Page 139 of A Million To Fall

For a brief moment, I got to experience what it feels like to have the things I’ve wanted most pressed right into the palms of my hands.

Soft lips. Blue eyes. A home.

Hope.

Even if at least some of those things were never really mine to keep.

So by the time I pull into Jake’s driveway, I’m actually happy to walk into the house, knowing full well that my time under the same roof as his mom is about to expire.

“Whoa, you look like you either got laid or won the damn lottery,” Jake laughs from one of the sofas in the living room when I enter the house.

I chuckle, kicking off my boots. “Unfortunately, neither. But I found an apartment.”

His eyes go wide, and he bolts upright. “Shit, you serious?”

I nod. “I’ll finally be in my own place tomorrow.” Saying it out loud brings a fresh wave of relief I didn’t expect. I welcome it like oxygen.

“Wait, fuck, okay, that’s— Fuck, that’s awesome, Boss. I’m so fucking happy for you.” Jake stands and hugs me, his grip tight. “This means you won’t go missing on me again, right?”

I laugh. “I won’t go missing on you again.”

“You better not, man,” Jake warns. “Okay, I’m supposed to go golfing with the guys tomorrow morning, but I can cancel that and help you move.”

I wave him off immediately. “You don’t have to cancel anything, Jake. I own, like, five things,” I say with a laugh. “All of them fit in my trunk. It’ll take me exactly five minutes to move everything into the place.”

“What about furniture? At least a bed?”

“The place comes fully furnished.” I’m still in disbelief.

Jake nods, smiling. “So, what’s next for you? College?”

“Uh, maybe. One day. I don’t know. Moving in first, I guess, and then… I need to get the ball rolling to get custody of Cassie and Bronx. It’s been dragging on for too long already.”

“What’s that gonna look like?”

I shrug. “I’m not totally sure. I’m meeting with an attorney next week. I think I have to apply for guardianship, then a family court judge decides if I’m fit to take custody.”

“Man, sounds like you’ll get scrutinized.”

“Yeah, I mean, probably. I really don’t know.”

“Kinda sucks to think there’s some random person who gets to decide the fate of Cass and Bronx and you, right?”

I nod. “But that’s how it goes. Makes sense, I guess. The courts want to make sure kids are safe, right? I’m just gonna keep my head down and do whatever it takes to get them out of the system.”

Jake claps my shoulder. “Well, if you need me, I’m just a phone call away. Always.”

I swallow. “I know that,” I say honestly. “Alright, man. I gotta change and head to AJ’s. What are your plans tonight?”

“I have a date.” His eyes gleam with the kind of shit-eating smirk that tells me exactly what kind of date he means.

“Date or booty call?” I ask, laughing.

He cackles. “A date that hopefully turns into a booty call.”

“Anyone I’ve met before?” I doubt it’s Cameron. He hasn’t so much as whispered her name since he brought her around that one night.

His grin widens. “Remember Karianna?”