“Must be nice,” Indigo continues, not getting the hint to stop talking. Her tone is sugarcoated but sharp. She doesn’t have me fooled the way she does Jase’s parents. At least Nana Dorothy doesn’t seem smitten. “Having Jase around all the time. I mean, he’s such a good guy. If you can get him to stay in one place.”
Mr. King’s mouth curves almost imperceptibly, as though she’s confirmed something he already believes. I know the tough expectations he has for Jase and the way he feels he’s wasting his time working in the bar. It’s the same ones they’ve held for Bailey and, in his mind, she’s a disappointment to the Kings for following her dreams and paving her own path. They’d rather have her at home, married and taking care of a litter of children, than working. As for Jase, Bismarck King wants him to follow inhis footsteps, probably take over the ranch and oversee whatever business endeavors he manages.
Now with a baby to care for, I’m sure neither of his parents believe owning a bar will be enough. That’s why I don’t plan to give up working, as they’ve implied. My design business is my passion, and although it’s been weeks since I’ve been able to get any work done, my plan is to jump into full gear in the new year for as long as I can before the baby’s arrival.
His mother simply sips her wine, watching this unfold like it’s her preferred form of entertainment. In that moment, with their eyes on me, with Indy’s words dripping condescension, I feel my composure crack.
“Cut the bullshit, Indigo, what the hell are you doing here?” Jase blurts out, his voice sharp with no sign of humor. Indigo gasps while beside me Nana Dorothy chuckles under her breath.
“Jameson Bradley King, mind your tone. You are speaking to a young lady.” Jase ignores his mother, and my heart races in anticipation.What the hell is he doing?
Indy stutters, acting all too flustered by his question. “I’m here because your parents invited me, Jase. I don’t?—”
Jase scoffs, “I don’t mean here, I mean back in Crossroads. Why the hell did you show up at my door last night?”
“Speaking of,” Magnolia says, interrupting them. “Jameson, it was very rude of you to send Indy to the house so late at night. I’m sure you could have let her use the guest bedroom Monroe isn’t currently occupying.”
“Mama, please,” he says in frustration, annoyed that his mother is nagging him when he’s trying to get answers. There's so much I want to say, but I can't help sitting here in disbelief at what’s unfolding before me.
“I’m just saying. There’s no harm in letting a friend stay over. A friend who is in need of so much support as she navigates such a tough moment in her life.” The way she looks toward Indigomakes my stomach tighten in a stiff knot. Here I am, about to have a child with her son, her first grandchild, and she’s pining for the woman who left him and now what, wants him back?
Well, too fucking late. Jase is mine. What I mean to say is he’s not hers.
“Magnolia, there’s no need to worry. Jase doesn’t owe me anything. I’m the one who barged in unannounced,” Indy says, crocodile tears welling in her eyes. A hand flies to her chest as she feigns being heartbroken. “I just didn’t know where else to go.”
His mother’s eyes sharpen with anger and disappointment. “Jameson, do you see how heartbroken the woman is? The least you could do is to be a friend.”
The nerve of this woman, trying to manipulate and gaslight Jase into feeling like he’s the one at fault in all of this. I swear this has turned into a dinner from hell. Not that I was expecting anything different where The Kings are concerned.
My brothers and I may be far from perfect, but we’d never treat each other with such disdain. Not anymore. Not after all we’ve been through.
“Mama, there’s no room. We’re turning the empty guest bedroom into the baby’s nursery. Monroe is?—”
“I’m staying in Jase’s room,” I blurt out, giving Jase a sharp look that says,“just go with it”.
“And why on earth would you be doing that?” Magnolia asks, unable to hold back the bite in her tone.
“We’re not just co-parenting,” I add, my voice louder than I intended. “We’re in a relationship.”
The silence is instantaneous and absolute, and I immediately regret everything I’ve just said. There’s no way they’re going to believe Jase and I are in a relationship when we’ve been so distant tonight. I shiver as I feel his knee brush against me once more.
Without thinking, I shift my chair closer to his, needing to feel his warmth against me to calm the nerves I have thrumming within me. I am a horrible liar, hence how every one of my secrets has been exposed without my doing so.
Jase doesn’t hesitate. Sliding his hand over mine on the table, his grip firm and steady as he confirms the lie I’ve just told. Indy arches a brow, her lips curling into a slow, knowing smile. Mrs. King’s expression is completely frozen, her eyes flicking to Jase as if to verify the claim. His father leans back in his chair, assessing us, trying to catch the lie.
“That’s right,” he says, his voice leaving no room for doubt. “Because we’re together, Mama. Monroe and I started dating shortly after she moved in. It’s what’s best for the baby, and we realized it’s also what we want.”
The warmth of his hand grounds me, even as the heat of the moment still burns in my chest. There’s no going back now. Just last night I warned Jase to drop this farce he was planning and resign himself to the idea that nothing was going to happen between us. Now, here I am, the one forcing him into a lie we won’t be able to keep up.
Mrs. King set down her wineglass. “Well. I suppose that’s news to me, Jase?”
His father’s smirk is faint but present. “Guess we’ll drink to that, then.” No one raises a glass.
Not until Nana Dorothy cheers in excitement. “Oh, how wonderful, Jase.” My hand tenses in Jase’s.
“Then Indigo can stay in one of our guest bedrooms,” Magnolia says. “Or in Brynn’s old bedroom since she’s not using it after all.”
Of course she’d offer Jase's ex-girlfriend a place to stay, since it’s obvious she'd much rather Jase end up with her.
