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“I’m not leading you on!” he finally shouted, his words one big gust of air like he’d been holding it in.
I planted my feet wide so as not to be blown away. “Whatever you’re doing, you need to figure it out. Because I’m not going to sit around like an idiot, waiting for any crumb of attention from you. Believe it or not, not everyone is impressed by your pretty-boy act. I’m certainly not.”
With that, I got into my car and sped away, leaving him in my rearview mirror.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Jason
While pouring myself a coffee in the break room, my cell phone vibrated with another text from Bridget. Yet another I didn’t bother to read. She had been nothing if not persistent over this last week.
After Gemma had skipped out on lunch at the golf course, I definitively ended things with Bridget, earning some tears from her. I’d been surprised she’d felt so deeply about me since my feelings were strictly surface level, but I couldn’t keep acting as if what we had was anything close to real. Not since I’d discovered what real felt like.
I had hoped Gemma would have cooled off after a few days, and I could plead my case, but every time I tried to call her, I couldn’t seem to find the right words. I didn’t know how to explain that my entire world shifted when I met her, and that I didn’t care about Bridget, not in the same way I cared about her.
I propped myself against the counter, rubbing at the back of my neck while wisps of my coffee’s steam made their way toward me.
“Everything all right?”
I lifted my attention from my mug to Frank, at the door.
“Yeah, fine.”
“All your hard work is finally paying off,” he said, referring to the contract we signed this morning.
“Yep.”
His brow crimped. “Are you worried about the project?”
“Nope.” I thrust my hands into my pockets.
“Well, hell, Jay, you don’t seem too excited.”
“No, I am. I am. It’s just…” I paused, attempting to gather my words and feelings together about his soon-to-be daughter-in-law. It would open up a can of worms, and I didn’t know how to broach the subject.
Frank snapped his fingers. “Of course. I should have seen this before. My focus has been elsewhere lately.”
“Huh?”
“You know I consider you my son, right?” he said, placing both of his hands on my shoulders, digging his thumbs into the soft spot below my collarbone, like he’d been doing for the last fifteen years, thinking it constituted a massage. In reality, it felt like two blunt dowels being shoved into my clavicle.
“When I agreed to be your godfather, I never dreamed in a million years you’d ever actually be placed in my care, but that was the best thing that ever happened to me. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m getting married, but nothing will change the fact that you are my kid.”
Frank’s eyes teared, and I didn’t have the heart to tell this man, who was my father in all ways but name, that I wasn’t upset over his impending marriage. Instead, I smiled and let him continue.
“We’ll still hang out, play golf. Whatever you want, whenever you want, I’m here for you.” He hugged me, and I couldn’t hide it anymore, my shoulders shaking. “It’s okay, buddy,” he said, patting my back. “Let it out.”
I snorted out a laugh, and Frank froze. “Was that…?” He stepped back. “What is wrong with you? I thought you were crying. Here you are laughing at me.”
I doubled over, my eyes tearing. “I’m crying laughing.” I stretched an arm out to him. “You’re the best. Really. The best.”
He towed me up to my full height. “And you’re an ungrateful little shit.”
“I thought I was your child, whom you so adore.” I wiped my eyes then patted his shoulder. “In all seriousness, you’ve done a pretty good job being my dad.”
He gently smacked my cheek before hugging me with a clap on the back. When we finally separated, he asked, “So, what’s the real problem?”
I took a deep breath, combed my hand through my hair, and then told the truth. “Gemma.”
