Page 95 of Golden Ruin

My phone lights up beside my pillow, and I breathe a literal sigh of relief when I see it’s Sterling calling on Facetime.

“Hey,” I answer, trying to sound calm, but I’m sure I don’t look it.

Which would be accurate.

“You guys okay? I’ve been keeping an eye on my weather app.”

I can’t answer that the way I want to because I might scare Jax. So, “We’re riding it out,” is all I say back.

His brow is tense, and he’s pacing his hotel room shirtless, like he can’t relax.

“Is that Daddy?”

I glance down at Jax. “It is. Want to say hi?”

He nods, and I face the screen toward him. “Are you coming home now?” is the first thing he asks. No greeting needed. He just wants his dad.

“I wish, bud. Soon, though,” Sterling answers. “Are you being brave for Mommy?”

“Mmm hmm,” Jax nods.

“Good. She might not tell you this, but she hates lightning.”

Jax glances back at me. “Really, Mommy?”

I glare at Sterling for blowing my cover. “Yes, baby, but I’m not too scared. We’re okay.”

Sterling’s laughing now, and if I could flip him off without Jax seeing, I would.

“How was school?”

Jax lights up when Sterling asks. “We got a turtle in our class now. It’s so cool!”

“That’s awesome. You’ll have to draw me a picture of him one day, so I can see what it looks like.”

“Okay!” Jax beams. “And guess what else I did today.”

“What’s that?”

“I got to play fetch with Goose when me and Mommy visited Matt.”

My heart drops to my stomach, and I’m absolutely sick seeing the look on Sterling’s face. Like Jax’s reveal just sucked the life right out of him. He plays it off, though.

“Really? Sounds fun.”

I chew the side of my lip when my nerves get the best of me.

“It was! Matt even made hand-burgers on his grill.”

“Hamburgers,” I correct him, smiling because he always messes that one up.

“I wasn’t done playing, but we left because it was gonna rain.”

Sterling’s jaw ticks a little, and I hate that Jax mentioned this before I had the chance. No, I haven’t done anything wrong, but I’m doing my best to be transparent. Then again, after my talk with Matt, maybe a little too transparent.

Another big flash of lightning brightens the room, making Jax and I jump as we glance toward the window.

“I wish I could be there with you guys,” Sterling says, which sparks a bright idea in my son’s mind.