Jag took off after her.
Her bag was in the living room, which was off the diningroom through opened double doors, so they had an audience.
He didn’t think about that.
He got close as she hit the couch where she’d left herpurse.By the time he got there, she’d already snatched it up and was diggingin it.
“Take a breath, baby,” he said quietly.
“No,” she clipped toward her bag.
He wrapped a hand around the side of her neck and advised,“You don’t want to say something you’ll regret.”
She tipped her head back, her black hair flying, and asked,“I don’t?”
“Maybe you do in this moment, but you won’t—”
“Tell me you would not lose your fucking mind if your mothersaid those words,” she demanded, her arm slashing up, finger pointed toward thedining room, indicating her dad.
He couldn’t, so he didn’t.
“Tell me you wouldn’t lose it if Hound said those words,”she pushed, dropping her arm.
Jag again couldn’t, so he didn’t.
“Right,” she snapped, engaged her phone, hit some buttons,and as she did, he realized the others had joined them.
“Archie, honey, I think—” Andy started.
“I’m not even gonna start with you,” a male voice came overthe speaker on Archie’s phone.
Jag let her go and stepped back.
“You’re on speaker,with your entire family listening,”she announced.
“Then I’m definitely not—” Elijah tried.
“I don’t care what you’re not.Jagger’s over here, Elijah.Jagger is sitting down to dinner withyour family, and I bet Dad askedyou to join us, and you blew him off.This man is important to me.He’smine.And tonight,I gave him to my family.But not you.No, when Jaggerfirst met you, you were in my face so bad, he thought he had to protect mefrommy brother.You could have pulled that together if you’d been here tonightto show him you were a decent guy, but you’re not here.You.Are.Missing.Everything.YOU!Because of what?”
“I’m not doing this now,” Elijah said.
“You absolutely are becauseI swear to fuck, if youdon’t, I won’t speak to you until you apologize to me, to Haley, to Hellen andLiane, and most of all to Dad forbreaking his heart over and over again.”
Elijah didn’t say anything, but Jagger could see the screen,and he hadn’t disconnected.
“What’s your goddamn beef?”Archie demanded to know.
“I’m not going to say it again, I’m not doing this now.”
“And I’m not going to say it again either, Elijah.I’m doneignoring your shit.I’m done putting up with your shit.I’m done excusing yourshit.It’s now or never, Elijah.”
Fuck.
An ultimatum.
Not good.
“Baby,” Jagger whispered.
