Page 31 of Slam Dunk
Jathan peeked out the door behind him. Quince’s dad, Frank, alongside an older woman, had a shotgun held on them in the yard.
“What in the hell is going on out here?”
Jathan stepped outside behind Quince, more than ready to have his back.
Buck answered over his shoulder, “I found these two wandering the ranch. They claim to know you.”
The loud sigh Quince released Jathan felt in his soul. Quince sounded tired as hell. “It’s my parents.”
At his words, Buck lowered the shotgun, and Jathan’s gaze snapped to the woman. He had always wondered why Quince’s mother was never with Quince’s dad. It was a sore subject, though. Jathan didn’t bring it up.
“My apologies.” Buck mumbled the words like he wasn’t sorry at all.
“Don’t apologize. You might still have to shoot them. What are you doing here?”
Quince’s dad said something, but his mom spoke over him, drowning him out. “I wanted to see you.”
“You’ve seen him. Now let’s go. He’s not our son anymore.”
“Shut up!” His mom’s shout caught Jathan so off guard, he jumped. “Shut up. Shut up. Shut the fuck up. I’m not missing my only child’s wedding because of you. I’ve already lost too much. If you want to stay married, then shut your fucking mouth or I can let this guy shoot you.”
Jathan bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing.
Quince’s mom focused on him. “I’m Beth. It’s really nice to meet you.”
Jathan smiled. He wanted this for Quince. Jathan had a great mom. He couldn’t imagine anyone living without theirs. “Jathan. It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Is it okay?” She motioned between Quince and herself. Her voice broke.
Jathan looked Quince’s way. His jaw was locked like Jathan had never seen it. He gave his mom a jerky nod.
She stepped around Buck and rushed up the steps to hug him. Jathan had a hard time catching everything she babbled between sobs as she hugged Quince. There was a lot about Quince’s dad lying to her, saying Quince hated her and didn’t want to talk to her. There was also something about being in the dark. She had no idea he had been shot or was engaged or anything about his life at all until she caught his dad watching a story about them on some sports channel. He knew exactly which story she meant. It had been scheduled to be released this morning. She had to have rushed straight here. Jathan had no idea exactly what Quince’s dad had been doing, but it was obvious his deep-seated prejudices didn’t extend to Beth. It looked to him like she was just a mom who loved her son.
Beth swiped her cheeks and hugged Jathan before he saw it coming. “Holy hell. I thought I raised a tall son. Your dad must be a giant.”
“It’s his mom, actually.” Quince’s voice sounded dead.
Beth had the same nearly silver eyes. Jathan couldn’t look away from her. She looked so sad. Beth tried to smile, but it was obvious she had a hard time holding it. “Is she a good mom? Has she been taking care of you?”
God, she broke Jathan’s heart, and he hated Quince’s dad even more than before.
He watched Quince visibly swallow. “She’s a good person.”
Beth nodded. “Would it be okay if we spent some time together?”
Quince’s gaze moved towards his dad.
Beth’s expression hardened. She glanced over her shoulder. “You can go. I’ll call you when I’m ready to leave.”
“Beth—”
She swiped her hand through the air. “I swear to God if anything other than ‘yes, ma’am’ comes out of your mouth right now, it’ll be your last words.”
Jathan’s gaze slid between them. He didn’t look or feel triumphant. No one won in this game. Whatever Quince’s dad had done had ruined lives. Frank walked away. Jathan might have feared for Beth’s safety with the bastard if it wasn’t obvious the guy’s fear of losing her was bigger than his hatred for Quince.
Jathan focused on Beth. “Quince was about to make breakfast. Would you like to join us?”
Beth smiled. It was sweet and lit her perfectly round face. “I’d love that.”
