Chapter 10 #3
“That’s rough. I’m sorry.”
He really seemed to mean it.
“I got through it. I’m just one of those people better alone, I guess. It always seems like those I should be able to trust have an agenda. I’m not doing that anymore.”
She thought about telling him the full truth about the miscarriage she’d suffered but decided against it. That had been the most traumatic event of her life. Then he’d accused her of deliberately getting rid of the baby.
Not to mention the rumors that had spread like wildfire through the school. She’d gone from captain of the cheerleading team to instant pariah. Eventually, some of the students stopped shunning her, but she’d already been forced from the team and had lost her standing.
Not even her parents had been on her side.
She blocked that memory from her mind. No, she couldn’t broach that subject. Not yet.
“Hey,” she said. “I’m sure you heard of the girl who’d overdosed earlier this week?”
He shifted next to her. “Yeah. I heard about that. There have been others too.”
She let her head fall back against the cold cave wall. “I know. I don’t remember this being such an issue before.”
He hesitated.
“You might as well say it.”
“Have you watched the news? The coverage of the drugs in the schools and through all of Renegade?”
“I have. It sounds pretty nasty.”
“Well, there’s a new drug out. It’s extremely addictive. It’s everywhere.”
She’d heard of it. “How is it spreading so fast? Doesn’t it mess with the mind?”
“That’s putting it mildly. My guess? Someone is getting kids hooked on it, and then the kids are dealing it so they can afford to buy it to support their own habit.”
Mia shuddered. She wanted to believe such evil only existed in books and movies. But obviously, that would be naive. Especially since she knew people affected by these drugs.
Not just affected. Dying. Young people who should have had their entire lives ahead of them.
Jackson cleared his throat. “I can’t help wondering what’s happening to Dylan and Reggie. Dylan was so upset when the judge denied me custody. All he wanted was for us to be a family again.”
“What happened?” She could have kicked herself. That had to be a sore subject. “Never mind. I shouldn’t pry.”
“No. That’s okay.” How to explain? “You recall my best friend in high school? Kevin?”
“I do.”
“Well, after graduation, I enlisted in the Army. I convinced Kevin to go on one last adventure with me. He wasn’t really enthusiastic, but he went. He got hurt. His leg got mangled so bad he lost it below the knee. He lost his football scholarship.”
“Oh no! But Jackson, you can’t blame yourself. He could have said no.” Mia’s heart twisted in her chest.
“Thanks. But I shouldn’t have pushed. Anyway, even if I didn’t blame myself, his dad blamed me.”
She frowned. “I’m so sorry. But how is that related to your losing custody?”
He blew out a hard breath. “Kevin’s dad was the judge.”
Horror welled up inside her. “So he took it out on you? And Dylan?”
“Yep. I almost missed the hearing. The date was suddenly changed and the notice mailed to the wrong address. Of course, I can’t prove that wasn’t an accident.”
Mia bolted upright. The blanket fell from her shoulders. “That’s awful! Is that even legal?”
He shrugged, his arm rubbing against hers. “I don’t know, but even if it’s not, what can I do about it? Yeah, I have friends on the police force, but he’s a judge. And he’s in the middle of a campaign for a statewide office. Who do you think has more clout?”
“I don’t care! It’s not fair to punish you like this. And Dylan! What about the judge’s legal obligation?”
“Who knows? Maybe after my history with Kevin, he really believes I’m unfit.”
She heard the doubt in his voice. “You’re not.”
He didn’t respond immediately. A thick silence fell between them. “I’m surprised to hear you say that. Even a couple of days ago, I’m sure you would have agreed with him.”
She flinched at the reminder of how bitter she’d been. “I guess I’ve grown up a little in the last few days. I’ve seen for myself how much you care for him.”
Next to her, Jackson shifted. Had she made him uncomfortable with her praise?
“I wasn’t very kind to you in high school,” he said.
Her mind froze for a second. “You were a kid. So was I. I’ve held that against you long enough.”
He cleared his throat. “I appreciate that.”
She changed position to see him better. Next to her, he shifted again, this time toward her. “I wish—”
They both moved suddenly. His face came close, too close. She stilled as his warm breath washed over her cheek, her lips. If she moved an inch, their lips would connect.
The sudden longing shocked her to her soul, and she forgot what she’d planned to say.
Danger alarms went off in her brain. She pulled her head away from his, bumping it in the process. A little pain seemed a small price to pay for avoiding the temptation she’d almost given in to.
She should be reeling with relief that she’d escaped a mistake that could have changed the tentative friendship growing between them.
Instead, a sense of loss flooded her.