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“That’s why you protect him.”
“What are you getting at?” I ask, spinning toward him and waiting for him to make a point.
Then he leans even closer, so he’s practically whispering in my ear. “I’m just trying to understand why you push me away all the time, Eden. Because all I want is to protect and take care of you too. The fact that Jack’s father isn’t here when I am—”
“He’s dead. His father is dead.”
His lips part as he stares at me in surprise, his face only inches from mine. “I had no idea…”
“It doesn’t matter,” I reply. “He wouldn’t have been here even if he were alive.”
“Does Jack know?”
Before I can muster a response, there’s a cheer coming from the field, and I turn to see that the game has ended. Jack is running toward us with a beaming smile.
Clay shakes off his serious expression and turns to my son with excitement.
“You came!” Jack squeals as he barrels into Clay’s arms, and Clay hoists him off the ground with a laugh.
“Of course, I came. You asked me to.”
“Did you see my hit?” Jack asks.
“Dude, that line drive was sick,” Clay replies, which makes Jack laugh.
It’s the first time I’m not the first person Jack runs to after a game. It doesn’t hurt as much as I expected it to. Instead, I relish the smile on his face and how comfortable he is with Clay.
After he gives Clay a high five, he turns toward me and hugs my legs the way he often does. I ruffle his hair affectionately.
“You hungry?” I ask.
“Yeah, can we get cheeseburgers? Clay, you want cheeseburgers?”
My eyes snap up to Clay’s, and he looks momentarily taken aback. “Well…I have plans to meet up with Jade.”
“Is Jade your girlfriend?” Jack asks.
I can’t tear my gaze away as Clay nods. “Yeah, she is.”
“Does she like cheeseburgers?”
“Umm…” Clay looks at me, and I realize he’s waiting for my approval. I could easily shake my head and stop this whole thing. But the thought of seeing Jade in an environment outside the club is appealing to me, and given the opportunity to mend what I broke between us, I can’t turn it down.
So I give him a quick nod.
He turns toward Jack with a smile. “Dude, she fucking loves cheeseburgers.”
This makes Jack laugh and slap his hand over his mouth. I level a tilted glare at Clay as he grins contritely.
“Sorry.”
Then the three of us walk together toward the parking lot, and I know this is probably a very bad idea. One more person to get my son attached to is dangerous, but I’m too anxious to see her to care.
* * *
An hour later, we’re standing in the parking lot of a burger place in town. Jade climbs out of her red Jeep and approaches us with a warm smile.
It’s only awkward for a second as Clay introduces us like we don’t know each other. Jade stares at me timidly as I reach my hand out to shake hers.
