Page 137 of Timeless

“Why is Jack up? It’s only five.” Amber looked between Jack and me. Honestly, she looked startled. The expression on her face was like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“I've been up for ages.” Jack’s eyes bounced off her and his attention was back on the laptop. “We are looking at the bad men Dad hurt.”

Amber’s mouth slightly dropped open. Okay. That really wasn't going to go in my favor. How do I explain this? I knew any second that shock would wear off and she would be shouting at me. As soon as she asked Jack to leave the room, I was fucked.

“Jack, what do you mean by ages?” Her phone was buzzing in her hand and she ignored the call. All her attention was on Jack. “Jack, eyes off the screen and on to me.” Amber clicked her fingers.

Jack sighed and dragged his eyes over to Amber. “Ages as in ages, Mom. Now I'm busy.” And his attention went back to the screen.

Amber looked at me. “You didn't have to get up. You could have woken me. I would have—” She looked down at her ringing phone and ignored the call. Her attention was back on me “You don't have to get up with him.”

“It's not a big deal, Amber.” I don't know why she was reacting like it was putting me out by getting up for Jack. Did Will not do anything when it came to Jack?

She blocked another call on her phone. Her eyes locked on me. “I don't expect you to get up with him. Jack shouldn't have woken you. He knows to come to me.”

I frowned. What did she mean by didn't expect me to get up? What the fuck sort of father was she expecting me to be? Her phone started ringing again. Someone wanted her attention. Was that why she got out of bed to begin with?

She glanced down at the phone. “Fucking Dex.” She exhaled sharply and then answered. Didn't look like she wanted to.

Jack turned on my lap. “We don't like Dex.” His look soured. “He makes mom cranky.” Jack turned back around. “I want to see the next one.”

I really should get out of this in case Amber came over here. I leaned forward and skipped to the next criminal. My eyes were back on Amber as she listened to whoever was talking to her. Her and I were going to have to talk on what she expected from me, because she clearly wasn’t fucking expecting much.

“Dad, what happened to this man? Did you share a cell with him, too?”

I took my eyes off Amber. I had to try and remember the guy I was looking at. I really had to think for a minute. “Disagreement in the kitchen.” I remembered. I also now remembered being covered in his blood.

I leaned back in the chair. While Jack examined the mugshot.

“Dex. How many times do I have to tell you? When I leave you in charge, you are in charge. You can't call me expecting to do your job!” Amber’s voice had a lot of heat to it.

I looked at her and if I was that dude, I'd be thankful he didn't have to be in the same room as her right now. I, however, wasn't as lucky. And I wasn't sure if Amber was so furious because of me or because this guy was really fucking her around.

“What do you mean now!” Amber shouted, causing Jack to jump. “I'm not even fucking dressed!”

“Who is this Dex guy?” I asked Jack.

“Dex hates me.” Jack turned around dramatically “He says I'm in the way all the time.”

“In the way of what?”

“Mom and work.” Jack turned back around. “He comes here and I have to be quiet.”

Suddenly, I didn't like this Dex guy either. Well, him coming here would be stopping. How could he go to someone's house and tell them their kid was in the way? And why would Amber let him say that to Jack?

“Dex, I can't let this slide.” Amber’s voice went very professional. She was putting up a good front. “Put the call through to my laptop and Dex, this was the final time you let me down.”

Amber hung up, walking toward Jack and me. She dropped the phone on the desk.

And her laptop started buzzing. I didn't know what the fuck it was doing.

Amber ran her fingers through her hair and Jack leaned back to me, pushing the laptop to Amber.

“Who is it, Mom?” Jack seemed to know what was going on.

“A room full of dickhead lawyers, Jack. Who are going to be in a foul mood.” She reached forward, hitting something on the laptop and then it started sayingconnecting.

Jack and I backed away from it while I think Amber was trying to tame her hair.

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