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“I’ll go,” I say quickly standing. “Watch Cody, please.”
I rush after her and manage to catch her just by the swings at the other end of the large park area. By then I’m panting, and I double over, putting my hands on my knees. Damn, girl can run. She stops at the swing and lashes out, hitting it with an angry cry. I rush over, wrapping my arms around her, and hold onto her while she yells angrily at no one in particular.
“Calm down, Jen,” I say, slowly turning her toward me.
“Did you know?”
I shake my head. “I just found out then.”
“All along ... Oh, god ... all along.”
I nod, swiping a lone tear away with my thumb. “I’m sorry, Jen.”
“Did he know?”
“Only for a few years.”
“How did this happen?”
I tell her the story Huck just gave me, as quickly as I can.
Her eyes widen, and then narrow with anger. “I don’t know who I hate more: him, your father, or our mother.”
“Don’t hate any of them. It was a bad time, and they all made mistakes. He wants to see you, to get to know you.”
“He could have done that already.”
“I know, but it was a lot for him to process, too. Don’t hate him until you at least hear him out.”
She blinks at me. “We’ve talked about him so many times and all along he’s been that close.”
“I know.”
“What if I’m not what he expected?”
I know how she feels. It’s normal to wonder if she’s good enough. If he’ll look at her and be proud. She hasn’t really had a father figure in her life, and I know she has spent a long time wondering who that man was. Now she knows, she’s worried she’s not enough.
“He is going to love you because it’s impossible not to. Did you see his face? He wants to be in your life, he looked like he was going to cry.”
She exhales, her hands shaking. “I ... don’t know how to face him. I’m so mad.”
“Then don’t do it now,” I assure her. “Do it whenever you’re ready to do it.”
“No,” she says standing. “I have to do this now.”
We walk back slowly, and even though she doesn’t say it, she’s terrified. She’s so nervous, and I don’t blame her. This is incredibly overwhelming. When we appear again, Huck stands, and their eyes meet. I feel a crushing feeling in my chest and a touch of jealousy. She has a father that loves her, she has a chance. I swallow down my emotions because this is about my sister now. Huck walks over and stops in front of her, his breathing is labored, too.
“I ... I never ...”
“Can we talk?” Jenny asks, her voice soft.
“Of course.”
They turn and walk off down the path, and I feel my shoulders slump. Ace walks over and squeezes my arm. “She’ll be fine, you did a good thing keeping your cool and bringing her back here.”
“I want to speak with Jagger and find out why he didn’t tell me.”
“It wasn’t his place. Especially not when so much was going down.”
I nod, that makes sense. Still, I can’t believe he didn’t want to share at some point. It’s big information.
“Okay. I’m going to take Cody back and rest, he didn’t get enough sleep.”
“Are you sure you’re good?” Angel asks, standing and walking over, placing his hands on my shoulders.
“Yeah, I’m good. I’ll see you all soon, and we’ll go over the next part of the plan.”
“Okay.”
I take Cody and place him in his stroller, then hug Ava one more time before picking up the groceries Jenny dropped and leaving. As I’m walking back to my apartment, I see Jenny and Huck embracing and I’m happy for her. I’m happy because she truly deserves a relationship with her dad. The pain in my chest only worsens with every step I take, though.
I feel so alone.
I know I’m not.
But it doesn’t stop the crushing emptiness in my chest.
“YOU DIDN’T TELL ME,” I say into the phone later that night when Jagger calls.
I’ve been going over everything all afternoon, and I feel a little betrayed that Jagger knew all along and didn’t tell me. I wouldn’t have said anything if he had asked me not to, but it’s big news.
“I’m sorry, but it was dangerous for Jenny. Huck was involved in a lot of bad shit, too, and if anyone found out she was his ...”
“I get that, but you still could have told me. I wouldn’t have said anything.”
“Not my place, baby. You know that.”
I sigh. “I know. Sorry, it has been a long afternoon.”
“How’s Jenny taking it?”
“As far as I know, pretty well.”
I hear him shuffle around a bit before he says, “That’s good.”
“What’re you doing?”
“Just sitting in bed, only time I get to myself.”
“I miss you.”
“Miss you too, baby,” he says in a low, sexy voice that makes my skin prickle and my body heat.
