Page 40 of Dagger

Frank nods. “Figured there was no point in waiting. We’re not getting any younger, and I wasn’t about to let her get away.”

There’s a silence after that, but it’s the good kind, the kind that feels like a warm blanket on a cold day. I glance around the room again, taking in the changes, the care that’s gone into making this house a home. It seems like Mom’s finally found the happiness she deserves.

“Well,” I say, my voice breaking the quiet, “it’s about damn time, Mom.”

She laughs, leaning over to pat my knee. “Maybe it is.”

Mom leans back into the couch, her eyes narrowing a bit as she looks me over. “Alright, so tell me—what’s been going on? You meet anyone?”

I grunt, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees, my hands clasped together. The question hits harder than it should, and before I can stop myself, I make a face.

Her laughter rings out, light and teasing. “Uh-oh. That’s not a good look. What happened?”

I sigh, dragging a hand down my face. “There’s someone,” I admit, my voice low and rough. “But I fucked it all up.”

Mom shakes her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “You always think you screw things up worse than you do, Jeremy. I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “This time, it is. Trust me.”

Her eyes soften, and she leans closer, resting her hands on her lap. “Alright, then. Spill it. What happened?”

I blow out a breath, sitting back and rubbing the back of my neck. “You want the short version?”

She smirks. “Whatever version you’ll give me.”

I stare at the floor for a second, trying to figure out how to put it all together. “Alright,” I start, my voice still gruff. “There’s this woman, Chloe. Tough as nails. Smart, gorgeous. The kind of woman who doesn’t take shit from anybody. Least of all me.”

Mom raises an eyebrow but doesn’t interrupt, letting me talk.

“We’ve known each other for a while. Had some history. One night... things got heated.” I pause, my hands tightening into fists on my knees. “We hooked up.”

Her expression doesn’t change, but I can feel her waiting for more.

“I didn’t know what the hell to do with it afterward,” I admit, my voice dropping. “Didn’t know what to do withher.So, like a damn idiot, I left.”

Mom’s brows knit together, her lips pressing into a thin line.

“It wasn’t supposed to be for long,” I say quickly. “Just needed to get my head on straight. But by the time I came back...” I trail off, shaking my head.

“What?” she presses, her voice soft but steady.

I glance at her, then back at the floor. “I found out she’s pregnant.”

Mom sits back, blinking as she processes that. “She’s having your baby?”

“Yeah,” I say flatly. “A boy.” The words feel heavy as hell, like I’m carrying the weight of the whole world on my shoulders.

She lets out a breath, her face softening. “Wow. That’s... a lot.”

“No shit,” I mutter, running my hand through my hair. “And she’s pissed at me. Can’t blame her. I handled it all wrong, and now she doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

Mom leans forward, her hand landing on my knee, her grip firm. “Listen to me. You’re not a bad man, Jeremy. You made a mistake—fine. But you’re trying now. You’re here, and that counts for something.”

I glance at her, skeptical. “Don’t think she sees it that way.”

“She will,” Mom says firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. “You stick around. You prove to her that you’re serious. You be there for that baby, and you don’t quit. You hear me?”

I nod, though I’m not sure I believe it’ll work. “We’ll see.”

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