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“Weird.”
“Extremely.”
Small chuckles bouncing between us are followed by a return to his original train of thought, “Can I just…ask…one Wes question?”
“If you pay for pizza.”
“Done.”
“And wings.”
“Of course.”
“And beer.”
“Deal.” My mouth moves to attach more terms when he points a stern finger in my direction. “Add anymore to the order and I get a second question.”
An impish smirk slips into place. “Ask.”
“What’s it gonna take for you to give him a second chance?”
“I fought for him, J.T.” I thoughtlessly remind, hurt creeping into my vocal cords against my own volition. “I fought for him on his territory. He wants me? He really wants me?” The shrug that escapes is small. Practically nonexistent. “Then he needs to come and fight for me on my mine.”
Chapter 27
Wes
I adjust my slightly off centered black belt on a mumbled, “I look fucking ridiculous.”
“You look like your father.”
Clark’s unpredicted proclamation pulls my stare up to his.
“With less facial hair.”
Resisting the urge to smirk is difficult. “You really think so?”
“That you have less facial hair? Absolutely.” He casually steps into the closet space. “At your age, Will had to shave every two days or so to avoid hearing Arabella fuss about him giving her rugburn…in various places.”
Shock sends my jaw straight to my dress shoe covered feet.
“Yes, your mother was…not always the embodiment of pure ladylikeness as the media often portrayed her to be.” His grin shifts to one that’s equally warm and wistful. “She had quite a mouth on her. Always blamed her father who she swore was a sailor in his prime.”
“Pépé wasn’t actually a sailor?”
“He most certainly sailed.” Additional amusement flashes itself. “What and where and who were the details that always seemed to change.”
Small chortles helplessly seep free on a small shake of the head.
Perhaps my mother and father’s families really did cross paths during the Prohibition era.
“We were close too,” Clark lovingly reminds. “She trusted me with her secrets much like Will did.”
The uncanny resemblances of my circumstances now with that of my parents is what leads me to whispering, “You miss them too.”
“Every day.” He busies himself with fixing my lapel. “However, being around you eases the pain.”
“That’s why you never wanted to become Head of the Household.”
