Page 84 of Jericho

"I think it's not a good time," he says, his hand immediately reaching out for mine as his feet stop in their tracks.

"This is a great time," I say. "You remember Lark and Casper, right? Hey, guys! How's the water?"

"Feels great," Casper says, lifting handfuls of it and pouring it over the top of his head.

"Eli? Is that you?"

I blow out a sigh of relief at the sound of Caitlyn's voice.

"Miss Caitlyn!" he says, releasing my hand and shuffle-walking as quickly toward her as he can without anyone being able to consider it running because there's a rule about that near the pool.

Caitlyn smiles before crouching low to get the hug he has to offer. I dart my eyes to Casper and Lark to make sure they aren't eye fucking her in her very appropriate one-piece bathing suit.

"I was hoping you'd join us for a swim. Have you met my friends Casper and Lark?"

"What the fuck is she doing here?" Jersey growls, his hand on my forearm, stopping me before I can join Caitlyn and Eli.

"Caitlyn?" I ask, already annoyed because the two of them are too far away and getting ready to get in the pool for me to hear what their conversation is about.

"That's her real name?"

"Real name?" I growl, pulling my arm away from him aggressively before getting my temper under control.

I don't like being distracted from things having to do with my son.

"She's the psychologist working with Eli. He's been seeing her for weeks. I swear if you make one comment about her bathing suit…"

"Her bathing suit? When I met that woman, she was in her birthday suit, tied to a St. Andrew's cross."

I glare at him, eyes wide and nostrils flared as if I'm a fire-breathing dragon getting ready to unleash hell on him.

"Excuse me?" I wave my hands in front of my face. "Never mind. I don't give a shit. Stay away from Eli's fucking therapist. I won't compromise his mental health because you can't control where you stick your dick, understood?"

He chews on his bottom lip for a second before answering.

"So anything we did before today doesn't count, right?"