“Supposedly?” She doesn’t miss a thing. “You don’t believe him?”
“He’s a serial liar, of course I don’t believe him.”
“If you don’t believe him, why are you calling for advice?”
I run my hand down my face again, feeling suddenly exhausted. “I need to get rid of him and giving him what he wants is the fastest way to do that. But it’s probably not the smartest.”
“Who is she?”
“What?” I cough on the liquid sliding down my throat.How the fuck did she guess this is about someone else?
“Usually, you get rid of him by moving on. If you’re considering his request, it’s because you want him to go while you stay, and I can only think of one reason you’d stay anywhere.”
Guess it’s confession time.“Hisname’s Lennon. Before you ask, no I didn’t know I liked guys, it just sort of happened. And before you ask to meet him, you should know it's new, and undefined, and meeting you would probably spook him.”
I feel a little bad springing this on my mom over the phone, but she didn’t bat an eye when Jace told her he’s bisexual so I know she won’t care whether I’m with a man or woman so long as I’m happy.
“Have you got a picture?”
I feel my brows draw together as I realize I don’t. “No, but I’m sure the camera will catch a shot of him at the race this weekend. If I can convince him to go.”
“I’ll be watching.” I can actually hear the smile in her voice.Shit. “Back to your father. Your memorabilia might be a contribution that makes his partners see him more favorably, like he’s committed to making the place a success.”
“Or he could hawk them to the highest bidder and come crawling back for more.”
“Yes, he could. But what if he doesn’t? What if he’s turning over a new leaf? You could stop looking over your shoulder and settle down with your man.”
“Not sure I can call him mine, yet.” I shake my head even though she can’t see it.
“If you want to, I assume you’ll have to stop moving around so much, and knowing your father is in a good place might help you do that. Give him a chance to show he’s changed.”
“That’s the thing, Ma. I’m pretty sure he hasn’t. He’s just as shady as he’s always been, and I’ve got a bad feeling. I’m only considering it to make him go away. If it doesn’t work, staying here might not be an option.” Saying that out loud makes my stomach lurch.
“Staying there might be the best solution. If you’re in one place you can finally make a restraining order stick.”She has a point about that.
“Okay, I’ll give it a try.” I exhale heavily.
“Good. Now, when do you leave for Arizona?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
“Drive safe. I’ll be watching. I hope I’ll catch a glimpse of Lennon.”
“I hope so, too.”
Chapter nineteen
Lennon
“All he wanted was a jersey?” I watch Axel pull one from his small duffel, along with a Sharpie.
“So he said.” He scrawls his name in scraggly, slanted letters across the red fabric.
“You don’t think that’s the end of it?”
He caps the marker and tosses it back in his bag. “Probably not, but my mom thinks it’s worth a shot in case he really is trying to turn things around, especially since he’s not asking for money.”
“That jersey could be worth money though, right?” I hate to contradict Axel’s mom, but based on how he warned me away from his dad with a single look, and the way his dad leered at me after the exchange, I don’t hold out a lot of hope for the good guy act.
