Jett (Arizona Vengeance 10)

Riggs nods with understanding.

“Which means,” I conclude to wrap things up. “Shane wasn’t there to reconnect. He came back into their lives because he wanted Emory too. I think that’s the main thing he wanted because he bailed when he found out he couldn’t have that. I mean… what type of father just abandons his kid that way because he can’t have the mom?”

I see a flash of something in his eyes. Turbulence that’s a combination of rage and sorrow before he says, “Just because you’re graced with the title of father doesn’t mean you’re automatically good at it.”

“Personal experience?” I ask softly. “Is that why you have custody of Janelle?”

Riggs nods, eyes falling down to his beer. “Felicity is lucky to have Emory to protect her.”

“Janelle, too.”

The smile that graces Riggs’ face is bitter as his eyes lift to meet mine. “My stepfather cost me my childhood. I wasn’t about to let it cost Janelle hers. But trust me when I say, the burden of protecting someone means that you live under a blanket of constant fear and mistrust. If things are complicated with Emory, much of it is beyond her control. She’s just trying to deal.”

Yeah, I’d figured that part out but wasn’t thinking it quite as eloquently as Riggs was saying it.

It does put it in perspective though and I pick up my beer, raising it to Riggs. “Thanks for sharing, man. That helps a lot.”

One side of his mouth pulls up. “I’d like to say anytime, but I won’t. You know I hate this talking shit.”

I laugh and bring the beer to my mouth, take a long pull and I swallow. Riggs didn’t give me any answers, but for some reason, I feel more settled.

Maybe I just needed to get things off my chest.

CHAPTER 25

Jett

The laughter around the kitchen table is a good sign.

I brought steaks and we grilled out. While Felicity is far too young to man the grill, she hung with me out back while I cooked the steaks, and Jenna and Emory worked on putting together a salad and baked potatoes. She talked about the dance and how fun it was and told me about her sleepover last night at her friend’s and how they put the covers over their heads and told spooky stories and then got so scared they could hardly sleep all night.

Emory appears to have moved past some of her worries we discussed. She’s not distracted like she was on the phone last night and her smile is easy. The kiss she gave me when I walked in was meaningful, and the look in her eyes told me that all was well. Then she kissed me again and when she pulled away, the sparkling of her blue irises told me that she needed alone time with me soon, as much as I needed it with her. Our next planned overnight “date” is in two days for the team Christmas party that Dominik is throwing. It will be our first team appearance as a couple, and we know it will make a statement.

She plans on staying the night at my condo but, as per usual, it’s a school night so she’ll be out the door super early to make it home before Felicity wakes up.

“Okay, okay,” Jenna says with a superior smile. “I got one.”

“Go for it,” Emory says, looking across the table at her daughter and winking.

We all watch Jenna expectantly.

“What do you call a tree that grows in your hand?” she asks us, glancing around the table to see who will answer correctly.

I offer a ridiculous answer because I know the punchline of this joke. “An oak tree.”

Felicity groans and rolls her eyes. “That doesn’t even make sense. It’s a palm tree. Get it?”

I scratch my head and frown in confusion. “I don’t get it.”

“Palm?” Felicity says, holding her hand out and pointing to that portion of her hand. “A palm tree.”

“Oooohhhh,” I drawl, changing my expression as if the light bulb had been turned on.

My eyes drift over to Emory, and the smile on her face as she watches our interaction is serene. I glance at Jenna, and her smile seems to be knowing.

As if she had expected us to be sitting at the table together—my girlfriend, her daughter, and her sister—having a family-style dinner and telling jokes.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world.

And yeah… while it feels different because I have twenty-six years of being a certain way, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable. In fact, I feel very comfortable in this new role.

I mean, just this side of two days ago, I was filling in at a daddy/daughter dance with Felicity. I can’t help but feel light inside when I think about it. When Emory texted me that Shane hadn’t shown up and she was going to take her to the dance, there was no doubt in my mind what I was going to do.