Page 141 of A Better Place

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Jack

James texted me this morning, asking me to stop by Balance when I had the chance. I hadn’t thought much of it. I drop in a lot after school. Sometimes he wants help, sometimes he wants me to test a recipe, sometimes, I think, it’s just to hang out. I really don’t know, but I always make sure to stop. And not just for him. Because I want to also.

I walk through the front doors and straight to the back where his office is, knowing that’s where I’ll find him if he’s not in the main restaurant.

“Hey, boy. How was school today?”

“Eh, it was fine. School is school.”

“Yeah, I kind of felt the same way when I was there.” He nods his head in understanding.

“So, what’s up? Why did you want me to stop in here?”

“I have a question to ask you,” he says, digging into his pocket. He pulls out a small velvet box, placing it in front of me.

Holy crap. I know my eyes are so wide I look like they’re about to bug out of my head. My palms are actually sweating a little bit, too. I wipe them on my jeans and lift a shaky hand toward the box but don’t open it. “Uh, I think you’re asking the wrong person that question.”

“Nah, I need to ask the man of the house permission first.”

“What?”

He reaches over me and opens the box to reveal a diamond ring since I can’t seem to get my hands to do it. I have no clue what a good ring is, but this one is pretty and sparkles, and I know my mom will bawl like crazy if he asks to put it on her finger.

“I want to ask your mom to marry me. I promise I’ll do right by her. By both of you. You both mean the world to me — and Lily. I would be honored to call her my wife. To have both of you in my life forever. Do I have your permission to ask her to marry me?”

I place the box down on the table in front of us and furrow my brow, confused by why he would be asking me if he can marry my mom. But at the same time, I’m not the least bit surprised. From the very beginning, James has made it clear that he respects me and sees me as more than just a kid. “Are you serious?”

“Well, yeah.”

“You’re asking me?”

“I am. You’re her family, Jack. I just want to expand that family a tad bit,” he says, showing me two fingers separated only barely. “You can think about it, if you need to. I’m a patient man.”

I don’t need time to think about it. I know without a doubt there’s no one else who would treat my mom the way he will. And with her past? I’m ready for someone good in her life.

“Yeah, James. You can ask my mom to marry you.”

He smiles huge and pulls me in for a hug. Mom has always been an affectionate person but it took me a bit of time to get used to having it from anyone else. Especially a man.

“Thank you, Jack.”

I nod my head, feeling a little overwhelmed and not being able to say much else.

After he asks my opinion on a couple floor samples he got in, I tell him goodbye and head out the door to go home.

I can’t believe my mom’s going to be getting married. Not that I am shocked it would happen someday, but I had no idea James would ask me if it was okay.

I shouldn’t be surprised. James is definitely different than any other man I’ve ever known. He’s incredible and everything I hope to become. The fact that he loves my mom, that he loves me… well, it makes me feel like a wuss… but yeah, I can’t deny that it makes me feel pretty damn good.

I love that he treats me as his equal. And today is a prime example of that.

When I turn down the road to our house, my mind is still stuck on what James asked me. But the second I see my driveway, it goes into hyper drive. I squint, trying to see the car a little better but don’t recognize it. Until I see the license plates.

Arizona.

Shit.

I reach into my pocket and text James. My hands are shaking so badly that I drop my phone into the grass. I don’t even know for sure if Vince is here, but considering he was hanging around and the license plate is from Arizona, I don’t want to take any chances. I bend down to pick it up, feeling like I could throw up.

Me:The Wolf is here.

James’s response is immediate.

James:I’m on my way. Please be careful.

James:Called police …

Just as I’m sliding my phone back into my pocket, I hear glass break, and I sprint into the house, ready to take on whatever is on the other side of the door.

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