Page 119 of Timeless

“But he was our last guest and I hated him.”

Patience, I reminded myself. “Jack, our guest is someone important and I need you to be on your best behavior.”

“No, not if he licks my toys!” Jack crossed his arms, pouting. “Why do your guests never lick your things but the guests you make me have always lick my toys!”

I swear he will never let me live that one playdate down. “Jack, no one is going to lick your toys.”

“So, you have a guest so I can watch the documentary?” And Jack was up, throwing his shoes in the foyer. “Because I haven’t watched it in days. So, you can’t say I can’t watch it.” His voice was going up in excitement.

“Jack, calm down.” I gripped his shoulders. He was standing on the stairs, closer to my height than usual. “Our guest is here to see you.”

Jack grunted. “Great, another toy licker.”

“He won’t lick your toys, Jack.”

Jack was glaring down at my feet. “I don’t want to play. I feel sick.”

“Jack, do not lie to me.” I pulled him in line.

“I just want to watch the documentary!” Jack threw his arms around me and moaned. “I want to see if Rat is in it.”

He knew that documentary backward and forward and he knew the name Rat did not come up once.

I needed to get him in a better mood. I knew as soon as he realized who Jax was, it was either going to go really good or I didn’t want to think of what his other reaction could be.

Jack had his arms crossed and was rocking back and forth on the step. His mind was fixed on the documentary.

“You know, our guest hasn’t seen your documentary.” I dangled the chance of him telling someone else about Jax in front of him. “Maybe if you ask nicely, they will watch it with you.”

Jack’s eyes lit up. “Can I have the remote and replay the police chase over and over until I can read the plate?” Jack’s voice went up quickly in excitement. Suddenly, he was over the whole Jax possibly licking his toys.

“Jack, you can’t read the plate, you try every time. It is too blurry.” And I took his hand. “But you can do it anyway.”

And he quickly stepped in front of me, walking down the hall. “What are we having for dinner? Does our guest pick?” Jack eyes were on the floor.

I looked up and Jax was standing right there. His eyes locked on Jack. I don’t think anything could break Jax’s eyes off Jack right now.

“Mom, why aren’t you answering me?”

My eyes and attention had been on Jax. And suddenly, I felt like I needed to protect Jack from himself. My hands dropped around him, and I forced him to come to a stop as we entered the living room.

Jax took a few steps away from the table, standing directly in front of us at the other side of the room. Jack only had to look up, and then we would see his reaction.

My brothers’ eyes were on Jack as well.

Jack wiggled in my embrace. And then he must have looked up. Because he went dead still.

My mouth went dry. Literally, I couldn’t form a word. I looked down at Jack, whose little eyes were locked with Jax’s.

Jax took one step and then Jack did a sharp turn around me and sprinted back up the hall. I heard his footsteps run up the stairs. I had never seen or heard him run that fast.

Okay. So, this was his reaction. I looked at Jax, feeling pity for him. I knew how nervous he was about this and how in his head he thought he was going to screw this up. “I’m sorry, Jax. Just give me a minute.”

“Amber—” Troy started but I was quick to stop him.

“Don’t, Troy. Jack knows his manners. He knows better than to do that.”

“Amber, give him a break. He is six,” Cole said lightly.

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