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7
“Can I ask you a question?” Lydia asked Autumn later that evening as they were walking along the boardwalk. Lydia was pushing Skyler in her blue stroller, as they headed toward Angel Ices for dessert.
Griff was still out on his charter, due back in to dock at nine, so the sisters had taken advantage of the time they had to spend together.
“Sure. Shoot.” The boardwalk was empty, save for a lone jogger running up and down from the pier to the coffee shop. Lydia had no idea what kind of training he was doing, but he sure did look miserable doing it.
“What do you know about Jackson’s mom?” she asked.
Autumn turned to look at Lydia. “Well, that wasn’t the question I was expecting.”
“What were you expecting?” Lydia pulled her jacket around herself a little tighter. A breeze had picked up, blowing in from the ocean, making the air smell salty. As the sun slid down the sky, the temperatures had dipped, turning the evening distinctly chilly.
“I have no idea,” Autumn admitted. “That’s the fun thing about you. Nothing you say is what I expect.”
“So do you know anything about his mom?” Lydia asked again. She was still wondering why Jackson had been so silent on their journey home. She’d made a few silly jokes that had made him smile, but for the most part he’d been quiet, letting the music fill the silence that dominated the space between them. And when Lydia had asked him to come in to try the coffee machine out – a genuine, non-sexual offer, thank you very much – he’d declined, saying he had way too much work to do.
It was like he couldn’t get rid of her fast enough. Though she’d still managed to shout at his retreating back that she’d be over tomorrow evening to walk Eddie. She owed him that much.
“Why do you want to know about her?” Autumn asked, leaning into the stroller to stroke Skyler’s cheek. Skyler laughed and kicked at the blanket covering her chubby legs.
“He was really quiet on the way home from the mall,” Lydia said. She’d already told Autumn about her accident and need to replace the coffee pot. “And I’m not sure if it was my fault, or if it had something to do with his mom. She called while we were there.”
“Well, I don’t know much about his family situation, but I know his mom left him and his dad when he was pretty small. For most of the time growing up it was the two of them.”
“Oh. How sad.” Lydia blinked. Poor Jackson.
Autumn shook her head. “You have way too much empathy, do you know that? You’re feeling sorry for him, and his mom is still around, when ours died while you were a baby.”
Lydia glanced down at Skyler. She was only a few months younger than Lydia had been when their mom died. “Yeah, but Mom didn’t choose to leave us. It must be hard growing up knowing your mom’s still alive but doesn’t want you.”
Autumn gave her a strange look. “I guess it is.”
“At least he’s got Eddie around now. So he won’t be lonely.”
“Jackson’s never exactly wanting for company. He’s always surrounded by women.”
“That’s what I don’t get. He doesn’t come off like a player.” Lydia sighed. He was a still lake that ran deep. Strange how she wanted to dive beneath the surface and see what was there.
“I don’t know what a player looks like.” Autumn shrugged. “I know assholes, because I was married to one.” She grimaced at the memory of her ex-husband. “But Jackson isn’t like Josh. He’s just… lonely, I guess.”
“When was the last time he had a girlfriend?”
Autumn shrugged, as Lydia veered to the left to avoid a skater. “Not since I’ve known him. But he’s a flirt. He could charm the tail off a donkey.” She laughed. “He’d probably flirt with a plant if it gave him the eye.”
“He doesn’t flirt with me,” Lydia said quietly. Not unless you counted the situation between them in Doggy Couture. But that was make believe. The rest of the time he treated her with kid gloves.
“Maybe because he knows better than to try that with you.” They’d reached the ice cream parlor, and Lydia maneuvered the stroller over the front step.
“What does that mean?” Lydia asked, as they walked inside Angel Ices.
“He knows better than to mess with you since you’re related to me. It’s the bro code. Griff would probably kill him if he tried it with you. And anyway, you’re out of his league.”
Lydia shook her head. “But he’s hot. I mean, really, really hot.” She thought of the way his arm had felt beneath her touch. Warm, soft skin stretched over thick, knotted muscles. Did the rest of him feel that way?
“Oh no.” Autumn shook her head. “No, no, no.”
“What have I done now?” Lydia rocked the stroller back and forth as they waited in line. “Skyler, your mom has finally lost it.”
