Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
I was feeling the loss of my mom hard that day.
It was Noah and Skyler’s anniversary, and he’d planned a surprise party for her that evening. My mom would have loved planning alongside Noah. It was her favorite type of celebration. She used to go all out for my dad and her’s as well.
When Mary Poppins walked into Journey’s nursery, she quickly smiled. Watching as I held my baby sister in my arms, rocking her in her chair. This was the first time she’d ever seen me hold her, let alone look down at her with so much tender love and care.
Journey was pulling at my shirt, holding onto it so tight. She didn’t want to let go and neither did I.
“You’re a natural, Jackson. You’re going to make a great daddy one day.”
My eyes flew up to hers. “I don’t want kids.”
“You say that now, but you’re so young. You have a full life ahead of you.”
I shook my head, snapping in a harsh tone, “I wouldn’t talk about things you don’t know, Camila.”
Her hands surrendered in the air. Addressing the elephant in the room instead, “Thank you for covering for me yesterday. I really appreciate it. You didn’t have to do that for me.”
Skyler must have told her what I said.
“I didn’t do it for you, Mary Poppins, I did it for Journey.”
She nodded. “Well, maybe you also did it because you’re starting to accept me?” Rocking on the heels of her feet, she added, “You know, maybe even like me? A little, not a lot. Definitely more than you like Harley,” she teased, hoping it would tear down some of my walls. Even if it was only for a second.
“You’re right,” I agreed. “I hate Harley.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Do you though?”
“What are you trying to say, Camila?”
“Nothing, just an observation.”
“Ah, so the same girly bs she tells me all the time.”
“Which is?”
“I’m mean to her cuz I like her.”
She shrugged, smirking. “Do you?”
“Fuc—”
She glared at me.
“F-u-c-k no.”
She laughed, unable to help it. My smartass mouth always had that effect on people.
“You girls watch way too many Disney movies.”
“Says the guy who has a few in his room.”
It was my turn to glare at her.
Once again, she put her hands up in the air in a surrendering gesture. “What? I didn’t put them there.”
“Neither did I.”
She didn’t have to ask to know what I was implying.
“I can move them if you want.”
My gaze narrowed in on her, searching for something in her expression before snipping, “Yeah, whatever. Did you find my dad?” I grilled, changing the subject to another discussion I did want to have.
“Kind of.”
“Was he working?”
“You could say that.”
“His precious hospital is all that matters to him anymore.”
“I don’t think that’s true at all.”
“How do you know? Did you talk to him?” I questioned with hopefulness in my voice.
“I could just tell.”
“How?”
“I could see it in his eyes. He misses you as much as you miss him.”
I jerked back. “I don’t miss him.”
“Jackson...”
“I don’t. I don’t need him. To hell with him.” There was so much pain in my words, in my tone, in my demeanor when it came to the man who’d given me life.
There was no hiding it anymore.
I wanted nothing more than the chance to go off on him.
“You don’t mean that. You’re just angry. Trust me, I know what that feels like.”
“You think you know everything, don’t you, Mary Poppins?”
“I know I’ve become your punching bag, and I don’t care what you tell yourself, I know you don’t hate me. But if it makes you feel better to take stabs at me, then so be it. Hit me again, Jackson, because maybe there’ll come a day when you can see me as your friend and not your enemy. I’m actually a pretty cool person. If you gave me half a chance, you’d see I’m not a threat to you. To anyone for that matter. I’m not here to replace anybody. I just want to help you.”
“And then what? When you’re done helping, you what? Just leave us behind?”
“Is that what you want?”
“No.”
She smiled, thinking she got through to me.
She didn’t.
Not even for a second.
I’d already lost both my parents. I wasn’t going to let anyone in my life that I could lose all over again.
It hurt too damn much.
Hastily, I stood. Handing my baby sister over to her.
“Journey wouldn’t like that,” I declared the truth. “Cuz let’s face it, Camila, we both know she’s the only one who wants you here.”
She grimaced, and for the first time, I felt regret pull at my eyes.
“Did that make you feel better? Because the expression on your face says otherwise.”
“Everyone leaves, that’s just life.”
Her eyes watered, only fueling my anger.
The last thing I wanted was for anyone to feel bad for me. Take pity on me.