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His laugh was even louder this time. It was all Bo could do to hold himself back. There were guys in prison who’d heckled him, and he’d made them regret it—and they’d deserved to be hit less than this dude. Without Annabelle, Mort, or Remy around to rein Bastian in, Bo had a bad feeling about how the next few days would go. Would he be able to stop himself from decking the little prick?
“The past two days have been quite an ordeal,” Bo said, essentially trying to tell him that he wasn’t making things any easier. But Bastian didn’t care. Bo shouldn’t have even bothered to try to make that point.
“Well, fortunately, it’s about to get easier. The storm’s over, and I’m here now, so you won’t have to worry about Ismay’s safety. I can be in charge of that.” He checked his watch. “By the way, you might want to get started if you plan to remove that tree from your roof by nightfall, Bo.”
Ismay’s lips formed a firm straight line and her eyes began to glitter, but her voice was surprisingly even when she said, “What time is it?”
“Nearly seven,” Bastian responded as if it was noon or later.
Bo had been forcing himself to take the time to fold the blanket he’d been using. He would not let Bastian make him feel as though he had to run off because he’d been caught doing something wrong. But, probably due to the tension, Ismay took the blanket from him before he could finish. “I’ll do this,” she said. “And I’ll bring you some breakfast in a bit.”
“You’re going to serve him breakfast,too?” Bastian said. “My, aren’t you accommodating.”
“Wouldyoulike some?” she asked. “Since I have to cook for myself anyway, I don’t mind making extra.”
“I’d love some. What a woman,” Bastian replied with a grin Bo wished he could wipe off his face. “Remy always did know how to pick ’em.”
Bo wished he could stay. He didn’t want to leave Ismay alone with this asshole. He didn’t trust him. But considering the situation, there was nothing he could do. “Thanks,” he muttered to Ismay and stalked out.
Still uncomfortable with having Bastian appear out of the blue, he glanced back before he got so far that the house was out of sight. But he couldn’t see either of them through the window.
He’d been afraid the storm would cost him his job. With Remy’s twin’s arrival, the chances of that happening had just gone up exponentially.
Ashleigh had finally returned his call. She was coming to get her stuff this morning. Jack had spent almost the entire night boxing it up for her. It was a habit to help her whenever he could—a habit he had a hard time breaking even now. But there’d been a selfish element to it, too. Living in a house where everything reminded him of her was difficult. He wanted to remove the rest of her belongings from his sight as soon as possible, just as he wished he could erase her from his mind and heart. So he’d called his father to say he wouldn’t be in today, that he had some personal business, and his father hadn’t even questioned him. Buzz had said, “Right. See you tomorrow.” And then, just before he’d hung up, he’d asked, “Are you okay?”
Jack had claimed he was, but he’d never been in a worse situation. How could he excise Ashleigh from his life? They’d been together since their freshman year. He’d thought he knew her better than any other person on earth...
He winced at the sense of betrayal that welled up. Any thought of her brought fresh pain.
Hearing a vehicle outside, he went to the window and peered through the blinds. Ashleigh was driving the small Toyota he’d bought for her. How would she cover the payments on it? Would Jessica pay it now?
His breath caught in his throat when he saw the passenger door open. She’d brought Jessica!
A few seconds later, there was a timid knock at the door.
He looked down at his hands. They were shaking. He wasn’t sure he could do this, after all. He hadn’t expected to have to face the woman who’d replaced him.
A second knock rattled the door. “Jack?”
That was Jessica’s voice. He closed his eyes. Ashleigh had a key. She could come in if she wanted. This had been her house as much as his. That she was standing on the other side of that panel, waiting for him to greet her as if she’d never lived there with him, showed just how much had changed—in what seemed like no time at all.
Drawing a deep breath, he quit peering through the blinds before they could realize he was doing it and forced his recalcitrant legs to cross over to the door, which he unlocked and opened.
Ashleigh wouldn’t quite meet his gaze, but Jessica watched him warily. “We’re here to get her things,” she said.
He looked at Ashleigh again. Surely, this was just a cruel joke. Any second, she’d start laughing and fall against him, and he’d put his arms around her, press his lips to her head and breathe in the all too familiar scent of her hair.
But that didn’t happen. Silence fell until, awkwardly, he stepped back. “It’s all...it’s all right here.”
“You boxed it up?” Ashleigh murmured, her voice barely audible.
“I thought it would be easier for you,” he muttered.
“Thank you.”
The words were so softly spoken he could barely hear them. Jessica said nothing. She just lifted the first box she came to and started out of the house.
“Do you...do you want to walk through and make sure I got everything?” he asked, unsure of what else to say.
