Page 142 of Timeless

“Yeah. I did tell you I would give you a shot.” Amber placed her cup in the sink, and then looked me in the eye. “You’ve told me you won’t leave me before. And you pushed me out of your life.” Her eyes dropped to the sink. “You want me to trust you? Reality is, Jax, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to trust you again when it comes to the subject of you leaving or not.” She looked up, giving me a dim smile. “I’m going to get dressed. Thanks for this morning.”

I watched her leave. And I didn’t stop her. She didn’t trust me. Well I was just going to have to do something I never did and that was put down roots. I was going to make sure I was tied to her and Jack. She would soon realize I wasn’t going anywhere because I couldn’t.

I knew she wasn’t ready for marriage. But I would get her there. Slow and steady. That was how I was going to get her to trust me. And it was going to start with this meeting. I looked down at the piece of paper. The more things Amber and I faced, together, as a couple. I think that would work in my favor.

I was going to get her to realize she wasn’t a single parent anymore. I knew she would have a death grip on Jack, not wanting him to get hurt. So, I was going to have to gently get her to let go of him. Because I wasn’t going to hurt him. Or her.

Chapter 16

Amber

It didn’t matter how long I had been in the corporate world. It didn’t matter that I was usually always seen in a skirt, tight top, and suit jackets. I could deal with millions and billions of dollars. But every day I felt like I was an imposter.

Like right now, I felt like my eighteen-year-old self about to be told off by the principal, as I waited to be called in.

“You sure they are expelling him?” Jax was sitting next to me.

“Yes. Why?” I turned to look at him. I wouldn’t lie. I still can’t believe that Jax came. Like he was sitting next to me about to face Jack’s principal. He looked calmer than normal. He also wasn’t nervous like me. I took in his plain clothing. “You could have worn your vest and normal clothes, you know? It’s not going to make a difference now.”

Jax had somehow brought plain clothing. I don’t know how he managed to leave the house and get back without me noticing. But he had. The t-shirts he normally wore were always promoting the club with the club logo on it, or name down the sleeve. In fact, I think he only had three shirts, one he gave to me to sleep in and the other he was wearing this morning and now this plain one.

Which reminded me, we needed to go shopping.

I also had to get Jax a bike. I knew he was going to fight me on buying him one but I knew one thing he didn’t. His cards would have expired. So, I knew he might have money but he couldn’t access it until he went into the bank and his identity was confirmed. Which meant he would have let me bankroll him.

Considering he used to pay for everything, it was only fair that for once, he let me pay.

“I need to make a phone call.” Jax got up, his eyes on his phone. “I won’t be long.” He walked up the hall, away from me. I had a feeling he didn’t want me overhearing his conversation.

Talking about conversations. The one Jax and I had this morning was painful. I lied to him. I had to lie to him. If he knew I already trusted him, I was fucking doomed. I knew it was bad. I knew it was so fucking bad, trusting him, after everything we had been through. Every time I trusted him, he let me down.

I glanced up, seeing Jax heading back toward me. Okay. I needed to pull myself together. As much as my mind was on Jax, I needed to be focused on Jack right now. Just as I thought that, Principal Holt opened her office door.

“Miss Shields, so sorry to keep you waiting.” She extended a hand.

As much as I didn’t want to shake it, I did. Because I had to be polite. God, I missed the days where I didn’t have to be fucking polite. When I could say what I wanted when I wanted and what I really thought.

“No problem, Principal Holt.” I forced a smile.

“Please, call me Jennifer. And this is?” Her eyes went to Jax.

One glance at Jax, and he would scare any sane person. Maybe even insane people would be scared of him.

“This is Jackson, Jack’s father,” I introduced them.

Jennifer nodded with a polite smile and I wanted to roll my eyes. I saw the way her eyes scanned up his tattooed fingers, hands, arms and then neck. She obviously didn’t approve of him. But she hid it behind a fake polite smile.

Well, she wasn’t the only one giving polite smiles.

She gestured for us to come in. I never understood how principals did it but they all seemed to get armchairs from the same place. They were so stiff and uncomfortable as if to make sure you knew you weren’t welcome here.

My eyes ran over all her framed qualifications.

I was busy glaring at her diploma when she took her seat. And her attention was me on, so I had to look back at her.

“So, Miss Shields, I asked you to come here today to talk about Jack.” She kept smiling at me, like she wasn’t about to expel my son.

“Last time I checked, Jack’s grades are good.” I wanted to cross my arms but didn’t because I knew it would automatically tell her I was defensive.

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