Chapter Eight
Boone held his breath as he watched Jackie dial. He could only imagine what his mate was going through. He was hoping if he could get Jackie back with the father he loved, maybe that would prove to his mate how much he cared.
He was still reeling from the fact that he was sitting across the table from his mate. When they first met, he had been overjoyed. That had quickly turned into his worst nightmare. Now that he was allowed back into the world Jackie lived in, he felt as if he were walking over broken glass—hopeful he didn’t get hurt, but willing to endure the pain if it meant Jackie was on the other side.
“Hello? Dad?”
When Jackie’s eyes filled with tears, Boone couldn’t stand it. He got up, walked around the table, and lifted Jackie into his arms. He delighted in the fact that he could hold Jackie in his arms as he carried him into the living room and sat on the couch, settling Jackie on his lap.
Despite whatever was going on between them at the moment, his mate needed him. The one thing Hugh had impressed upon him was that no matter what it was, you found a way to provide for your mate, even if it was hard for you.
Boone would do whatever he had to do to make sure Jackie was taken care of, even if this was all he could have with the man. He knew he’d done the right thing when Jackie leaned against him and laid his head on Boone’s shoulder.
“Yeah, Dad, I’m okay,” Jackie was saying. “I was just going through some shit I’d rather not talk about right now. Maybe later.”
Boone rubbed his hand up and down Jackie’s back, trying to comfort the man as best as he could. He tried not to listen in on their conversation, but sitting this close, it was kind of hard not to. He was a shifter, after all.
“Where are you?” a man with an older version of Jackie’s voice asked.
“A small town out west called Potter’s Creek.”
“Never heard of it.”
Jackie let out a little chuckle. “Like I said, Dad. It’s a small town.”
“What are you doing there?”
“Um, well, I set up a shop here. JJ’s Crafts.”
“I take it that means you’re not coming home?”
Boone held his breath when Jackie glanced up at him. He didn’t want to influence Jackie in any way. This needed to be his choice.
Oh hell, who was he kidding? He wanted to influence Jackie until the man chose him. He never wanted Jackie to leave.
“I’m not sure yet, Dad,” Jackie finally said, “but it’s not looking that way.”
“Then I’ll come to you.”
“No!”
Boone’s eyes rounded when Jackie shouted. There had been pure panic in that sound.
“Jackie?” the older man asked. “What’s going on?”
“I’m just… I’m not set up yet. I don’t want you to see the place until I’m all set up.”
“Jackson James Lee, you know none of that matters to me. I just want to see you, to make sure you’re okay.”
“I know, but—”
“Tell him,” Boone whispered. “If he’s as great as you say, then he has a right to know what’s going on with his son.”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t what?” the man on the phone asked. “What’s going on, Jackie? Who’s there with you?”
Boone held out his hand. Jackie gave him a strange look before handing the phone over. Boone kept his eyes locked with Jackie’s as he put the phone to his ear.
