“I won’t,” Jayce said, angling his head to the side.
Chance followed Jocelyn’s brother out a set of glass doors onto a deck.
“Get it off your chest. I know you think I’m not good enough for her. I often think the same thing. But I appreciate her. I care about Jocelyn. I like to think she cares for me too. She’s been a rock when I didn’t think anyone would stand by me. I’d never shit on someone like that, whether you believe it or not. Nor am I taking advantage of her.”
Jayce crossed his arms. “You better not be.”
“You live your life by your rules and I live by mine, but that doesn’t make either of us wrong. Think what you want about me, but I wouldn’t do anything to hurt your sister.”
Jayce continued to stare at him, then looked through the glass doors into the house. He’d bet money Jocelyn was watching them.
“Don’t mess her up. The last two guys she fell for did a number on her and kept her single for years. Now that there is a child involved it’s worse.”
He frowned. First over the comment about Jocelyn falling. Had she fallen for him or was Jayce just guessing? And the second over Maverick being involved.
“The last thing I want is someone in my son’s life who might not be there again. I won’t mess him up any more than I would do that to your sister.”
“So it’s more about Maverick?”
“Don’t be an asshole, Jayce,” Gabe said, coming on the deck. “I already talked to you about this.”
Gabe was always so laid back so he was taken back by the tone and the words. “What did you talk about?” he asked, crossing his arms.
“Listen, Chance. I’m going to lay it out right now,” Gabe said. “Jocelyn will be pissed if she finds out and I don’t care. I love my sister and don’t want her hurt and I don’t think she will be. First, she wants kids, she loves kids, and her goal had been to have them by now.”
“Don’t tell him that,” Jayce said. “Now he’ll think that is all Jocelyn wants.”
“Are you on my side now?” Chance asked.
“No. I’m just saying no guy wants to think they aren’t wanted for themselves,” Jayce said.
“That’s right,” he said. Funny how they both felt the same way.
“I’m saying that for once she’s not planning it all out like she always did,” Gabe said. “She’s going with the flow. But she’s getting attached to your son and if you think this isn’t a long-term thing, then you need to cut it quick. For both Maverick and Jocelyn.”
“It’s not that,” he said. “Not that your sister knows.”
“Why doesn’t she?” Jayce asked.
“It’s not something that has been talked about. It’d been about a month of dating before we went from two to three. I’ve given her a few outs because of my job, the hours I’m gone, and now my son. She’s not cutting.”
“Because she’s stronger than that,” Gabe said. “Maybe you both should think about that and the reason she’s not.”
Gabe walking back in didn’t tell him what he needed.
Jayce shook his head looking almost as confused.
“Don’t hurt her,” Jayce said. “I don’t give a shit how tough you are. When you hurt one McCarthy, we all band together.”
He put his hand out. “I don’t plan on it.” Jayce didn’t make a move to shake. “You know she’s watching right now. Do you want her pissed or to think we made peace even if we didn’t?”
Jayce slapped his hand into Chance’s. “You need to prove yourself for me to come to peace with it.”
“I only need to prove it to Jocelyn.”
He turned and went inside.
38
