“I’ll text Mal, see if he wants a visit,” Jag carried on.“But be back to take you out to lunch.You pick.Though I might have him, if hewants to get away.If I do, it’s his pick.”
She snuggled closer and said, “Sounds like a plan.”
They both fell silent.
Archie’s phone ringing ended it.
She shifted, turned her head, reached out and nabbed herphone, all without really moving, and definitely not losing any contact withJag.
“It’s Elijah,” she announced.
“You ready for that?”he asked.
She lifted her head and looked down at him.“Maybe the timeis nigh.”
Her phone stopped ringing.
“Do you agree?”she queried.
She needed Jagger to help her work through things.
And he was there to do that with her.
“I do,” he said.“It goes without saying, I’m about you.Buthe was not down with losing contact with you.He didn’t go about it right, buthe was pretty messed up you weren’t available to him.And I don’t think that’sabout him needing you to deal with his shit however that comes.I think heloves his sister.He might not show it, but he probably loves your dad.Thatscene with that phone call at your dad’s house was serious, and he was on theoutside of that.His doing.But being shut out after he hurt you that badclearly ate at him.”
“Yeah, it clearly did that,” she agreed.
“I hate that it’s your job, but outside is where he puthimself, with you, your dad, Haley and the girls, and he needs someone to showhim the way in.”
“Yeah,” she muttered.
“But if you decide to do that, you should do it only whenyou’re ready,” he added.
“Mm,” she hummed, looked to her phone, hit some buttons, andwhen he heard it ringing, she put her finger to her lips.
He grinned at her.
Apparently, she was ready.
“Thanks for returning my call,” was her brother’s greeting.
“Please don’t make me regret it,” Archie replied.
A beat then, “What I did last night was messed up.It wascompletely out of line.”
Even through the phone, it sounded like that was painful forhim to say.
Which gave Jag more insight into Elijah because the pridewas definitely strong with this one.
“It was,” Archie agreed.
“I’m sorry about that,” Elijah said tightly.
“Apology accepted.”
“I think…I need…to take some time…to take stock,” Elijahadmitted like he was being tortured for those words.
“Mm-hmm,” was all Archie gave him.
