Cocky Roomie_ A Bad Boy Romance Novel(46)
Tooling around the country in a motorcycle club doing God knows what, ignoring the law on pretty much all counts? Not so honorable.
“You spoke to Dad?” I ask, feeling heavy.
Jett shakes his head. “The bastard made Jaxson call me. Which he did. He didn’t want to, but he finally did it, because Dad wouldn’t let up and wouldn’t do it himself.”
“How you feel about that?”
Jett shrugs. “I feel nothing.”
That’s a fucking lie.
I bite my tongue from calling it out since he’s too raw on this subject and I’m no sadist. Plus, he’s doing me a huge favor, one I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay.
“Right. Sorry if him doing that for me brought up some shit for you.”
“Forget it, Jake.” Jett plays with a stainless steel wolf ring on his finger. “Truth? His asking me to step up for this in the way he knew I would, makes me happy to do it. Even if the hypocrite knows my methods ain’t orthodox, he’s still asking me to do this mission. Kinda makes me feel like, fuck you, Dad. Guess you need people like me, huh?”
We stare at each other for a good long second and then he rises to go. “Well, this has been warm and fuzzy and all that, but I have a detox to attend.” He laughs and puts on his jacket. “You should see this guy. Fuckin’ mess.”
I nod, thinking about how Dwight got that way. And it’s funny because Jett and Dad have a painful and problematic father-son love. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jett doesn’t feel this mission – as he called it – isn’t uncannily in the vein of his own problem. A father who wants to connect with his son, but can’t. I won’t bring it up. Jett’s a profound thinker. I’m sure he knows.
“Hey, Jett, Ciphers don’t care that this’ll take a while?”
“Nah. They owe me. Scratch, especially.” His boots clomp to the door.
I follow him. “Well, we’ve got a few weeks in the same town.”
“Let’s grab a beer night after tomorrow.”
Grinning like only a younger brother who misses one of his heroes can, I say, “Cool. Great.”
He clamps a hand on my shoulder and shakes me. “You look good. Any women in your life?”
“Uhhh…not really.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “That’s not a no.”
“It’s a conversation for when I see you next.”
“Fair enough.”
“Hey, did Jaxson call you during—”
“—The BBQ? Yeah. I told him he should have waited until after. It made me miss Mom’s chili.” He winks and heads out.
I close the door and simmer in the news a minute before pulling out my phone and dialing.
“Hi, this is Drew’s phone. Leave a message. Thank you.”
Huffing, I wait for the fucking beep I’ve grown to despise. “Drew. It’s Jake. I’m coming back to Atlanta in about three weeks. Wait for me.” I hang up and dial another number.
“Hey Jake.”
“Jaxson, you bastard, what did you do!”
He chuckles and asks, “Has the plan gone forward then?”
“Yes, it’s gone fucking forward. What the hell?!”
Jaxson’s deep base lowers. “It’s all Dad, Jake.” He pauses. “I think Dad wants to reach out to Jett, but he doesn’t know how. This gave him an opportunity, in a weird way.”
“Really weird. But he may have just…you know.”
“Saved someone’s life. I know.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, staring at where my older brother just told me this incredible news.
“And Jett’s the one saving it. Maybe Dad can respect him after this. Maybe there’s hope.”
“Maybe.” I turn the deadbolt and head for my bedroom. “Anyway, I guess I have to say thanks.”
“What took you so long?”
“Fuck off.”
We hang up and I look around at the one shitty dresser, mattress, and two open suitcases I’ve been living out of since I got here. I start to unpack, muttering to myself, “Might as well, now that I know it won’t be forever.”
DREW
I ’ve listened to Jake’s message about twenty-three times when, as I’m walking up to our apartment, I finally delete it. Then I press ‘undelete,’ and listen once more, standing by the spiral staircase I’ve never climbed since I moved in on the first floor.
There his voice is again. Deep and sexy. And determined.
“I’m coming back to Atlanta in about three weeks. Wait for me.”
“Oh God,” I whisper as the line goes dead. Every time I listen to those amazing three words I remember the night he proclaimed he was going to make me his if he still felt the same way about me.