Page 55 of Secrets That Bind Us
“I just don’t want to accidentally avoid the call or text because it’s an unknown number.”
He barks out another laugh at my expense and I’m really starting to regret ever making him my friend. “And she still hasn’t called? Man, that’s gotta be burning a hole in your pocket.”
“You're not helping me feel better, you know? Where’s my all-knowing, all-seeing guru with the old-town wisdom?”
“Look, if I can't fuck with you, we can’t be friends.”
I roll my eyes, leaning forward to sit my elbows on my knees. “I just want to get to know them. I mean, Noah sees me at his school and says hello, but he's a social little thing. I don’t think the kid’s ever met a stranger he didn’t like. Savvy reminds me so much of Verity when we were young. Hunched over a sketchbook, totally unimpressed with the people around her.”
“You know, River is in Savannah's grade. Always talks about how quiet she is. Says the other kids call her weird.”
“You telling me they’re bullying my kid?”
Jason's eyes go wide. “What? Christ, no. He makes them shut up. Goes with her to the library. Kind of watches over her. I raised that boy right. Well, his mother did. I mostly told them to do what their Mama said and notto pout… and then bought them some age-appropriate motorbikes so I could take them away and give her a well-deserved break every once in a while.”
I blink at him, all of that sounding a bit too familiar. “Sounds like we're gonna be in-laws.” I groan.
He nods once. “Just might. If you can convince Ver to stay.”
I shake my wrist to look at my watch. “Verity was neversmall town, Chief. She was always meant for greater things. I saw it then; I see it now. I’ll never hold her back. I’ll never force her to be anywhere she doesn’t want to be.”
Jason clears his throat. “You know, my dad was the one who walked into that house one too many times back then…” he shakes his head and looks towards the clearing. “It wasn’t right that Richard kept getting off scotch-free.”
“That wasn’t my dad’s fault. Richard knew powerful people. Not just in Adelaide.”
“Maranda’s dad was like that.” He says softly. “When I met her during college, I was dating someone else at the time but Maranda was this…forceI didn’t see coming. I took one look at her and just knew she was the one for me. I broke up with my girlfriend that night and started pursuing her. I don’t why. I just did. She was this great thing, the quiet in the loud. But then she allowed me to see all these really great little pieces of her and I washooked. But I also almost lost her due to my stupidity and well, just being young and reckless.
“Even though I knew what I had in my hands, it was like, I felt like I didn’t deserve it. And when I almost lost her, it set me straight. I had to work hard to be a man she could be proud of walking this life beside her. I had to learn how to love her as a man and not a hormone-rage-fueled boy because the last thing she wanted- was to marry someone like her father. So I did the work. Same as you.”
We stay quiet for a few beats, listening to the sounds of a dying summer soundtrack.
“Here comes that wisdom.”
I dip my chin. “I’m ready.”
“Women like my wife, like Verity… are too headstrong and resilient sometimes because they’ve beenforcedto be. They don’t know another way– even when life becomes a little easier. She’s gonna need you there to be a little stronger than she is. She’s not gonna know what to do when youdoshow up for her. Don’t make it a big deal. Show up. Every time. In any capacity. And don’t leave when she makes a big show of not needing you. She needs you. Shemay think she’s got a handle on things, but buddy, even when she does, it’s nothing but chaos in her mind.”
“I already knew that Jace. That’s the whole fuckin’ thing. Iwantto be the one she leans on, man. I know she can handle it. I just want the chance to prove that she doesn’t have to. I want to be a husband –herhusband – and a father to our kids.”
He lifts a brow, acknowledging it. “Kids, huh?”
I nod again.
He makes a show of dusting his hands and letting it go by putting his hands up. “Then my work here is done. Student has surpassed the teacher and whatnot.”
I laugh.
“So, can River take Savannah to Homecoming?”
“You got a problem with me cleaning a rifle in front of your son?”
“I'd be disappointed if you didn’t.”
I incline my head, then smirk. “Great. No, he can’t take my daughter to HoCo.”
Jason tips his head back and laughs. “So it begins.”
It’s a Wednesday night and the Rangers are playing against the Mets when
