No, they’d made no commitments. Hell, they hadn’t even agreed to date. But there was something there. Once he’d spent the entire night after the reunion talking and bonding with her, he knew he couldn’t walk away. It was elusive and hard to define, but it was real and everything in him needed to see what it could grow into if given the chance. He’d left a lot of things undone in his life, all at the behest of his father’s great dream for him. Following their time on Monroe Summit, Adam knew Janae wouldn’t be one of those things. This time, he would see this through.
“Yes, Dad, she is.”
His voice held a note of sharpness in it that he’d never managed before when speaking to his father. And if Adam noticed it, he was certain his father would too.
He looked over to his dad and there was a flash of acknowledgment in the man’s eyes.
Keep a level head, Adam. Don’t let him get to you.
“Well.” His father adjusted himself in his chair before continuing. “At least if you’re going up there with her, I know it really is work.”
The derision in the old man’s voice grated against Adam’s restraint. If he were smart, he’d ignore it and head out like he intended to. But that thing in him that wanted to take care of Janae, protect her, it wouldn’t let him let it go.
“What’s that supposed to mean, Dad?”
His father held out his hands palm side up as if whatever he was about to say was self-explanatory.
“It means that Sanders gal is a local who never left home. She’s divorced with a kid, and her options aren’t that great. I know that my son, who played for the NBA and was married to a woman who came from millions, would not waste his time running behind someone who isn’t fit to shine his boots.”
Fire burned through Adam’s veins, traveling with such speed he could hear the rush of his blood banging against his eardrum.
He grabbed the counter behind him, trying hard to keep himself balanced even though everything about him wanted to pull up and get in his father’s face.
He’s your father, man. Remember that.
“Considering how kind she was about helping you in the hospital, you’d think you’d have something nicer to say about her, Dad.”
His father harrumphed, making his displeasure with Adam known. “I’m not saying she wasn’t nice. Her being nice doesn’t mean I want my son getting mixed up with her either.”
Usual patterns would mean Adam would just keep quiet and let his father go on without committing one way or another to what Grady wanted. The fire burning in his gut after his father’s dismissal of Janae meant he couldn’t just do the usual and let this stand.
“Janae Sanders is a brilliant and resilient woman who stayed in her community because she cares about it. In my eyes, that makes her the best kind of person there is.”
He took a breath, ready to say something else when his eyes caught the shadow of sadness in his mother’s face silently begging him to stop.
Adam closed his eyes, trying to free himself from the power her look had over him, but it was too late. Seeing his mother get caught in the middle of friction between the two of them had always been his weakness, and tonight was no different.
He took a deep breath, slowly letting it out before he opened his eyes again and found his father taking him in.
“It’s late and I have to get myself together so I can head up the mountain. My phone will be on if you need me.”
He didn’t say anything else, heading for the back door because it was the closest and it would allow him to leave without having to walk past his parents. Because as angry as he was, he wasn’t sure he could hold his peace if he had to come near his dad right now.
He stormed down the driveway, getting into his car and banginghis hand against the wheel to try to release some of the frustration building inside him.
His father’s asshole tendencies dogged him most of his life and he’d always found a way to separate the man from the hateful words he spoke. But tonight, hearing his ugly assessment of Janae’s worth, was the first time he couldn’t dismiss it with his usual “that’s just Dad being Dad.” It was also the first time he had to ask himself, “What are you going to do about it?”
“This is your fault.”
Janae took a healthy gulp of her margarita. Two years ago, she’d sat at this very table inside of the small pub on Main Street. It was cozy, with just a few booths and tables and a short bar top for patrons to sit and sip while they watched the large screen television hanging on the wall.
The pub was just a few doors down from the sheriff’s department. The chips were salty and the drinks were good and potent enough to wash them down. If they imbibed too much, they knew that Michael would make sure they all got home safely.
As Janae watched, Vanessa’s eyes widened at the accusation in her voice. Janae looked away from Vanessa only when she heard Cree’s snicker coming from the side.
Vanessa’s mouth dropped open as if she were searching for words to say. If Janae wasn’t so pissed, she’d find the rapid speed of blinking her friend’s eyes were doing comical.
“How is this my fault?” Vanessa’s normally smooth and sultry voice squeaked.
