Chapter 36 Strong And Stubborn #2
“What the hell, Jocelyn?” Jayce yelled. “I’m out of the loop for a few months and then find out who your boyfriend is.”
“Keep it down,” her mother said. “What is wrong with you, Jayce? We told you who she was dating.”
She shut her mother’s door and spun around to face her brother, her hands on her hips. “What the hell is going on with you? I gave you his name. You haven’t had time to call me and talk and you’re going to come marching in here and accuse me of something. I don’t think so. What is your problem?”
“The guy you’re dating. I just found out last night who it was.
I didn’t recognize the name until Gabe said we went to school together.
I looked him up this morning and realized he’s a pothead who got into fights and was suspended all the time.
You couldn’t find anyone better than that?
Or is this just a case of swinging so far in the other direction from Victor? ”
“Jayce Steven!” her mother snapped. “Watch your tone and accusations without knowing all the facts.”
“That’s right!” Jocelyn yelled back. She didn’t need anyone to bring up Victor right now. “You know nothing other than what you heard then. He’s not that person and never was other than being labeled it.” Which wasn’t the complete truth, but it’d be good enough for now.
“I know enough. He might have turned his life around, but you can do so much better. It doesn’t surprise me a child just dropped on his doorstep. He probably has more than one.”
She took a step toward her brother and her mother jumped up and got between them.
“Enough, Jayce. If you can’t be bothered to talk to us half the time and find out the facts, then don’t come in here insulting anyone.
Chance and his son are going to be at the house tomorrow for the holiday and I won’t tolerate any fights, moods, or nasty comments.
He’s a nice guy who had a hard upbringing.
I raised you better than the way you’re acting. ”
“We both were raised better,” she said. “How dare you come here and say anything bad about him when you don’t even know him now? Gabe knows him and likes him. Did he tell you that?”
Jayce was looking back and forth between her and her mother. “Yeah.”
“And you trust Gabe more than you trust me. In terms of judgment.”
“Hello,” Jayce said. “Two words. Jack and Victor. You always end up with losers. Why can’t you date someone on your own level for once?”
“Oh, fuck you,” she said.
“Jocelyn! We’re at work,” her mother said.
She had to get it out. All the frustration of the last month was building and her twin was the one who would be the recipient of her tongue-lashing for making her feel as if she wasn’t enough. She’d felt that more than she cared to in her life.
By men, and the last person she wanted it from was family.
“Fine,” she said. “We’re at work. Which Jayce should have remembered before he came marching in here being a dick.”
At least she hissed the last word out.
“I don’t know what is wrong with you, Jayce,” her mother said. “But you better get your shit together. I don’t care that I haven’t seen you in months, I won’t put up with this tomorrow. Chance and his son are guests, and they will be more welcome than you.”
Both Jocelyn and Jayce shrank back with those words she hadn’t expected.
“Thanks a lot, Mom,” Jayce said.
Her mother walked out of the office to cool down leaving her there with her twin. “What is going on with you? Seriously? This was uncalled for.”
Jayce sighed and sat in the chair, she walked over and shut the door again. “Sorry. I’ve got a lot going on and on my mind. Shit with work.”
“That doesn’t excuse you to say what you did. Or say it that way.”
“How well do you know him?” Jayce asked more calmly. “Because you thought you knew the last two guys and look how that turned out.”
“Are you worried you’re going to have to go with Gabe and put Chance in his place if he messes with my head?” she asked, laughing. “Sorry, but he’s a lot bigger and tougher than my exes.”
“It’s not funny,” Jayce said.
“It kind of is. You don’t have to like him, but you can’t treat him like you’re talking. I mean that. Or we won’t come tomorrow. He’s had a rough time of it and doesn’t need this.”
“Answer me this—do you love him?”
She hadn’t said it to anyone. Not even to herself. “I don’t know.”
“Yeah, you know but are holding back. Ask yourself why that is.”
Because she was afraid she was alone in her feelings and didn’t want to be hurt again.
“It’s between me and Chance. I just want you not to be a jerk. Think you can handle that tomorrow?”
“Yes,” he said. “But I’m still going to talk to him.”
“That’s fine. He’ll expect it. But he told me he liked you back in school. Or that you were decent to him when few others were. Just thought you should know that.”
She turned and left the room, hoping that was enough to knock some sense into her brother.
“I’ve got news to share,” Garrett said almost at a jog into his brother’s office.
“How did it go with Jim?”
Garrett waved his hand. “That was good. I didn’t expect differently. This has to do with Jocelyn?”
“Oh,” Grant said, rubbing his hands. “Any updates?”
“A lot. Jim called her in for the meeting, then set her up to spill what was going on in her life.”
“Is she still dating someone? Jim made it seem as if it was Chance with the way he’s been dropping clues and nodding his head without saying the actual name.”
“It is Chance. I don’t have all the facts, but guess he found out he has a child.
Jim said a two-year-old. They are navigating things there, but it appears Jocelyn is very close with the child and watches him a lot when Chance is at the firehouse.
I’m not sure if the mother is in the picture and didn’t feel right asking that. ”
“If anyone knows what it’s like to find out they’ve got a child, it’s Ryder. It takes getting used to. Chance seems like the type of guy to step up,” Grant said.
“Jim says he’s got custody of the child, so it’s not just stepping up, it’s taking over. A lot of changes and Jocelyn is there front and center helping him through. As much as I’d love to say we had a hand in this, I’m not sure that is the case.”
“It’s always the case when we think about it. Even when we push some,” Grant said.
“We like to tell ourselves those things, but it’s not always true,” he said. “Though there might come a time we have to step in. I think the four of us need to check out this pub of his soon.”
“That’s the best way to find out more,” Grant said. “Maybe with Jim and Stacy, as they’ll know when Chance is working. You know, if Jocelyn has his son or not.”
“I feel devious about this,” he said.
Grant laughed. “That’s all part of the fun.”