I guessed I’d gotten an answer to my unspoken question.
I’d thought Jackson was happy with his new life with Brett. It was becoming quickly apparent that I was very,verymistaken.
I ground my teeth, trying to remind myself that Jackson was a grown man who could fight his own battles. But could he? I’d always thought so, but now I wasn’t so sure. Regardless, Rose and Marshall were waiting for me inside. “You have my number, Jackson,” I muttered under my breath. “Use it if you need to.”
His eyes widened before he nodded shakily.
Figuring I’d about done all I could, I let out a final huff and walked away. I had loved ones I needed to get back to.
Chapter Eight
Marshall
Rosewasquietinthe car on the way back home and again when Daniel suggested we all sit in the home theater and watch a movie. Bucky barely left her side, preferring to snuggle into her thigh and let her absently scratch his ears asMyrrh Hound, a relatively recent Ruben Steele action-comedy, played.
About halfway through, she got up and told us she was going to bed, even though it was barely eight. The tub of popcorn we’d microwaved before we’d settled in remained untouched on the coffee table.
Begrudgingly, I wished her a good night and paused the movie before Daniel walked her to her room, an arm draped over her shoulder, while Bucky followed her, loyal as ever.
Sitting in the semidarkness of the room lit only by the TV screen, I thought back over the events of the night. I hadn’t expected to ever meet Daniel’s ex, Jackson, and from the look on Daniel’s face when he heard Brett’s voice, Daniel had been surprised too.
It had been hard to miss the startled look on Jackson’s face as Daniel went up against Brett. I didn’t think that was because he still held feelings for Daniel, due to the way Daniel had described Jackson leaving, but stranger things had happened.
Brett was an asshole. That fact was indisputable, at least. He’d immediately pissed me off by the way he’d cut Rose off before she’d even gotten a full sentence out. But the way he’d also talkedatDaniel…. I sucked in a deep breath to settle the anger sparking along my veins. Was this what Daniel had been up against this whole time? Yet he, too, had seemed alarmed by the way Brett had spoken tonight. Maybe this was unusual behavior?
I chewed on my lip as I thought. Was this something I even should be worried about? In about a week, my Jeep would be fixed, and I’d be on my way. What right did I have getting involved?
My heart wrenched at the despondent look on Rose’s face after we’d left Malone’s. I’d only known her a couple of days, and I already felt taken with the usually effervescent young girl. How could anyone live with the knowledge that they’d dulled her sparkle?
I was startled out of my thoughts when Daniel returned, shutting the door behind him before he moved the remote from his spot on the sofa to the arm so he could flop down on the seat next to me and tilt his head back to stare at the ceiling. “Is she okay?”
He rolled his head to the side to glance at me before he returned his focus to the ceiling. “She will be.”
Nibbling on my bottom lip again, I let the silence settle, figuring he’d either feel the need to talk more or he’d pick up the remote to restart the movie. This needed to be his call.
“What did you say to Jackson?”
Talking more it was. “When?”
He rolled his head to look at me again. “Before you took Rose back inside. You said something to Jackson that made him flinch. I was wondering what you said.”
Ah. I nodded in understanding before I leaned forward to grab the glass of water that I’d left on the coffee table. I sipped a mouthful and settled back before I responded. “I told him that he was allowing Brett to scare his daughter.”
“You said that?”
With one eyebrow raised, I glanced at him and held his eyes. “Should I not have?”
Daniel let out a quiet chuckle as his eyes softened. “I’m glad you did. He was.” He shook his head and sighed. “I don’t quite know what to think…. Jackson and Brett have been together for a couple of years now, and I always thought their relationship was normal.” The corners of his lips turned down sadly. “Even though Jackson left us, he still claimed visitation with Rose in the divorce. He doesn’t see her a lot, like one weekend every month and for a couple of weeks during the summer break, but hedoeswant to see her. The last few months, though….”
“Things changed?”
“Yeah.” He pressed his lips together hard and frowned. “She started trying to reschedule their catch-ups, come home early, delay pickup times—stuff like that. She didn’t do the full two weeks with him at all this summer. Instead, she bartered Jackson down to more weekend visits throughout the summer, claiming her volunteer work at the animal shelter would be disrupted. I thought it was just her growing up, establishing more independence, but now….”
I hummed. “Was Brett different tonight than what you’re used to?”
“He’s always set my teeth on edge, but I’d thought that had more to do with me being annoyed about Jackson moving on. But tonight… I’ve never seen Brett cruel like that before.” Danielsucked in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Whenever I dropped Rose off at their house over the last few months, I’d only ever talk to Jackson. Brett would be inside, or I’d see him in the garden from a distance. He’d never bewithJackson. Not like he used to be.” He chewed his lip. “Tonight was the first time I’d seen them actively be together in months.”
I ran my fingers through my hair before I leaned forward to rest my elbows on my knees. “If it helps any, I don’t think Jackson was happy about being there with Brett tonight.”
