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Charlie put a hand on her shoulder. “Sweetheart, wait.”
“I’m not saying take the offer. I’m just saying that it wouldn’t hurt to let Craig say what he wants to say. You’re not accepting the offer; you're just hearing the guy out. Maybe he’d leave you alone once he said his peace.”
“We’re not inter?—”
“Jo, Jack isn’t wrong.”
Jo twisted to look at her. “He’s dead wrong. There is no point in listening to Craig when we already know the answer.”
Jack lowered his gaze to the floor and slipped his hands into his back pockets. “I think I should?—”
“Stay, Jack,” Charlie said.
He flicked his gaze up, held Charlie’s for a moment, and nodded before lowering his head again. There was no way he could say no to her. He liked her too much. She was good to him. “Okay.”
A heavy harrumph from Jo. “We’re not selling. I told you I?—”
“This is my house, and I want to hear what Craig has to say.” Charlie’s tone was kind but firm.
“But Grandma…” Her voice was just loud enough for Jack to hear.
“It’s settled.”
Silence carried to the point Jack felt antsy.
“Okay,” Jo finally replied.
The steps creaked, and footsteps grew closer until Jo came into view. She palmed his chest. “I’m sorry. I bit your head off, and I shouldn’t have.”
Lifting his head, he smiled. “I’m sorry, too.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. You were simply relaying a message. I was taking my frustration out on you, which wasn’t fair.” She chewed her lip. “I also want to say I’m sorry for being so moody this past week.”
“You know you can talk to me,” he said softly.
A small nod. “I know, and thank you. I’m… I…”
Jack wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. When you get ready and have the words, I’ll be here.”
Jo buried her face in his chest and took a deep breath, melting against his body. Her arms constricted around him a little tighter before loosening a fraction.
He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, but he was positive he could do it forever. Just hold her. No words. Nothing. Just her. Him. Wrapped up together, wading through the world. A partner. Someone wanting his strength the same way he needed hers.
He shuffled a hair, and she leaned back. “Your hip?”
“Uh…”
“I’ve noticed sometimes that when it’s bothering you ,you’ll shift your weight a little. It’s slight, and sometimes, I don’t even think you realize it. Probably a product of just learning to cope with it.”
He softly laughed. “Been watching me pretty hard, huh?”
She popped him in the chest. “Don’t flirt with me.” Her lips quirked up. “We’re having movie night in my room. Would you be interested in a little Terminator and some Milk Dud popcorn?”
His eyebrows rose. “No way.”
“What?” Her cute little head tipped to the side.
“The only movie that tops Terminator in my book is Jurassic Park. I’d say it’s dead even, and I don’t eat popcorn unless it has Milk Duds in it. I just can’t wrap my brain around eating it any other way.”
