The window rolled down, making an awful noise as it tried to drag my forehead down with it. Of course, Griffin was sitting on the other side of the window, a smirk on his handsome lips. “I get the feeling you’re unhappy about something.”
I blushed but did my best to act cool, like I wasn’t mortified. “Why am I going to meet with your ex-wife if you’re going?”
“I’m not going in. Stacy is volatile, at best. She sees me and goes nuclear.” He shrugged. “I just need to make sure she doesn’t try anything.”
My heart ached at the vulnerability I saw on his face in that moment. He was a confusing man. Aloof with his children, cruel to others at times, he seemed cold and distant, but there was something in his voice right then that was soft and warm for his kids. It was good to see. Finally.
I rested my hand on top of his forearm. “I won’t mess up again. I know the rules now. I wouldn’t let anything happen.”
He held my gaze, searching for something, and finally nodded. “I can see that.”
“But you’re still going.”
He nodded. “Stacy isn’t normal. I just have to be sure that things go smoothly.”
I grunted. “Fine. Just know that your ex-wife is mean and I’m not happy about having to meet with her.”
“Once you let down your boundaries, they’re just down, aren’t they?”
I opened my mouth to reply and then stopped. He was right. I was treating him like we were old friends instead of employer and employee.
“Relax. I’m kidding.” He lowered his voice. “Besides. If either of us is going to be charged for crashing boundaries, it’s me.”
I smiled and raised an eyebrow at him. “So, I can just speak freely from now on? Tell you how I really feel?”
He actually winced. “I don’t know. That feels threatening.”
I was still laughing when Jones came out and scowled at me. “What is it, Jones? You and your sister were just supposed to be using the bathroom and coming on out. Where’s Caroline?”
“Isn’t it your job to know that?”
I rested my hands on my hips and shook my head at him. “Jones, you’re not being very nice. We have a long summer toget through, especially if you’re going to hate me the entire time. Now, get in the car with your father and get buckled in. I’ll go find your sister.”
“She’s in the bathroom, crying again.” He stomped past me. “She said she wants to stay here. She’s an idiot.”
I caught his arm and stopped him, bending down so I was on his level. “Listen to me, Jones, because I’m only going to say this once. You need to be nicer to your sister. She’s the only one you have, and she’s going to remember the way you treat her and talk to her for the rest of her life. Do you want her to remember you as the mean little boy who bullied her when she needed you most? You give me all the attitude you want, but do not call your sister names. Do you understand me?”
He glared up at me. “I don’t have to listen to you. You’re no one.”
“Jones.” Griffin got out of the car, his face pinched with anger. “You’re going to listen to her.”
Shoving back from me, Jones ran away from us. “I hate you both!”
I sighed from where I’d landed on my ass and looked up at a crestfallen Griffin. “He doesn’t mean that.”
Taking my arm and pulling me to my feet, he grunted. “Sure seems like it.”
“I can’t even tell you how many times I see children shout that at their parents. It’s just part of it. Didn’t you ever shout that at your dad when you were little?”
“No. He ran a tight ship.”
I dusted off my ass and watched as Jones ran around the house and towards the beach. “I loved my father more than anything in the world, and I went through a phase as a kid where I told him that I hated him because he made me get up and go fishing with him every morning. I didn’t actually hate him. Just like Jones doesn’t actually hate you.”
“Should I...” Sighing, Griffin ran his hands through his hair. “I should go get him, right? Try and talk to him?”
I smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “Yes. Don’t get angry with him if he’s not the nicest right now, though. Be prepared for some pre-teen sass.”
“Pre-teen?” Shaking his head hard, he started off in the direction Jones went. “When the fuck did I get so old?”
