Page 62 of Claiming What's Mine

She thinks it'll send me running.

“I don't care if she has a kid, did you think it would bother me if she had a kid?”

“Not bother, but maybe make you angry. You're not angry about it at all?”

“Angry?”Angling my head, I couldn't understand why my sister would think that Blue having a kid would piss me off.

“Jayden, don't you see—”

People still think I'm not good enough for her. . . That's what this is.

The world would still frown on us.

“See what? That everyone still looks at me like I'm a piece of shit? Are you worried that I'll be a bad influence on her kid?”

“I didn't say that.”

“You don't have to. Everyone has always thought that she was too good for me, that she deserved better, that I wasn't right for her. But you know what, maybe they were all wrong, maybe everyone was just too focused on what they thought they knew, and not what we felt for each other.”

I could feel myself getting more angry with each word. I was tired of being judged, tired of people making decisions for me and for Blue. Her father had tore us apart when we were kids, but there was nothing he could do now.

We were both adults, both old enough to make choices for ourselves. Seeing Blue that first night was all I needed to know that I couldn't ever live without her again. I didn't give a shit what the rest of the town thought. It wasn't up to them, it wasn't up to my sister, or Blue's family.

I loved that woman, I'd loved her for as long as I could remember. And I'd accept her for who she was now, child and all, so long as she'd accept me back.

“You know what,” Beth said, flicking her eyes up to mine, and opening her lids with a false, apologetic glare. “I'm sorry, okay, I'm sorry I tried. Just forget it, forget I said anything.” Taking a step back, she shifted her eyes around my face. “It's not like you'll listen anyway, you're someone who needs to learn on their own.” Holding up her finger, she snarled. “But don't think this wasn't me trying to help, because I do care about you, Jayden. One day you'll see you have more people on your side than you think.”

Beth whipped her body around and stormed out the door. I heard her car start up and the tires spit out dirt as she sped down the driveway. I didn't like arguing with my sister, but I was finished with feeling like people were judging me, expecting me to turn into my father.

Yes, for a little bit I had done some partying, I had drank too much alcohol, and got arrested a few times for disorderly conduct. I was still a kid then, barely twenty-one, and trying to make it on my own.

I fully understood that the actions of one could spread like wildfire. My arrest record had tainted my life for a bit, but I finally regained control. I wasn't my father, I would never be my father, and if no one else would take the time to see it, I wasn't going to lose sleep over it.

Turning back to the mirror, I gave myself one last look over. I wasn't going to let this get to me, I wasn't going to let anything ruin my night.

Grabbing my keys, I closed the door and hopped into my car. I didn't have time to dwell on what Beth was saying, or see that she was subtly trying to give me advice in her own way. If I wasn't such a thick headed asshole, maybe I would have heard her differently.

Except I didn't. I heard what I wanted to hear.

Pulling up to Blue's house, I turned into the driveway and shut off the car. It was a nice little place, nothing like the big farm house on the hill.

The small white cape had black shutters, and a bright yellow door. There was a long set of stairs that led up to the entrance. Smoke was billowing out from the chimney, spiraling up into the sky, and disappearing into the clouds. Her home was quaint, simple, nothing fancy. And that was exactly what I would expect from Blue.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my door and started up the walkway. The front door opened, causing my lungs to freeze and my heart to stop.

Blue stepped out, dressed in a tight pink dress that had a neck line that dropped all the way down to the center of her chest. Her legs shone under the glow of the outside light, drawing my attention down her body. A light glitter sparkled on her skin, following her curves down to her ankles. She was perfect, she had always been perfect.

Brushing her hair behind her ears, she dipped her chin into her chest and smiled. Peach eye shadow tinted her lids as her thick black lashes fanned her eyes. My breath hitched as Blue's hand moved from behind her ear, trickling so lightly down her chest with just the bare tip of her finger.

“Wow,” I said, walking up the steps. “You look amazing.”

“Thanks.” Looking down at herself, she asked, “It's not too much, is it? Because I can change, it will only take—”

“No, no, you're perfect.” Reaching out, I took her hand and braided our fingers together. “You ready?”

“Yeah.” Looking back over her shoulder, she stuck her hand in the door, and flipped on the outside light. “Don't want to try to go up these steps in the pitch black.”

“I wouldn't think so.” Smirking, I tugged her hand. “Let's go eat, Gorgeous, I'm starving.”

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