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“About what?” Lucas scooted down next to his son, cupping his small hand in his own, and helped him to throw the ball back into the ocean. Eddie turned, spray flying from his body, as he raced back to catch it.
“About Lydia.”
“Ah.” Lucas nodded. “I thought you might be.”
“You did? Why?” Jackson blinked.
“Because she’s the first woman I’ve heard you mention by name in months.”
That wasn’t a big surprise. Despite his friends’ opinions on his love life, he really hadn’t had time for anything but work for the longest time.
“Yeah, well I won’t be mentioning her in front of Griff. He’s already warned me off.”
Lucas looked shocked. “He what? Why would he do that?”
“Because he thinks I’m gonna screw her around.” Jackson shrugged, though the words stuck in his throat.
Arthur handed Lucas the soggy end of his cone, wiping his hands on the napkin he was given.
“You want the end of this?” Lucas asked Jackson.
“Nah. It’s all yours.”
Lucas laughed, and wrapped it in the napkin, holding it in his hands.
“We sit?” Arthur asked, looking at the edge of the boardwalk.
“Sure.” Lucas lifted him to sit on the end of the boardwalk, his short legs ending a foot from the sand. Lucas sat next to him and Jackson took the spot beside his friend, all three of them looking out to the water.
“So, are you going to screw her around?” Lucas asked Jackson, returning to their conversation.
“No.” Jackson was vehement. “I know you guys think I’m some kind of asshole playboy, but I’m not.”
“You went a little wild there after Hayley left,” Lucas pointed out.
Jackson sighed. “I was hurt and wanted to forget about her for a while. I wanted to go out and have a good time, so I did. But I never messed with anybody’s heart. Never made promises. And to be honest, those women had a lucky escape, because I wasn’t in any shape to have a relationship.”
Lucas nodded. Next to him, Arthur was singing a song, something about a shark.
“But you’re in shape for a relationship now?” Lucas clarified.
“I don’t know. Maybe I would be. But even if I was, Lydia isn’t looking for something like that. She’s too busy traveling to settle down.”
“Have you asked her that?” Lucas asked him.
“No. But since she’s leaving for Europe next week, it’s pretty obvious.”
“But you like her, right?” Lucas asked.
“I do.” Jackson kicked the s
and with his sneaker. “A lot.” Eddie was back on shore, the ball firmly wedged in his mouth as he dug at the sand. Another dog was running around him, trying to get his attention.
“Do you think she likes you, too?” Lucas asked.
Lydia’s cherry blossom tattoo flashed into Jackson’s mind. Followed by her wide eyed gaze as his lips brushed against his.
I’m not sorry at all about what happened outside your bathroom.
