“I’m good.” I crossed my arms and nodded toward the box. “Whatya doin’?”
“I was going to surprise you with breakfast in bed.”
“How long have you been staring at the back of that box?”
“Too fucking long.” She sighed. “I hate cooking.” She opened the freezer and chucked the box back in, closing the door and frowning up at me. “Sorry, honey. I suck at anything domestic.”
I chuckled, walking toward her and leaning down to kiss her gently. “I don’t give one fuck if you can’t cook, baby. I’ll take you however you come.”
She stroked my cheek, studying me. “Let me get you some ice for your bruises.”
“I’m good, Letti. I’ll make us breakfast.”
“Not sausages,” she said, and I laughed.
“Okay, bab—” My phone buzzed on the counter, and I glanced down to see a blocked number. I ignored it. But it rang again within seconds, so I picked it up, barking, “Aero.”
“Bud, it’s—”
“No,” I growled. “I blocked your fuckin’ number for a reason.”
“Don’t hang up,” Harmon said. “Your mom—”
“My mom is not your goddamn concern.”
“She’s sick, Jasper,” Harmon bit out. “What you do with that information is on you.”
The phone clicked off and I suddenly couldn’t breathe. Violet’s arms wrapped around me and I found myself leaning against her.
“What happened?” she asked.
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed again, but this time, it was Hatch’s name that came up on the screen. “Hatch.”
“Hey, brother. You need to come home.”
“What’s wrong with my mom?”
“Not sure. She passed out at work. I only got the call a few minutes ago. She’s in ICU at Legacy.”
“Fuck!”
“You get on a plane. I’ll pick you up and take you. You can stay with us while you’re here.”
“Yeah. Ah. Okay. I’ll text you.”
“Okay. Got your back, brother.”
“Thanks,” I rasped, hanging up and squeezing Violet tight. Holding her so I wouldn’t fall to the floor in a heap of emotion.
“I got you, honey,” she whispered, kissing my chest.
“I need to—”
“I know. I heard. I’ll get us flights.”
“You can’t go with me.”
“Try to stop me,” she challenged.
