She gestured to it. “Turn it over.”
I recognized John’s chicken-scratch handwriting.Lucas, if I’m ever not around and you need something, call this guy.My phone number was listed after.
Jesus Christ.There was a sting behind my eyes.
Bridget patted my hand. “You meant a lot to him.”
“He meant a lot to me, too.”
The second picture was of their son, Lucas. He had on his dad’s helmet, which was five sizes too big for his little head, a diaper, and a smile.
Bridget pointed to the refrigerator. “That’s one of my favorite pictures of Lucas. He looks just like his daddy. John had me make a copy to take with him.”
“Would it…be all right if I kept it?” I asked. I wasn’t even sure why I wanted it or what I would do with it.
Bridget smiled. “I’d like that. Would you like the photo of you and John, too?”
“No. That’s for Lucas. You tell him to use the number on the back if he ever needs anything. Same goes for you, Bridget.”
“Thank you, Jagger.” She kissed my cheek. “You take care of yourself.”
CHAPTER 35
Sutton
By the following week, Jagger had completely stopped answering my texts. His security guys were still guarding my building like it was Fort Knox, but I was losing sleep trying to make sense of everything. I knew he was busy and going through a lot, but I could no longer justify the way he was treating me. And I planned to tell him that today at our weekly mentor meeting.
Ten minutes before we were to get together, I went to the ladies’ room to freshen up. I’d intentionally worn blue, Jagger’s favorite color and one he’d told me more than once he liked me in. The dress also happened to be the same exact shade as the center stone on the choker he’d given me. I lined my lips in the mirror and put on a fresh coat of lipstick before taking a deep breath. It didn’t do much to calm my nerves, but at least I looked good. As I went to the bathroom door, my phone chimed with an incoming email. My stomach had already been nervous, but it knotted seeing the message was from Jagger’s assistant.Another meeting cancellation? Not five minutesbefore the start time! I shook my head.No, just no. He was not avoiding me again today.
I’d just pretend I hadn’t seen the message and go upstairs as scheduled. And that’s just what I did. Smiling bright, I opened the glass door to the executive floor and hoped the receptionist hadn’t been told about the cancellation.
“Hi, Amara.” I pointed to the back and kept walking. “I’m late for a meeting with the boss.”
She smiled back, none the wiser. “Better put a move on. He’s been grumpy lately.”
Gee, tell me about it.
Jagger’s assistant was in with him. He was reaching for something on the bookshelf behind him, so she saw me before he did. “Oh, hi, Sutton. Are you here for the mentor meeting? I’m sorry, but I sent you a cancellation a few minutes ago. You probably didn’t see it.”
Jagger turned, and our gazes locked. “Actually, I did. But I really need a few minutes with Mr. Langston.”
“Umm…” His assistant’s forehead wrinkled, and she looked to her boss.
He put his hand up. “It’s fine. Shut the door on the way out, please, Laura.”
She looked between us again but didn’t say anything more. I stayed rooted in place, just a few feet inside the office, as she walked out and closed the door behind her.
Jagger gestured to the guest chairs. “Would you like to sit?”
“No, I don’t want to sit. What the hell is going on, Jagger?”
He looked down at his desk and reached for some papers, shuffling them into a pile. “You’ll have to be a little more specific. I have a hundred things going on these days.”
“There’s only one that I care about at the moment, and I think you know exactly what I’m referring to.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You were busy last week and the week before, too. Yet you somehow always found time for me. What’s changed?”
