Be Mine (Jackson Boys 2)

“Unca Nick’s gotta call his brother before we go, Mama,” Cassidy tells me. Her stubby legs swing back and forth, hitting Nick in the shins. I’d like to kick him there.

“I made you a sandwich too. I figured we could have a snack before we get a phone. I don’t know how long that takes but Charlie always complains about the process.” He wouldn’t know, I realize, because he’s always had things done for him. Simple things like doing the laundry or buying a phone are new for him and yet…he takes the time to make a sandwhich for my daughter. If that’s not a man to take a risk on, I don’t know who is.

He points to the plate beside him. He shoves the rest of his sandwich in his mouth, gulps down half a glass of milk, and then leans over to ruffle Cassidy’s hair. “Be right back, sweetheart. Make sure your mom eats her sandwich.”

“Sit down, Mama.” Cassidy smiles sweetly up at me, having no idea what an asshole her favorite person is. “We put ’nanas in yours.”

“Did you now?” I give in, taking the seat Nick abandoned. “How’d you know I’d want my sandwich just like that?”

“I didn’t,” she admits solemnly. “Unca Nick said you liked them.”

“You love your Uncle Nick, don’t you?” I sigh. The sandwich is just how I like it—chunky peanut butter with a drizzle of honey and sliced bananas. I wonder when Nick saw me eat them. I can’t remember ever making them in front of him, but I must’ve because how else would he have known? His own sandwich was a flat affair of bread and peanut butter, hold the honey.

“Yup. He’s the bestest.” The peanut buttery smile she gives me tugs at my heart.

I reach over and swipe a napkin across her face. “Your Uncle Nick sometimes does things that are aggravating.”

“What’s that?” she says around her last mouthful of sandwich.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” I chastise gently. “Aggravating is like when you’re tickled too much, and it isn’t fun anymore.”

“Oh, I don’t like that. Can’t you tell him to stop? He always stops when I tell him to. You should speak up more, Mama.”

“I suppose I should.”

She climbs off her chair and presses sticky fingers against my face. “Sometimes you can’t stop tickling because you just want to hear more laughing.”

I poke her in the side. “Like this?”

She arches away, holding her side and giggling. “Like that! Hurry up.” She skips away. “I wanna go to the park.”

Nick strolls in, leans one broad shoulder against the doorframe, and tucks his clean, dry phone into his pocket.

“Call your brother?”

“I did.” He holds out his hand. “Get your stuff. We’ll stop by the cell store and I’ll replace your phone.”

There’s no point in arguing with him. My phone is dead and I can’t function without it.

“Come on, Cassidy. You ready?” I grab my purse.

As we’re walking out, Nick places a hand on the small of my back. The closeness is dangerous. When we were standing at the door waiting for Dani to leave, I nearly had a sexual meltdown. Even now, the simple touch causes all my nerve endings to jingle in excitement. He bends down, his mouth only a fraction away from the top of my ear. “I’m not doing this to hurt Charlie. I want her to be happy, same as I want you to be happy.”

“Have you ever been afraid of anything?” I ask him, as the butterflies start rioting in my stomach.

“Yeah. When Charlotte got cancer, I was afraid I’d lose her. Every time Nate goes dark and I don’t hear from him, I’m afraid he’s not coming back. Sometimes I’m running for my life out on the field, but I keep moving forward because the reward for trying is awesome.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I think we should try. For all of our sakes.” He tips his head toward the end of the hallway where my pride and joy skips happily toward the elevator.

I’ve tried to be content with what I’ve had because each time I’ve reached for more, my hands have been brutally smacked. Maybe a wiser girl would tuck her hands tight to her sides, give this beautiful man a goodbye wave, and be content with the world she’d built for herself and her daughter.

But I’m not that wise girl. I never have been. I wet my lips and watch as Nick’s gorgeous eyes darken in anticipation. “Yes. I want to try.”

Chapter Eighteen

Nick

“Just because it ended up alright doesn’t mean you’re forgiven for stealing my phone,” Lainey tells me a couple weeks later as we watch my brother and Charlotte stare lovingly into each other’s eyes.

Charlotte returned from San Diego with Nate in tow. We took them out for a celebratory dinner at Stacks. The two of them are beaming. I’m happy for my brother. I’m happy for Charlotte. But shit. Could they glow less?