The breakfast tray tips to one side as we get lost in a daze, and the strawberries topple onto the floor, snapping us back to reality. “Oops.” He shoots me a cheeky grin, dimples popping.
This is all so new to us. It’s still shocking at times. “Your phone has buzzed a few times.”
“Can you check it for me,” he mumbles, trying to concentrate on not dropping the rest of the food as he sets it down next to the bath.
I type in his password and don’t see any new texts, but there are missed calls from a 917 area code, which I know is New York because that’s what Jack’s and Sadie’s old numbers used to start with.
I’m about to place the phone back down, but it sends a buzzing reminder, so I pick it back up and see an email pop up.
When I open it, the room sways around me, and I drop to the bed in complete shock.
Dear God, why didn’t he tell me?
Bloody hell, Jack… you need to talk to me about this.
“Jackson…” I call. He steps into the room, his face full of concern when he sees my expression. “Why didn’t you tell me your dad’s been emailing you?” I whisper.
I don’t miss the way his face drops at my words as he tries to recover quickly. “There’s nothing to tell,” he mutters dismissively, walking toward the bath.
I sit back against the headboard, waiting for a second before joining him.
This is huge.
I already knew their dad texted Sadie, but it’s different for Jack.
Their dad wasn’t always the arsehole he is now, and from what Jack remembers, he cared at one point.
I walk into the en suite, then hold onto Jack’s shoulder as I lower myself into the rose and gardenia-scented bath.
I kiss him softly on his chest, then turn around and lean back between his legs as he wordlessly pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me.
I can sense he’s thinking about it as he runs his hands up along my breasts and down the side of my body.
When enough time has passed, I give in and ask, “Why didn’t you tell me? We tell each other everything, especially about that.”
He shrugs.
“This is what relationships are about, Jack, sharing our burdens so you don’t hold all the weight yourself. We’ve been doing this almost our whole lives. But now, it’s more important than ever. I want to help.”
He sighs and leans his head back against the tub.
“I don’t have anything to say. I never answer him.”
His hands run up to my shoulders as he massages me.
“How long has this been going on?”
“A few months.”
I frown.
Shit, that’s longer than I thought.
“Are you not even a little bit curious as to what happened and why he’s suddenly reaching out?”
He huffs. “Are you curious about your dad?” he counters in a tone I don’t appreciate.
“No,” I snap. “And don’t be a bloody jerk. You know my father and what he did. It’s different with your dad; we have no clue why he suddenly started acting like you don’t exist.”
