Page 79 of Crave

Josh shakes his head and his mom blushes, probably remembering trying to fix me up with JD.

“Well, your ass should have shown up, JD,” Josh declares. “But I don’t think you being there would have made a difference.” Josh looks at his son and winks.

On several occasions, Troy would open his mouth to speak but would remember himself and refrain. He catches my eye and offers me a sad smile, which I return.

Once lunch is over, we head back to the office, and when JD asks to speak with Troy privately, Jake whisks me into his office.

“Come here, you,” Jake says as he shuts his office door with his foot. He pulls me into his arms and kisses me so thoroughly, I have to force myself to resist the urge to start unbuttoning his shirt. He ends the kiss as abruptly as he started it. “We’ll finish that later.” He rests his forehead on mine before walking me over to his desk and sitting me down in his chair. “I’ll be right back.”

“Sounds good. Since JD ate all our food, I want to cook dinner tonight. Then I have to go home.”

“Yes, to dinner,” he says, walking towards the door. “No to you going home. I’ll drive you home in the morning.”

He’s out the door before I can form an argument.

CHAPTER 26

JAKE

“Hey, I’m ready to go. You ready? I just had to talk to Troy about some legal stuff,” I don’t stop to answer JD as I make my way to Troy’s office.

“Give me a minute. I’ll be right back.” His footsteps stop, and even though I can’t see him, I know he’s watching me as I walk into Troy’s office without the courtesy of a knock.

“Two things,” I say as I approach his desk. He looks up at me surprised at the intrusion. It’s been years since I stepped foot inside his office, and even longer since I sought him out. He stands up, crosses his arms and waits for me to speak. “You will not use your son to manipulate me,” I say, pointing at his face.

“I’d never use my son for anything. Don’t you dare accuse me of that,” he hisses.

“I dare because that’s what you did at lunch. Your timing is suspect, wouldn’t you say?” He walks away from his desk and comes to stand in the middle of the office.

“No, I wouldn’t say. Tristan asked me to pass on a message, and that’s what I did. When the hell was I supposed to ask? It’s not like you make yourself available to me.”

“Next time send me a damn email.”

“Last week when I asked you to text me, you said no, but now I’m supposed to email you? You’re being unreasonable. We should be able to have a conversation about your nephew. That’s all I’m asking.”

“The second thing, I don’t want you talking to Sandy. Don’t attempt to make conversation. Don’t look at her. Don’t smile at her. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t do anything.”

I take a step closer to him and point a finger at his chest. Troy doesn’t back down, he takes a step closer to me.

“You’re fucking insane, do you know that, Jake? I can’t talk to you about your nephew? I can’t say hello to your girlfriend? Any other decrees?”

“No, you can’t because you’re a snake who can’t be trusted. But this isn’t about me worrying that you’re going to try and steal her away. I trust her. This is about you making her uncomfortable. Don’t try to insert yourself in my life. You told me you were done, remember? Be done. Stay the fuck out of my life because I’m sure as fuck done with you.” His shoulders deflate at my words, but that only lasts a second. He straightens, squares his shoulders and looks me in the eyes.

“Well, how the hell are you going to spend time with Tristan if I can’t be in your life? He’s counting on you to spend time with him. Are you going to let him down?”

“Unlike you, I can be trusted.”

“Good. I want you to be trustworthy when it comes to your nephew, but to do that, you’re going to have to deal with me. Believe it or not, I’m not out to hurt you and I’m sorry I ever did. I’m still here and I love you. Not believing me doesn’t make it any less true. You want to know what else?” Troy doesn’t give me time to respond before he speaks again. “I’m not going away. Think what you want, but I just want to get to you know again, and Sandy too. I have no ulterior motives, and I didn’t manipulate my son into worshiping the ground you walk on. That’s all him, and I’m grateful that you’re not turning him away, but he’s four years old, so,” he says, walking even closer to me, “to deal with him, you’re going to have to deal with me.”

“If you don’t get the fuck out of my face—” I begin, but I don’t get to finish my threat because JD walks in and grabs me by the elbow, steering me towards the door.

“You’ll what?” Troy yells to our retreating backs. “You’ll cut me out of your life? You’ll call me names? Punch me? You’ve already done that. What else you got?” The fucker has the audacity to let out a humorless laugh.

“Remember the night you met Sandy and you and Troy got into a fistfight? Let’s not do that again. Get your girl, and let’s get the hell out of here.”

I yank my elbow from him the second we step out of Troy’s office.

“Can you believe that motherfucker?” I sidestep JD and turn back towards Troy’s office, but JD grabs me and pulls me away.

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