Jagger sighed as he glanced at his watch, well aware that Grace’s little brother should have been at school instead of slinging pizzas for minimum wage.
It was clear that Colton Sawyer had more in common with Logan than the Evans’ good looks. Colton was making shitty life choices like his big brother had.
Getting out, he went inside, meeting Colton’s gaze. On cue, he watched hostility fill the kid’s brown eyes.
Colton shook his head, not bothering to hide his disgust. “And he’s back. The football star.”
Jagger walked up to the counter in the mostly empty restaurant. “My name’s Jagger.”
“I don’t care. Jagger.”
“Look, man. Grace doesn’t know I’m here. I’m not planning to harass you—”
“Yet here you are.”
“You made yourself perfectly clear,” Jagger continued, ignoring the kid’s nasty attitude. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not making a mistake. Grace had no idea you existed until last week.”
“Thanks for filling me in. That makes everything better.” Colton leaned his arms against the counter, his posture rigid with vile condemnation. “So, tell me this. Big sister’s swung by. You’re here again. Why hasn’t big brother stopped by to plead his case?”
Jagger ignored the embers of irritation, reminding himself that Colton was a stupid, pissed-off kid—something he had once been. “Because he’s dead.”
Colton stood straight again as he blinked his surprise. “Oh.”
“Apparently it’s been a while since you went hunting for information.”
Colton jerked his shoulders. “I looked Steve up after I found out who the asshole was that wanted nothing to do with me. I saw his perfect little family on Google Images and decided you could all fuck off.”
Jagger nodded, even when Colton clearly had it all wrong. “Steve’s family was far from perfect.”
“Yeah. Poor little rich kids,” Colton said as he touched his hand to his heart.
Jagger clenched his jaw, deciding it was time to get to the point. He only had so much patience. “From what I can tell, you’re short on family. Your life’s not exactly heading in an exciting direction—”
Colton scoffed out a laugh. “Fuck you, man. I’m doing just fine.”
Jagger raised his brow. “A juvenile record and dream employment. Serving pizzas and washing cars at a dealership.”
Colton’s shoulders snapped straight as his eyes grew wide. “You checked me out?”
“You’re damn right. Do you think I would let you anywhere near Grace until I had some idea of who you are?”
Jagger pulled a business card out of his pocket that listed his name and cell phone number on it—discreet the way Jason Gray liked it. He set it on the counter. “Toss this or keep it. I won’t be back. I just hope you’ll give Grace a chance. She’s a hell of a woman to have in your corner.”