Page 43 of Jaxon

"You will never see Jaxon Stone again. You're done with this ridiculous, shameful behavior."

I nodded once and walked out. "Yeah, we'll see about that, old man," I said to myself.

I pulled out my phone and sent off a text to Jaxon. "I know it's only been a few hours, but I miss you."

There was no text back. He was busy at work. Now it was my turn to get to work. I had to outsmart my dad, and that wasn't going to be easy because he'd been a ruthless, cunning person his whole adult life. And I'd only been one for an hour.

CHAPTER 21

JAXON

"Jax, come here and hold these handlebars. I can't get them straight," Dad called.

I put down the tire I was holding and walked over to the Triumph motorcycle. The owner had taken a spill, not a bad one but one that'd scratched up his bike and bent a few important parts like the handlebars. I threw my leg over the bike to hold it steady while Dad wrenched the bars into place.

"Slade texted that the group he was taking out on the boat had to cancel because they all ate some bad shrimp at a restaurant in Oceanview," Dad said.

"Theo and Crusoe were going to work that trip. Guess they're both going to be short on rent again."

Dad yanked the bars when I wasn't ready and the whole bike moved. He looked up at me. "You're no better than your mom at this."

"Uh, a little warning before you wrench the thing sideways." I braced myself on the bike to hold it steady. "Go ahead."

He yanked the bars again and leaned back. "See how that feels."

I leaned forward and took hold of the bars. "Seems good but I can take it on a spin around the parking lot after I replace that tire."

Mom walked out of the office. "I'm having a terrible craving for a chili burger from the burger stand. And for some reason, I want one with pickles," she said.

Dad straightened abruptly. "What the hell are you talking about? Why are you having cravings?"

Mom tapped her chin and turned up her eyes. "Uh-oh, maybe it was that night last month when you wanted me to pretend I was a French maid."

"Oh my god, no wonder I'm so fucking messed up," I said. "Stop bringing up parental sex. There's nothing more damaging to my psyche."

Dad waved his hand at me. "Shut up. Babe? What the hell are you trying to say?"

Mom stared at him for a second and then threw her head back with laughter. "Your face. Fucking classic. I'm trying to say that I want a chili burger with pickles, and no, I'm not pregnant. Jaxon, sweetie, I'll buy you lunch if you go pick up the burgers."

"I never turn down a free lunch. Just have a few things to finish. Put in an order so I don't have to wait."

"Yep, I'll do it right now." She pulled out her phone. Dad started up the compressor, so she took the call outside.

I glanced at my phone before I put the tire on a Harley. There was a text from Bridget.

I wrote her back. "I have to see you tonight. Find a way." I put the phone down and got to work. The compressor turned off, and mom's voice floated into the shop. It wasn't the burger order. She was talking sharply to someone, and the man seemed to be sputtering out responses as if he wasn't sure how to answer.

I smiled to myself. My mom was good at that, making people sputter answers incoherently.

Dad finished with the Triumph and rolled it out of the service bay. "Take it out for a spin after lunch. Shit, now all I can think about is?—"

I put up my hand and shook my head. "I swear to god if you bring up anything about a French maid?—"

"Those chili burgers," Dad said wryly. "But hey, don't knock it until you've tried it."

"Nope, nope, nope." I turned away. "We're not having this conversation … ever … not even after you're dead."

"What a prim and proper—" Dad started, but he was interrupted by Mom.

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