Dropping Avery’s hand, I lunged toward him, wrapping my fists around his shirt.
“We are going to my place to have a much-needed talk. All three of us. And I’m not taking no for an answer,” I growled.
“Fuck that. I’m not going anywhere with you two.” He reared back as if he’d been slapped.
“You will. Unless you want me to report you for being a con artist or whatever the fuck you are. Don’t forget who the hell I am and how easy it would be for me to ruin you, Jackson.”
“Yourgirlfriend,” he looked behind me, making eye contact with Avery, “was two seconds from dropping to her knees for me, so this will be interesting to say the least.” A menacing laugh escaped his mouth.
The blood pumping through my veins turned to stone as I clenched my fists tighter around the collar of his shirt, knowing Avery never had the intention to suck him off. But as I thought of Avery, of Jackson being my only son, the scene I was creating in the middle of a casino, I loosened my grip, not wanting to act on my heightened emotions.
Choosing to ignore his lies, I pushed him forward, finally releasing the hold I had on his shirt, and told him to lead the way.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t bothered in the slightest with the new information I’d found out today. My son was the ex-boyfriend of the girl I love; he’d been a complete asshole—stealing from the both of us—and I was human for fuck’s sake. Today alone skewed every thought I’d formed about him since I met him a few years ago.
I hoped once we sat down and talked like men, he would fill in the gaps that were eating away at my brain and answer the questions I knew were burning in both mine and Avery’s mind.
As he led the way through the casino, heading toward my building, I held Avery tightly around the waist, refusing to let her out of my sight.
“Sit,” I barked.
Following suit, I did my best to remain calm.
The entire walk back to the penthouse, I ran over every way in which I would start this conversation off. But the truth was, this shit was so complex that I had no idea where to even begin.
“You were supposed to meet me at the bar.”
Keeping our distance, I sat on one side of the couch next to Avery, with Jackson sitting across from us.
“I was on my way. Then I ran into Avery.” He avoided eye contact with me, staring directly at her.
I snapped my fingers to get his attention. “My eyes are over here. Don’t fucking look at her.”
Jackson chuckled.
“I never thought my own father would be enjoying my sloppy seconds.” He shook his head in amusement.
“Jackson.” My voice was stern.
“Where do you want to start,Dad? Your new relationship with my ex-girlfriend? How you left mom high and dry and became a fucking millionaire while leaving us with practically nothing? Take your pick.”
That last part reared me back; the surprise evident on my face. Pausing, I gathered my thoughts and finally spoke, even though I was still plenty angry. My voice softened, and I did my best to be as real with him as possible.
“Jackson, I don’t know what your mother has been telling you all these years, but we didn’t even know each other. We went to different high schools and ended up at the same party one night—completely wasted. I never saw her again after that. I didn’t even remember her name until I met you, looked her up, and put the pieces together from that night. I would have never willingly dismissed your mom if I knew she was pregnant—my parents wouldn’t have allowed that either.”
Growing up in a large Italian household, grandchildren were what every parent dreamed of. My mother would have slapped me on the wrists and scolded me for having sex at such a young age. But without a doubt, she would have jumped at the chance to help raise Jackson as her own.
Looking ashamed, Jackson picked at the lint on his jeans with his head hung low.
“Mom always knew who you were.” He took a deep breath. “Naturally, when she never got married or could keep a steady boyfriend, I had more questions about my dad as I grew up. She finally told me she knew exactly who my dad was. That he left us. Thatyouleft us.”
None of it made sense. Why any woman would know the man who got her pregnant but refused to say anything—refuse the help.
“I know you don’t have much to go on since we don’t have a strong past. But I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me since we met. I never would have left you,” I pleaded with my elbows resting on my knees and my head dipped into my hands.
I felt the gentle touch of Avery’s hand on my back, letting me know she was here, even though this part of the conversation didn’t involve her.
With realization, Jackson took a deep breath and began talking.
