Page 77 of Darlin'

"Why don't you worry about the visit up north and leave this mess to theadults?" Jo replies, chair scraping. "I understand that you're not happy with this plan, but it's not your call to make, JP. We've got to explore all options right now, and this is one of them."

"What if you're wrong?" he asks. "What if?—"

"Then it won't matter, will it?" Footsteps approach the door and I back away, gripping the ceramic plate. "We gotta trust people's characters sometimes, JP. Despite your resignation, I know you're a smart man. We took a chance before, didn't we? And look how beneficial that's been."

"Beneficial?" Jesse asks with contempt. "We pay?—"

"It doesn't matter in the short term, JP!" Jo hisses. "Weneed to think long term. And this? This is a long-term solution. If this works, then we've stoned two birds at once." Her tone softens. "What are you really worried about, huh? You worried?—"

"I'm done with this conversation now," Jesse grumbles. "Go."

"Have a safe trip." As the door handle twists, I backtrack a few feet down the hallway to avoid looking like an eavesdropper. Jo steps through the threshold, head snapping in my direction. She gives me a welcoming smile, eyeing the food in my hands. "You working today, hun?"

"Just a half day," I reply nervously. "I figured I'd bring Jesse some food before I clock out."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate it." Jo walks toward me, fishing a pack of smokes from her breast pocket. She pats me on the shoulder, whispering softly in my ear, "He's a bit testy right now. I'd tread lightly if I were you."

"Thanks for the heads up," I say, peering down the hall to his office. "Did something happen?"

"Something's always happening," Jo chuckles before ducking into the lounge.

Being around The Sons reminds me of my foreign languages class in high school. The teacher would only speak to us in Spanish, and as hard as I tried to learn, I couldn't grasp it. I knew a couple of words and phrases, but I never understood whole conversations.

Shaking my head, I brush off Jo's vague comment and make my way into Jesse's office. "Knock knock," I say, turning the doorknob and poking inside. Jesse's head springs up from his palms, dark bags under his eyes. Poor man. Has he slept at all? "You hungry?"

"Not really," he says, sighing as he reclines into his chair and closes his eyes. "Could go for a drink, though."

"I'll tell Marlow to bring you a beer in a bit," I say, clearing away some random pieces of paper sprawled on his desk and setting down the burger. "But first, you eat."

He opens one eye as I plop down in front of him. "Didyoueat today?"

"I had the kitchen whip me up a little omelet when we got in," I say, handing him a ketchup packet. "They finally figured out how to perfectly extract the yolks from the whites."

"Only took five weeks, huh?" Jesse snorts, popping a fry into his mouth. "Damn, that's good." He picks up a fry and holds it over his desk. "Try one."

"I'm good," I say, adjusting the t-shirt I borrowed from Marlow. "I've got to meet Miguel for that yoga lesson in an hour."

"Right..." Jesse checks the date on the hanging wall calendar. "It's Wednesday, isn't it?"

"Yup," I mutter, flicking at my fingernails. "Sure is."

"Where are you meeting him?" Jesse asks, clearing his throat. "Nearby?"

"I told him Rosenfeld Park. Beau took me there a couple of weeks ago. It's close enough that I can walk there."

"I could give you a ride if you want?" he offers, shifting in his seat.

"It's fine." My gaze sweeps across the stacks of documents on his desk. "You seem pretty swamped today."

"Yeah." He sighs. "The boys and I gotta ride up north tonight for a few days. Some idiots in San Fran gotpinched for—" He bites his tongue. "Doesn't matter. They just need our help."

My face falls. "Are you going to be back before Saturday? I thought we were all going to the Children's Hospital together."

Jesse winces briefly. "Yeah, we'll be back to distribute the toys, don't worry."

"Who's um...who's going with you tomorrow?"

"The usual," Jesse says. "Dad, Jim, Rocco, Tiny, Ryder, and your brother's coming too."

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