Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
PATIENCE
I couldn’t outrun my past.
Hitting the button to increase the speed, my feet pounded harder and faster against the treadmill belt. But to no avail—punishing my body during my lunch hour wasn’t helping to take the edge off or relieve the stress of what was transpiring that afternoon.
It had been two weeks since Dusty left, and Jett hadn’t ever returned to his condo. In fact, there had been some chatter between us about going back to Gramps’s place with everyone, but there wasn’t anything official in the works.
I loved it there, but there was also something really nice about us having our own space too. It felt like things were growing between the three of us—a true family unit—just like I’d always dreamed of.
Also, having Jett in my bed every night—especially after discovering how phenomenal sex could be with him—was no hardship.
While things for me felt more real than ever, and evolving, we both had pasts to face before we could truly find that forever kind of happily-ever-after. And while I knew there was room for healing, I also knew for Jett the turmoil of what happened would never fully go away.
Jett had started working with the guys slowly, easing into it as he spent time adjusting and going to therapy. Recently, he’d been talking about taking a trip to visit his buddies' families to pay his respects—something he hadn’t been able to do while in the hospital healing.
It might just be some of the closure he needed, and I’d offered to go along if that was what he chose to do. He hadn’t confirmed or denied whether he wanted me with him. I knew that me—or anyone else for that matter—seeing his emotional wounds split wide open was still hard for him.
A part of him was still keeping his feelings close to his chest and bottled up.
For me, I had to get through a mediation with Chaz and his lawyers.
Lawyers being his own father and their team.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my nerves were a mess.
That was my past that I had to disintegrate and leave in the dust so the wrong people—those who didn’t care about my son and only wanted to use him for show—didn’t get their hands on my child.
The only man who was Griffin’s father in every way was Jett, and he was the only person I ever wanted in that role because I knew they loved each other as father and son should.
Was Jett still struggling with that? I knew he was.
Not because Griffin didn’t mean the world to him, but because he still questioned how he felt about himself.
Healing wasn’t easy.
Out of breath, I slowed my pace, bringing myself to a walk just as Alley entered the room. As she approached, I came to a stop and hopped off the treadmill.
Giving me a knowing look, she said, “Blowing off some steam, huh? Did it work?”
Moving to the bench behind me that was against the wall, I grabbed a towel from my bag and wiped the sweat from my face. “Nope.”
She stared at me for a beat then, as always, with so much confidence, and provided her two cents. “If we could all go in that room with you, we would. Hell, I’d even take a bat with me for added measure. But I’ll be in the waiting room for moral support for you and my husband.”
Walking closer, she touched my arm, the softer side of Alley making an appearance. “But I know without a doubt that my husband is going to handle this for you.”
I could have responded by saying she might be a bit biased, but the truth was, from what I had seen and heard, Landon was a kickass lawyer. Not only that, he was as protective of his family and friends as all the military guys were—even though his life never took him into that line of work.
Suddenly, I didn’t know what happened. It was like all the months of stress, heartache, and worry hit me full force, like a landslide trying to take down anything in its path. The floodgates opened, and a mess of tears was set free.
I found myself pulled into the circle of Alley’s arms. She held me tight, just letting me get it all out without saying another word.
After the sobs started to subside, I hiccupped through the final tears. I pulled back out of Alley’s embrace just as the one person I desperately needed to see walked into the room, making a beeline straight for me, worry etched across his handsome face.
Once he stood in front of me, Jett’s gaze scanned my body from head to toe. “Are you hurt?”
Alley started walking away. “I’m going to let you two talk.”
When she was gone, my husband softly cupped my jaw in his hands, bending his knees a bit to look directly into my eyes. I swore sometimes that the bright blue sparkle of his stare could heal someone from the outside in—his globes were like a magical force.
“Talk to me, baby.”
His warm breath and rich masculine scent swirled around me, calming me enough to voice how I was feeling.
“I’m scared they are going to get Griffin.” A shudder ran through me. “Even a second of time in their presence is too much.”
Another tear managed to break free. How was I going to hold it together in the meeting when I was such a disaster?
Jett brushed my tears away. “Listen to me. We are not going to let that happen. I have faith in Landon, and if all else fails, we will go on the run.”
I thought he was joking, but his face was nothing but serious.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Hell no, I’m not. We will not let them touch Griffin.”
This was crazy talk but so freaking sweet.
“You would just up and leave your family?” I asked, knowing that would get him to retract what he’d just said. But instead, he floored me even further.
Wrapping his arms around me, he pulled me flush against him so our faces were centimeters apart.
“You and Griffin are my family.”
Since I couldn’t find the words to express how that made me feel, I poured all my emotions into the kiss I planted on him.
Which went on until a throat cleared behind us, and we broke apart to find Landon standing there. I knew he wanted to go over some stuff before we left.
“I have to change and then I’ll be in your office,” I told him.
Landon smiled, giving a small nod in agreement. “Sounds like a plan,” he replied before turning and leaving the room.
My attention returned to my husband.
“Go change, meet Landon, and I will meet you in the lobby when it’s time to leave.”
Heart beating with hope, my eyes rounded in surprise. I thought he’d have to work since they’d been working on a big security install earlier.
“You’re coming?”
He couldn’t go inside either, nor could Chaz’s wife, Sloane. It would just be the two parties involved, and our lawyers.
“There was never a question I’d be as close to your side as I can be.” He leaned in and gave me a tender kiss. “A few weeks ago, you told me we’re a team. It’s you and me, Roo.”
I will not cry.
“I love you, sweetheart.”
Crap, I was going to cry.
“Love you too,” I managed to get out before the third set of tears trickled down my cheeks.
Maybe I’d be fresh out of tears before we got there and could save face in front of the rich jerks.
Not once did I cry.
From the moment we walked into the building where the mediation was being held, all I felt was anger and determination. With those two feelings at my back, I held strong.
Right there in the lobby, moving toward the elevators, were Chaz and Sloane, along with four other men. All lawyers, I was sure. One I recognized as Chaz’s father, whom Landon despised because of how he operated, and the fact that he was friends with his parents.
I found myself wondering who needed that many lawyers. They meant to intimidate, but I wasn’t letting it get under my skin. This was my fight to win.
Griffin was my son.
Alley only half-whispered, clearly not caring who heard because that was how she rolled. “I feel like this scene is the start of a bad joke. How many lawyers does it take for one idiot to win a case?”
When I snort-laughed, Jett squeezed my hand, and I turned to see him grinning. Why in the world he thought the silly things I did were cute was beyond me.
“Behave, dear,” Landon chided with no heat, laughter in his tone.
I looked over at the happy couple and saw Landon smiling adoringly at Alley.
It didn’t matter what she did; in his eyes, she could do no wrong.
She could be brash, blunt, and very outspoken, but it always served a purpose, and he loved every part of her.
All those things, along with many other amazing qualities were why we all thought she was amazing too.
“Yeah, yeah,” she replied with a huff, like she was put out.
As we reached the elevators, the others stepped inside one that had just arrived.
Sloane turned her back to the wall, watching us with a smug smile on her face as one of the gentlemen I didn’t know held the door.
Her clothes screamed dollar signs, and she clearly thought she was better than all of us—some things never change, even since high school.
Chaz, along with the rest of them were in top-dollar suits that probably cost more than all my clothes combined.
For a brief moment, I felt sad for them; they may be rich, but it was meaningless. As for me, I was rich in love. I had Jett, Griffin, and so many phenomenal friends.
Alley waved them off. “We’ll grab the next one. There’s way too much arrogance in this elevator; it would be stifling.”
The man holding the door let it go as everyone’s mouths fell open. Yup, that was the effect the woman had on people. I was so darn glad she’d come along.
When the doors closed, Landon snaked his arm around his wife’s waist and pulled her close. “What did I just tell you?”
Rolling her eyes, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. “I can’t help it when a situation presents itself.”
The bell dinged, announcing the next elevator, and we all walked in.
“I’ll deal with you when we get home,” Landon said quietly, but I still heard him.
“Promises, promises,” she teased back.
They were too cute, and their banter helped to relax me.
That was until the doors opened, and I knew I had to take one last second to prepare myself for one of the toughest fights of my life.
I’d had a few doozies: being pregnant basically alone, dealing with bullies, and fighting for the relationship I knew was meant to be with Jett.
Jett gently pulled me from the elevator and toward the corner of the waiting room. I noticed Landon and Alley move away, giving us privacy.
“The others are already in the conference room. Are you ready to go in?” the receptionist asked Landon.
He responded. “Give us just a minute, please.”
He said this just as Sloane walked out from a hallway and sat down in one of the chairs. I watched Alley shoot daggers at her with her eyes, and once again I was grateful to have her there with us.
Doing my best to ignore my high school nemesis, I focused my attention back on my husband as he took both my hands in his and looked me in the eyes.
“You got this, sweetheart. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
I shook my head. He was so full of bullpucky. In our circle of friends, every woman was stronger than I was.
He gave my hands a gentle squeeze. “Don’t argue with me. I know you inside and out, and I say you are.”
Blowing out a breath, I left that alone and he continued on.
“Trust Landon; he has your back. I’ll be waiting right here for you.”
I nodded, releasing his hand, and wrapped my arms around his middle, resting my head on his chest. With my ear placed above his heart, I listened to the rhythmic beat and let the sound calm my frayed nerves.
Pulling back, I went up on my toes and gave him a quick, soft kiss. Then, I pushed my shoulders back, held my head high, and walked over to my lawyer—my friend.
“Let’s do this.”