Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
He smelled of Jessie—a light scent of salty sweat, the deodorant that he put on in the mornings after his run, and a spearmint scent that was probably from the gum that he chewed while he was welding.
He hadn’t had a chance to go home and shower, and he was still in his work clothes.
He wasn’t too dirty, though, meaning he actually got to do his job today—which was boss people around instead of covering for someone that didn’t show. That in and of itself was a miracle, because it wasn’t often that everybody showed up.
“My boy have anything else to say to you today?” he questioned me.
I shook my head and let him go, ducking underneath his arm to stop at his side and study Achilles as he made circles around Aaron and Imogen’s small but well maintained yard.
“No, not really,” I shrugged. “I got home from work and he was shut up in his room. He didn’t come out until it was time for us to leave. Though, we did have a fairly good talk on the way here.”
“About what?” He looked down at me, giving me his full attention.
His large brown eyes were almost black in the dim light of the setting sun, and I couldn’t resist leaning up onto my tippy toes to place my mouth against his softly.
“Not about what happened earlier in the day, but about other things. About how he’s not the only one being played like a violin when it comes to his mother and her situation,” I finally said, dropping back down to my heels and willing my belly to stop turning somersaults at Jessie’s nearness. “I explained to him that when he gives in to her by doing what she wants, he is also putting you in the position to do what she wants because you’d do whatever you had to do to make sure he wasn’t hurt. I also told him that she knows all of this, and she’s counting on being able to use him to get to you.”
He snorted in agreement. “You got that right.”
Achilles finally went to the bathroom, then walked over to the steps that led up to the patio area where Jessie and I were standing and collapsed in an exhausted heap at our feet.
“He also told me that he wants to go to school close to home,” I said. “LSU, as a matter of fact.”
He tensed.
“That was where I wanted to go, too,” he said quietly. “That was the one place that I always had my sights set on.”
I smiled gently, giving him a light squeeze where my arm was wrapped around his back. “I know. You used to talk about that place like you wanted to live there. Though, from what I understand, you hadn’t been there but once when you were fourteen.”
He nodded. “I was fourteen. One and only time I’ve ever visited there.”
My smile was sad, because I knew that Jessie was every bit as good of a player as his son. Jessie could have been a star player at Louisiana State University.
“I wish you could have had the same chances that Linc has,” I said. “But, for that to have happened, he wouldn’t be here so I won’t complain. You’ve raised a really great kid, Jessie.”
I found my lips turning up into a grin.
“Kid’s given me more gray hairs in his short life than I ever imagined I’d have,” he commented. “But I wouldn’t trade him for a freakin’ thing.”
“I’m proud of how well you’ve raised him, and you should be, too,” I continued. “He’s polite, respectful and honest. He’s everything that you used to be at his age.”
His lips twitched. “I was a bad kid. Linc, on the other hand, is everything I never got the chance to be.”
***
Jessie
She snorted delicately and turned so her front was pressed against mine. “You were a good kid dealing with a shit situation. You did the best you could with what you were given, and you managed to come out of it on the other side whole. You have a wonderful son who you’ve molded into the fine man he is becoming, and you did it all on your own.”
The last part was said into my chest, and I had to work to keep from growling in appreciation at her words.
“It means a lot to hear you say that, baby,” I rumbled quietly. “Sometimes I think I’ve fucked more things up when raising him than I’ve done right, but I agree, he’s a good kid. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
She tightened her arms around me, and I lifted both of mine to wrap around her back, holding her to me tightly.
“My parents said I would fail,” I told her. “Said I’d kill him in the first two years. I actually saw them a few months ago.”