“No,” she whispered, and Jagger’s gut clenched at the painin that one syllable.“I’m reducing us to that because I’m sick and tired ofyou treating me like shit.”
Hearing these words, Elijah’s entire upper body jerked.
“I don’t treat you like shit, Arch,” he said quietly.
“It’s me having the feeling, Eli, and I can assure you, itfeels like you treat me like shit.You break Dad’s heart, over and over again,I’m powerless to do anything but watch, and it hurts witnessing it.You actlike I’m your personal assistant, and I’m not.I have a life and a business andI’m falling in love.”
Well.
Damn.
Keely made a noise.
Hound sounded like he’d swallowed a grunt.
There was some tittering in the area Lafayette and Joanywere occupying.
And Jagger got even closer to his girl.
But Archie was focused.
“And do you know why all that hurts so bad?”
Elijah didn’t say anything.
But Archie did.
“It hurts so bad because Mom would hate how you’rebehaving.”
Elijah looked away.
Oh yeah.
There it was.
He knew that was the truth.
“And you know it,” she finished.
Elijah turned back.“Maybe we should discuss this anothertime.”
“Yes,” Archie agreed.“Maybe we should.”
Elijah shifted his attention Joany and Lafayette’s way.“Good to see you guys.”
Lafayette’s eyes narrowed in annoyance and Joany’s widenedin fury.
“Are you for real?”Joany asked.
Lafayette murmured, “Quiet, baby girl.”
Joany shut up.
Elijah looked at Jagger and said, “One day, we’ll spend timeand there won’t be a drama.”
“I fucking hope so,” Jagger replied.
Elijah’s jaw clenched.
