Jaybird,
Your mother tells me Homecoming is an important dance. Not as formal as prom but just as important. I don’t understand the difference, but you have my vote for Homecoming Queen. I wish I could be there to see my baby girl all dressed up for her first dance, but I know you’ll look beautiful as always. Have fun tonight but not too much fun, and remember to make lots of memories.
I love you always.
Love,
Daddy
P.S. Tell your date to keep his hands to himself.
“YOU OKAY?” HARPER asks from my doorway.
I nod. “Yeah,” I say, swiping away the tears before carefully sliding the note back into the envelope and tossing it inside the top drawer of my nightstand with the others. Harper has been staying with me now for nearly a month. She still won’t talk about her ‘baggage’ and I’m keeping my promise of no questions asked. Even though I’m dying to know her story, I respect her privacy.
On a side note, she knows about my dad and I’m hoping maybe when she realizes I trust her with my shit, she’ll trust me with hers.
Standing from the bed, I sniffle but smile, grabbing my purse and moving toward the door. “I have an appointment with Xavier. What time is yours?” Harper is going to Homecoming with Cole.
Ashton is pissed.
“Not until one. Do you want me to go with you?”
“Nah. I need to clear my head.” I reach out and hug her. “Thanks.”
“Of course, Jay. I know what you’re going through. It’s been over four years since my mom died, but I still miss her so much. But losing my sister and my niece is something I’m not sure I’ll ever get over.” This is the first time she’s mentioned a niece and I wonder if she realizes she just let that bit of info slip. I’m tempted to ask her about it, but I’m sticking to my promise of no questions asked.
Nodding, I say, “I’m sorry. I guess sometimes I get so lost in my own misery that I forget I’m not the only one who’s going through this.”
“It’s okay. It’s called grief. You lost a parent. It’s only been eight months. Your heart is still healing. If you ever need to cry, I’ve got two shoulders. If you need a hug, I’ve got two arms. If you need someone to just listen, I’ve got two ears. And if you ever just need space… well, I’ve got two feet that can carry me to the next room.” We both laugh. “Sometimes life just sucks and we wonder ‘why me?’ But trust me, the day will come when you wake up and it doesn’t hurt so much.”
CAM IS SITTING at the breakfast bar, sipping coffee and reading on his iPad when I walk into the kitchen.
“Hey,” I say, heading straight for the refrigerator and pulling out the orange juice. I’m not a coffee drinker unless it’s one of those sweet girly drinks Jay gets for me. Which, by the way, taste nothing like coffee.
“Hey, I was just about to wake you.”
“Why?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder as I pull a glass from the cabinet.
“I just got off the phone with Em. She said Jay was pretty upset this morning when she left for her appointment.”
“Why? Did Emerson finally admit to Jay that she has a secret boyfriend?” I smirk.
“No,” he says, eyeing me over the rim of his coffee mug before taking a sip and setting it down. “Jay gets a little sad when she reads one of Marcus’s notes. Em thought it would be nice if you took her out to lunch or something, after her appointment.”
I shake my head irritated. “Of course, those notes are going to upset her. I get that Emerson is protective, but maybe she should back off a little and give Jay some space to work it out. It’s okay for her to be sad.”
Cam huffs out a laugh. “Believe me, I agree. But then again, I don’t have any children, so I don’t get an opinion. Em’s right to worry, though. Jay took Marcus’s death pretty hard.”
“I’ve heard.”
“Really?” He raises his brows. “She told you about the hospital?”
“Hospital?” I frown. What the hell is he talking about?
Cam closes his eyes and exhales slowly through his nose. “What have you heard?”
“Just what I said. What happened at the hospital?”
Cam curses under his breath. “Nothing happened at the hospital. A couple of weeks after Marcus died, Jay was hospitalized for severe depression and dehydration. She was practically starving herself.”
“What?” I breathe out. “On purpose? She would never—” The words are stuck in my throat.
“She claimed she wasn’t trying to hurt herself on purpose. She was sad and hadn’t realized what she was doing.”
“Does Emerson believe her?”
“She does, mostly. At least she wants to, but that’s why she’s so far up her ass.” He shrugs. “Jay’s all Em has left of Marcus.”
“I believe her. Jay would never hurt herself intentionally. She cares about way too many people to hurt them, let alone leave them.”
“How long have you two been sneaking over here to have sex?” I smirk at his not so subtle change in subject. With only a ten-year age difference, Cam has always been more like an older brother to me than my uncle. We’ve exchanged our fair share of stories about our hookups in the past. Mostly his. But now that I’m with Jay and he’s apparently banging her mom, there will be no more sharing from now on—or ever.
“Are you asking as my awesome Uncle Cam or Emerson’s boyfriend?”
“Neither.” He pauses to run a hand down his face, “I’m asking as Cam, who’s known Jayla since she was a kid. I love and adore that girl. Liam loves and adores that girl. And he’ll kick your ass if you hurt her. Hell, I’ll kick your ass if you hurt her.”
“I love her. I’m not gonna hurt her or get her pregnant. We’re both covered. What do you think Liam will do when he finds out his best friend is banging his sister?” I ask, quirking a curious brow.
“He’s not going to find out until we’re ready to tell him. Unfortunately, Em and I put you in a difficult position last night but you absolutely cannot tell Jay. I mean it, Zach.”
“What are you doing, Cam?” I cross my arms over my chest. “Do you have any idea how many people are going to get dragged into this if things don’t work out?”
Cam presses his index finger to his lips, then leans his head back to look down the hall toward the guest rooms before looking at me. “Logan is here,” he says quietly. “All I need is for word to get back to your mom or mine.”
“He wouldn’t say anything to Mom. But he’d definitely call you out for being a cougar-fucker.”
“She’s not a cougar,” he defends. “She’s not even forty. And she’s sexy as fuck.”
Okay, I’ll give him that. Emerson is hot… for a mom. But still, it’s weird. And when Jay finds out—because she will—shit is gonna hit the fan.
“When did Logan get here?”
“Early this morning. He’ll probably sleep most of the day.”
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I talked to my brother. We’ve texted a few times, but he’s been busy with law school and I’ve been busy with football and Jay. Logan doesn’t even know that we’re together. Unless my parents told him. Which is likely.
“So, what exactly is going on with you and Emerson? Are you guys just fucking or are you in love?” I tease.
His expression is blank as he rubs his hand over the short scruff on his jaw. “I’m in love with her.”
My eyebrows skyrocket up to my hairline. “Seriously? Does Emerson know how you feel?”
He nods slowly. “She does.”
“Does she feel the same?”
He blows out a breath. “It’s complicated.”
“Well, at least now you can update your Facebook status,” I say with a laugh.
Cam chuckles. “Asshole. I know she loves me, but she’s afraid it’s too soon after losing Marcus to admit it. I think she’s worried what people will think of her—what Jay will think of her. That she didn’t love Marcus enough if she’s able to move on so quickly. Right now, I’m just giving her the space she needs.”
“I hope you guys figure it out before Jay does.”
“Emerson and I are friends. Jay is used to seeing us together. When Em is ready to be with me permanently, then we’ll talk to Jay.”
“What do you mean permanently? Like married?”
He shrugs. “I’d marry Em in a heartbeat. I know you think it’s weird, but I love her, Zach. I have for longer than I care to admit. She’s an incredible woman. An incredibly stubborn woman, but that’s one of the things I love about her. You see her as Jayla’s mom, but I see her for the beautiful, strong woman she is. Everyone thinks Jayla gets her caring heart from Marcus, but she gets it from Emerson, too. They’re a lot more alike than you think.”
“I can see that. I’m not judging you, Cam. I’m happy for you. I’m just worried. I know you think it’s about you and Em, but there are a lot of people who will be affected if things don’t work out. What about Mom?”
“What about her? It’s none of her business.”
“I agree. But if things progress between you and Emerson, maybe you should try to get her and Mom in a room together to talk things out. I still don’t understand how those went from being best friends for eighteen years to suddenly hating each other.”
“I have no idea. I asked Em about it once and she shut me down.”
I move over to the sink and rinse out my glass before putting it in the dishwasher. “I’m gonna hop in the shower. Will you drop me off at the salon?”
“Sure.”
AN HOUR AND a half later, I’m feeling very relaxed. Probably from the two mimosas Xavier fed me. Xavier is brushing on the last coat of polish on my nails when there’s a soft knock on the door.
“Come in,” Xavier calls out. The door swings open and the hottest guy I’ve ever laid eyes on walks in. “Damn,” Xavier mumbles under his breath.
I smile. “Hi, Z. Whatcha doing here?” I ask, eyeing him up and down. He looks fine as hell with his jeans sitting low on his narrow waist and the light blue T-shirt stretched across his broad, muscled chest. But it’s the backwards baseball cap that awakens the butterflies in my stomach and has all my lady parts perking up. He’s so damn hot and he’s all mine.
“I came to see if you wanted to have lunch,” he replies, standing in the doorway, with his hands shoved in his front pockets, looking uncomfortable under the heat of Xavier’s stare.
“Sure, I’d love that.” I shoot him a flirty wink. “I’ll be done in ten.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you up front,” he says, before quickly closing the door.
“Damn, girl, that man is fine. Does he by any chance have a gay twin brother.”
“He is, isn’t he?” I snort. “He has an older brother, but he’s straight.”
He huffs. “Figures.”
“You’re hot. Why hasn’t some gorgeous man snatched you up yet?”
“Because I’m a picky bitch.” He smiles and suddenly the gorgeous face of Brice Manning pops in my head, but I’ll have to play matchmaker another day. I have a lunch date with my hot boyfriend. “Okay. You’re all set.” Xavier stands up and moves over to the door. “Have fun tonight and send me lots of pics.” He opens the door and kisses me on the cheek.
I snake my arms around his waist and give him a squeeze. “Thank you for taking care of me today.” I press a kiss to his cheek.
“My pleasure, girl.” He smiles as he edges me out the door. “Now go get that fine-ass man of yours out of here before one of these cougars sinks her claws in him.”