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She laughed, but her voice sounded all broken up when she told me she loved me and couldn’t wait to meet Savannah.
After we got off the phone, I realized the last time I had a girl around my family was before I went to prison. That couldn’t be right, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was true. One-night stands and casual fuck buddies I wouldn’t have brought around my Ma, and that’s all I’ve had over the past eight years since I’ve been out.
Guess it took finding the right girl to make me want something more.
And there’s no doubt Savannah is the right one. She’s sweet, silly, and doesn’t take any crap from me. It’s downright funny how she stands up to me, refusing to back down on things. Even on the most ridiculous of things. Like when she says she’s treating for a meal, if I don’t want a glare, I better keep my wallet in my pocket.
Before I would think she was flashing her money, but she’s not like that. Oh, she’s most definitely a spoiled little princess, no doubt about that. Yet she’s not the snob I once stupidly labeled her. She cares about people and I fucking love that about her.
And one night I can’t deny it any longer. I love her.
Somehow I’d let her in where I’d kept others out and instead of scaring the living shit out of me, I found it was actually the opposite and it mellowed me. Loving her is freeing, and I feel lighter. Definitely happier.
About a week into our relationship, I finally bugged her about what was so secret and important in that trash bag that she had to race it out to the garbage truck instead of waiting for the following week’s trash pickup. She’d stammered and blushed and then finally told me what it was while making me promise never to reveal to Blaire that I knew. Honestly, I was a tad disappointed. I don’t know what I was expecting but pregnancy tests weren’t it. It was an easy enough thing to promise her, and I didn’t bring it up again.
Tom’s new pastime is getting on my ass about my sappy grin and teasing me about being pussy whipped.
Instead of belting him, I laugh, smile wider, and hope my friend finds the same happiness I have.
Savannah has been very quiet about her old man, and even after agreeing to meet my family, she hasn’t extended the same invitation to meet hers. But I don’t overthink it. When she’s ready, it will happen.
***
Buzzing a kiss to Savannah’s sweet lips, I quietly grab my things from the nightstand on the side of the bed that’s typically been mine. I throw on my work clothes in the bathroom and scrub my face and brush my teeth before leaving. Exiting through the side door of the garage, I’m turning the corner and find a tall older guy leaning against the passenger side of my truck.
The sun is just starting to burn off some of the night and his white-blond hair glitters. Despite never having met the man, I know in an instant it’s Savannah’s father.
Pushing off from my truck, he walks over to me, his blue eyes so like his daughter’s moving over me slowly while ice forms in my veins.
“Young man, a word, please.”
Nodding, I square my shoulders. “Yeah, sure, Mr. Claymont.”
He gestures for me to follow him and walks away.
Releasing my breath, I jog a few steps to catch up with him and fall into step with him. His profile is stern, his stride fast. He slows to a stop when we’re away from the garage and close to the big hedges surrounding the property.
Sighing, his broad shoulders slump and he shoves a hand through his short hair. “I’m not normally by nature a meddler, but it seems I’ve managed to be enough of a pain in my daughter’s affairs that she’s closed me out.”
“Huh?” My brow wrinkles as I frown down at the older man, but not too far down because he’s close to my own six-foot two height.
His lips curve into a wry grin. “To be blunt, I don’t know what the hell is going on in Savannah’s life anymore.”
Rubbing a hand over my prickly jaw, I gaze back at the dark and silent apartment above the garage. “Sir-”
“Jamison,” he interrupts, holding out his hand.
Expecting some cold and limp shake, I’m shocked at the strength in his grip when he shakes my hand.
I swallow hard, feeling nervous as hell. “Jamison, sir, I don’t know how I can help you there.”
He cocks a silver brow. “You’re the boyfriend?”
My mouth’s dry. Is this where he tells me to get the hell away from his daughter? “Yeah.”
“Your name?”
“Jake.” I clear my throat. “Jacob Reynolds.”
