Page 2 of Timeless

“Amber, how was it?” Will said, taking the glass from my hand.

I glanced at Jack, who was busy digging through the drawer. I could let my smile drop. So, I did. “Exhausting.” And that was putting what Dad had put me through all week mildly.

Will opened his arms, and I stepped into them.

“He’s threatening again, I’m guessing?” he said, guessing right.

“He said he is going to tell them where I live.”

“He always says that.” Will’s words were soft, comforting. “He will never put Jack in harm’s way.”

I leaned my head against his shoulder. “He doesn’t see my brothers meeting Jack as putting Jack in harm’s way.”

“Yeah, but your Dad knows that if they know about him. Jackson will find out about Jack. He won’t want that.”

Will and I had no secrets. Well, I didn’t keep secrets from him. I was positive he kept things from me about his work. Just not to stress me out. He always put me first. The last thing he wanted was to hurt me. So, I knew he told me white lies. I just lived with them.

I pulled away from him. “Dad said Troy is sick.”

“He has said that before.”

“I know. But what if something is wrong with him?” My nerves and concerns about Troy being sick finally came out.

“There is nothing you could do if he is sick.”

“Dad said they still have private detectives on my case.” I groaned. “I wish they would just give up on me.”

“They love you too much for that.” Will handed me back my glass, refilled with wine. “Do you want me to speak to him again?”

“No.” I pinched my eyes shut. “He flew out this afternoon but is threatening to come back for Jack’s birthday.” I opened my eyes. “I lied. Said we were going to Hawaii.”

Will broke out laughing. “Seriously, that was the best you could come up with?”

“I was put on the spot!” I shoved him in the shoulder, my wine splashing on the kitchen tiles. “Do you want him here again?”

Will’s laughter dried up and he shook his head. “No. Not after last time.”

“Exactly!”

“You know I don’t still don’t get why you even let him meet Jack.” Will shook his head.

I sighed. When it came to it, I thought I had done the right thing. I had cut Jack off from his father, his uncles, and his grandfather. But when I saw the sadness on his face at his first grandparents’ day at kindergarten, facing it without one grandparent, I folded. And I reached out for Dad.

God, Dad was surprised I even spoke to him. But he was delighted when he found out about Jack. He said Jack was the one thing I had done right, and then his next words were, “You will fail him.”

And so, my bitter relationship with Dad started. When Jack was four. Nearly two years ago.

“I thought I did the right thing,” I found myself saying to Will again. I shrugged off Dad’s threats. “He won’t dare tell my brothers, right?” I looked at Will for backup.

Will smiled and linked his hand with mine. “Your Dad won’t say a word. He doesn’t want you to cut him off. He loves Jack too much for that.”

I scoffed. “Yeah. He loves Jack, not me.”

“Amber.”

“It’s all right. I’m used to it.” I dropped a tea towel on the floor and mopped up the wine.

“I want fried rice, a meat lover’s pizza, and Wendy’s double scoop chocolate ice cream.” Jack was back in the kitchen.

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