“Hmm.”
“And, no. Don’t go thinking he seems less burdened because he’s here, away from you, and is planning on jetting. It was more . . . I don’t know . . . he looked content. God, I sound like my mother using that word, but that’s the best way I can explain it.”
“Okay. Content is good.” Here with me is better though.
“He stopped by your desk, you know.”
“My old desk?”
“Nah. It’s still yours. McMann hasn’t done anything with it. He didn’t do the normal have someone pack your shit up in a box and leave it at the front desk thing. Your stuff is all still there, right where you left everything.”
“Oh. That’s news to me.”
“Rumor is, Vince went to bat for you and told McMann that if you go, he goes type of shit.”
“Jesus Christ. The last thing I need—”
“It’s the first thing you need. Your man going to bat for you? Threatening for you? Girl, eat that shit up. Let him feel like he’s taking care of you even though we all know you can take care of yourself.”
“I know, but . . .”
“But nothing. Vince hasn’t texted you, he hasn’t called you, and yet he’s still trying to take care of you. Why don’t you use that to ease your worry—and don’t say he’s getting your job back for you because he’s planning on leaving you. No, he’s doing it because he values how fiercely independent you are and knows there is no way in hell you’re going to let him pull the Cinderella shit on you.”
“Cinderella shit?” I laugh.
“Yeah, sweep you off your feet, hide you away in a castle, and never let you work again.”
The thought does sound appealing—the not having to work for McMann part—but she’s right. I’d totally overthink it. I should find comfort in the fact that Vince knows me so well he’s trying to retain my independence for me.
“For the record, he was standing in your cube, with the framed collage of you and Jagger in his hand, just staring at it with a soft smile on his face. I thought you might want to know that.”
Tears well in my eyes as a smile ghosts over my lips. Yeah, I definitely wanted to know that. Needed to.
I clear the emotion from my throat. “Hey, Simone?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. I needed to hear all of this. To talk to you. Thank you.”
“Girl, I’ll talk you off the ledge any day.” She sighs. “And don’t worry. I’ll think of ways that you can repay me.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “I’m sure you will.”
We hang up, a smile on my face, and my heart lighter than it has been this past week. We’ve been holed up here without anything but each other, calls to my parents, and nothing but time to let my thoughts run wild.
Simone was what I was missing. What I didn’t know I needed.
“Was that him, Momma? Is Vince coming back?”
I shield my eyes, look his way, and smile. “Not yet. Soon. I promise, he’s coming home soon.” And for the first time, I truly believe it.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Bristol
“Congratulations. I’m so proud of you.” Tears well, but I blink them away as Jagger sits in front of me on the computer and makes funny faces at Vince through the screen.
He finally called—or even better, he FaceTimed so I can see his handsome face. So I can be reassured by the look in his eyes and the smile on his lips. So I can see what Simone saw.
He looks good. Content. Like the same Vince who left here but with less of the world weighing on him.
Maybe all this worrying was for nothing.
Maybe I was right to finally trust him. Trust that he’s coming back to me.
Maybe—
“Hey, Shug?”
“Yes. Sorry.” I smile and even through the connection, I know he can see the relief and love in my eyes. “What?”
“The two weeks hasn’t turned into a month.”
I nod, not trusting my voice. Not wanting to show Jagger the worry I’ve hidden from him this whole time. “Okay.”
“I’m glad you decided to stay at the house. In Washington.”
“We did.” I couldn’t bear to be the one who walked away with so much at stake. “We stayed.” I smile through the lone tear that slips over. “I’m still fighting.”
“Me too,” he whispers. “Don’t plan on me ever stopping. Be home in a few days.”
Our eyes hold before Jagger demands more attention, pulling laughter from us. And for the first time in thirteen days, I feel like I can finally stop holding my breath.
Home.
Is that what this is? Because right now, home feels like wherever he is . . . and he isn’t here.
But he will be soon.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Vince
I open the front door in silence, wanting to surprise Bristol and Jagger. I also want to rush in, wrap my arms around them, and never let go.
Talk about how quickly life changes.
A part of me wants to call out. To announce I’m home. To get the fanfare that comes with it. Something I’ve never experienced before.
The other part of me wants to walk in quietly and surprise them. To see the looks on their faces when I do. To make it about them and not about me.
I saw the worry in Bristol’s eyes the other day. The fear that I was going to run. If she only knew the only place I wanted to run was back to her.
I set my stuff down in the entryway and move quietly into the great room. My feet falter when I see Jagger. He’s sitting at the kitchen counter with a partially built Lego set in front of him. His brow is furrowed as he reads the instructions.
My entire body fills with a love like I’ve never known before.
How could I fear that I’d ever treat a child like my father did me? I don’t understand how that’s even possible when I look at him. I love him. It’s an insane concept considering the short amount of time we’ve known each other, but I do.
“Jagg,” I whisper and catch him in the hug he gives when he launches himself at me.
I hold on. I breathe him in. I love on him in a way my father never did to me.
What’s with this dad shit and getting emotional?
“You’re back.” He leans back and looks at me, arms still around my neck.
“I am.” He studies me as if he’s making sure I look the same. “Where’s your momma?”
“Shh.” He holds a finger to his lips. “She’s on a Zoom with her professor. I’m supposed to be quiet, and if I am, she’ll give me a treat when she’s done.” I take in the smear of chocolate on his lips. He notices that I do and smiles sheepishly. “I might have already snuck one.”
“So I noticed.” I laugh and lift him up and set him on the counter in front of me so we can be pseudo eye to eye. “But I’m glad she’s on the Zoom because I wanted to talk to you about something, man to man.”
“You do?” He sits a little straighter. “Even before you see Momma?”
“Even before I see your mom.” I rest my hands on the tops of his knees.
“You’re not leaving again, are you?”
“No,” I say immediately. “I’m here. I’m back. And Jagg, buddy? I’m ready to handle all of your awesomeness.”
The words are out before I can stop them, but the minute they are, I wonder how his young mind will compute them. Will he realize I’m his real dad? Or will he understand that I’m just a man making a choice . . . and I choose him?
His eyes widen and his lips purse. “Does that mean we get to live together? Like all the time?”
I chuckle and reach out to ruffle his hair. “Well, that’s what I needed to talk to you about. You see, you’ve been the man of the house for seven years now. I need to ask you if you think it would be okay if I shared those duties with you.”
“Really?” His cute nose scrunches up and his chest puffs out.
“Really. I love your mom an awful lot. I have for a long time. And—”
“Do you think you could love me too?” His bottom lip trembles and my heart all but shatters.
“What I was going to say, Jagg, is that I already love you too.”
A tentative smile spreads as he blinks back his tears. He whispers, “I already love you too but felt silly saying it.”