CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CAYLEE
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Amy pops her head into the clinic, and both Brad and I glance up. She gives me a toothy, awkward grin.
“You have got to be kidding me. Who is it today?” I drop the patient file onto the bench and shoot Brad an apologetic look.
“Scarlett and your cute niece are here to see you,” Amy clarifies.
What is going on? I’ve never had lunch with so many friends and family members in one month, let alone one year.
I rip off my lab coat and sigh. “Fine, tell her I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Go. But make sure you’re back on time.” Brad waves me off.
I wasn’t asking his permission. What I do during my lunch break is my business.
I keep those thoughts to myself.
I grab my purse from my locker, then use the bathroom. I need to get to the bottom of these lunch visits, but I suspect it has something to do with me getting back together with Jake.
I am going to kick some ass if it is.
Then again, maybe I need to do some looking in the mirror. He’s disappeared a few times over the weekend, but I heard the woman’s voice, and it did sound like someone older.
I don’t believe he’s having an affair.
Why would he?
Why would he go to all the trouble to be with me, only to have another woman on the side? I guess people do, though.
I just wish he would introduce me to his parents. us. It’s Thanksgiving this weekend, and he hasn’t said a word.
I am hurt.
I head into the waiting room and immediately spot Zara kicking her fat baby legs in her stroller, and my mood lifts.
“Aren’t you supposed to be with Mom today?”
Scarlett stands, tugging her black tunic into place. “Nope. She canceled.”
I frown. “Is she okay?”
Mom would have to be on the edge of death to not see her granddaughter. She loves Zara.
She waves out a hand. “Yes, of course. She’s just sick of us.”
I deadpan her. Scarlett is the worst liar in the world, but I’m not bringing it up here. “Fine, let’s go.”
We head to a cafe around the corner and get coffee and sandwiches. Scarlett gives Zara a bottle and nibbles on her food while I chat away.
It feels forced.
I finally run out of patience.
“Did Cole send you?” I ask, wiping my mouth on my paper napkin.
“Cole might send me insane, but he doesn’t send me anywhere.”
I give her that look.
“Scar.”
“What?” She won’t look me in the eye.
“Is this about Jake? Because it’s not like I joined a cult and need an intervention. He’s a guy I’m dating. Not dangerous—hell, he works for BHS—and sure, we had a bumpy start, but we’re taking it slow and working things out.”
She stares at me.
“I overexplained, didn’t I?”
Bumping Zara up and down on her knee, Scarlett nods.
“Damn it,” I mutter. “He hasn’t invited me to Thanksgiving, and I don’t know if he’s coming to ours. I asked, and he gave this random answer and...I don’t want to push.”
“I would.”
I snort.
Nobody would question that. But I’m not Scarlett. I’m not a wallflower, either, but when you invite a guy to your family for Thanksgiving, or any other holiday, and he doesn’t give you a straight answer, well...you need to pay attention.
I have stuck my head in the sand where it was nice and comfortable.
“What’s wrong with me that he wouldn’t want me to meet his family?” I slump.
“Have you seen your nose?”
“Just remember, I could kidnap your daughter and get halfway across the country before anyone realizes she’s not mine.”
Scarlett glances at me and Zara. “Good point. Your nose is beautiful.”
I chuckle, her attempt at cheering me up having worked.
“I’m okay. Jake and I will either work or we won’t. Please tell the entire family to stop turning up for lunch. It’s annoying. No offense.”
“Offense taken.”
“Good,” I stand, taking Zara out of her arms. “Then you will all stay away.”
She laughs. It’s hard to make Scarlett laugh so I give myself a mental pat on the back.
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JAKE
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“YOU DIDN’T TELL her, right?”
“The fuck do you think I do for a living man?” Cole grunts. “Scarlett thinks she was on a reconnaissance mission to make sure you and Caylee are in a good place.”
What the hell does that mean?
I keep my lips zipped because going down that path will only end with me getting another black eye.
“Well, tell your family to stay away because otherwise Thornton will start to get suspicious.”
“Trust me, Scarlett getting suspicious was far more possible and dangerous. She wanted to know why I went for lunch. Then after I made up some shit about you two, she decided she needed to check on Caylee, too.”
Christ.
“What did you...never mind.”
He grunts.
I sigh and run a hand over my face. When we learned Scarlett had gone in there today, I had to find out what was going on. Any unusual behavior can trigger guilty people.
“So, your parents were a no-show last weekend. That upset my sister. Are you coming for Thanksgiving?”
God help me.
I can’t.
I need to be with my family, and there is no way in hell that Caylee is coming.
“I’ll speak to Caylee.”
“No, you will speak to me.” Cole uncrosses his arms and pushes away from the wall. “You’ve upset her enough times. What’s the deal, man?”
“No offense,” I pump my chest and take a step. “But you’re not her father, she’s not seventeen, and this is our business.”
“My sister is my business.”
I grit my teeth.
“Let it go,” I growl.
“Fuck you. Caylee deserves someone who cares about her. I told you once before, if you’re using her, you will answer to me.”
It is going to start looking that way, and maybe I thought I was, but I do care about her. My feelings are growing every day.
Which means I need to walk away now.
Because if I feel like this, then I am going to seriously hurt her this time.
I don’t have a choice. My parents would lose their minds if I brought her home and exposed what we are.
What I am.
The son of a drunk.
A man who let a murderer walk free.
That’s not something I can ever change.