Chapter 8

Lance

I wasn't even out of the parking lot when I opened my big mouth.

“Who's Jackson?” I asked.

“I thought you didn't care,” she said.

That woman needed her ass spanked so damn hard.

“I don't,” I said.

“Take me to my car,” she demanded, trying to be tough when she said it.

“Can't do that,” I said.

“Why not?” she asked.

“Did you not see them? What do you think they'll do if I show up without you? Do you really want me to go through that?”

“I don't want to be driving too late,” she said. “I need to get home.”

“You can stay at my place tonight and head out early in the morning,” I said.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yes, really,” I answered. “You don't need to be driving in the dark.”

“Is that so?” she asked. “You think you can just make that decision for me?”

“I just did,” I said, so unsure of what she going to do.

She didn't say anything for a minute, and I was glad. For once she was keeping it to herself. She didn't need to be driving again so soon after she'd gotten there. She needed sleep before she got behind the wheel of her car again.

“I can't believe you know two Pirates,” she said.

“Three.”

“What?” she asked with a confused look on her face.

“I know three,” I said. “James' dad Scott.”

“Damn, I totally forgot about Scott being his dad. Wasn't there some big story there or something?”

“Not really,” I said. “Scott isn't his biological father. He was with James' mom before, but they'd split up for several years. When they got back together, he raised James as his own. He doesn't know anything about his real dad. His mom doesn't like talking about it. I guess he was a real jerk.”

“What's the story with your dad freaking out on your sister?” she asked.

“When Sammie was born, he was worried about her dying. As soon as he knew she was going to be okay, something happened to my mom and she almost died. It scared him so bad. When Sammie was pregnant the first time, he had a really hard time her entire pregnancy. He was so afraid. He was up her ass every second. That's why she didn't tell him this time. She wanted to wait until she had to. Now that she was in the hospital with that scare, he's probably going to move into the bedroom next to hers.”

“I'm sure he's not that bad,” she said, defending him. “Was he like that when you were born?”

“He didn't have the chance,” I said, and she gave me a strange look. “They adopted me right after I was born. My dad fought my mom for years. She wanted to have another baby, but he didn't want to lose her. He was too afraid.”

“Your dad afraid,” she whispered to herself.

“He's not always that tough guy you saw. He can be pretty emotional too,” I said.

“So, you're adopted,” she said. “That explains a lot.”

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she said.

“Lauren,” I said sternly.

“You don't look like your parents or your sister,” she said quietly.

“I can't help that I'm better looking than they are,” I said with a laugh.

“And cocky too,” she said sarcastically.

“You think I'm cocky, my dad is so much worse. That was just a small taste back there. He's really bad sometimes. The man has no filter.”

“Not like you, right?” she said with a laugh. “I can't imagine.”

I pulled up Sammie's driveway and parked the car. When I swung my door open, I heard Lauren say something.

“It's not what you think.”

“What?” I asked unsure of what she'd really said.

“Jackson,” she said. “It's not what you think.”

“None of my business,” I said, before getting out, shutting my door, and walking over to James' car.

Jilly jumped into my arms as soon as I opened her door, and I couldn't help but laugh. That little girl made me so happy. I saw Lauren get out of the car and turned to her just as Jilly wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tight.

“Come on,” I said. “We need to get you inside, Baby girl.”

There was something in Lauren's eyes, but I couldn't tell what it was. It almost looked like sadness.

“You coming?” I asked.

She nodded her head but didn't move.