Page 48 of Second Chance Wedding
“I’m sorry. I am but— He’s my son.”
“That doesn’t make it okay, Ana.”
“I know. But it was an accident. Benji wouldn’t hurt me on purpose.”
Cole stopped dancing and stood there glaring down at her. And she tried to make him understand.
“Don’t you remember what it’s like to be a teenager? Raging hormones and emotions and— Just like we discussed at the table, that was before the nastiness that came with social media. Ben is struggling. I want to find him help, but he mustwantto go. I can’t force him to.”
She exhaled softly, hoping Cole’s silence was a sign he’d accepted her apology or was at last coming to terms with the position she found herself in as a single parent.
Ben had no one else. Not a father, not grandparents. He had her and Quinley, who was less tolerant than Ana was on a bad day. Given how Ben had quit basketball, she wondered at his friend situation now. He used to talk about his friends all the time, but lately…he didn’t talk much at all.
“I know your instinct is to protect him, but that doesn’t change facts. You lied to me.”
Jones appeared beside them. Ana realized belatedly that the song had ended, and that Calvin Jones had undoubtedly heard Cole’s statement.
“My turn,” Jones said. “Go get a drink or something, Blackwell.”
Cole held her gaze a long moment before locking his jaw and turning away from her to stalk off the dance floor.
Jones stepped forward and drew her into his arms. Ana felt the man’s gaze on her, but she wouldn’t make eye contact. “I can…only imagine what you’re thinking right now because of what you heard. It’s… complicated. My son— Cole…”
“Ahhh,” Jones said, his deep voice and tone sounding knowing. “You’re stuck between the two of them, and something happened.”
“Yes. Very much so.”
They swayed back and forth to the music, and since Jones seemed to understand, she forced herself to meet his gaze. “They both have very strong personalities and— Let’s just say Ben hasn’t made the best impression with Cole or his brothers.”
The man’s teeth flashed white in the dimly lit room.
“Yeah, well, I suppose it doesn’t help that you and Cole have a nasty history, either.”
She stared into Jones’s gaze, her pulse picking up speed as she sucked in a breath. “Cole told you that?”
“Didn’t have to. I remember the day he got your Dear John. And all the days afterward when he chased a death wish because of it.”
Horror filled her at the man’s words. She’d known Cole wouldn’t take the breakup well, but— “A death wish?”
“He volunteered his ass more times than I can count. The more dangerous, the better.”
“Because of me?”
Calvin Jones didn’t nod, and his gaze and friendly smile were long gone.
“It took me a while to figure out where I’d heard your name. It came to me when I heard Blackwell say you’d lied to him. That boy,” Jones shook his head and huffed out a laugh that held no amusement, “used to say those same words every single time he got drunk.‘She lied to me.’Over and over again.”
Ana blinked hard to rid herself of the sudden sting of tears, but it didn’t work. Her eyes filled to the brim, and she struggled to keep her composure. “I never wanted to hurt him. I just knew I wasn’t ready. This life…” She glanced around the room at the uniforms and the beautiful gowns and the remnants of the massive cake left nearby. It was a celebration of a brave and honorable corps but— “Your wife is a warrior.”
“She is.”
“I’mnot,” she said honestly. “Cole wanted to make a career in the Marines, and I would have held him back. Don’t you see? I would have caused him even more pain if I’d married him and then realized I couldn’tbea military spouse.” Her voice broke and she had to take several breaths and clear her throat before she could continue. “I know I hurt him, butthatwould have been worse.”
Jones remained silent, but when she braved another glance at him, he’d seemed to have lost some of the anger in his features.
“You’re probably right. That would have been worse. But the truth is when he wasn’t mad at you, I was because of the stupid things he did to try to forget you.” A huff left him. “You look shocked.”
“I am.”
