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“When we’re done with this date, I’m dropping you off on the side of the road and never looking back.”
“Please. You wouldn’t dare. You’ve never been so lucky to have a woman like me.”
Chapter Twenty
JAMES
“Are you going to hit the button or not?” Jude demanded, standing over my shoulder. “Hurry up so we can head to the store.”
“Bruh, quit breathing down my damn neck and let me think,” I argued back. I was fine until it came time to upload the video portion of the audition. That’s when my nerves started to kick it. Jude had helped me pre-record the video so that wasn’t the worry. What had me shook was the idea of someone else seeing it.
“I know you better stop all that cursing in my house,” our father called from the living room. “We may have had a breakthrough, but I’ll still whoop your ass.”
“Whatever,” I muttered.
“Pop, your son is in here acting scary.”
“Judah, shut the hell up,” I murmured through gritted teeth, staring at the screen. I didn’t give a damn what anyone said; stepping out on faith to pursue an uncertain future was fuckin’ terrifying. It had nothing to do with confidence. I was sure of myself in every way that counted, but that didn’t equate to being eager to detach myself from what I knew worked and potentially land myself in the poor house. “Since when are you two buddy-buddy anyway?”
“Don’t take your frustrations out on me because you’re second-guessing yourself. I—”
Our father entered the kitchen just as I was two steps away from strangling the hell out of my brother.
“What are you two in here squawking about?”
“Jamie won’t hit the submit button on this application,” Jude shrugged, sinking into the seat next to me as my father sat directly across from me.
“Why not?”
I shrugged instead of verbally giving him an answer because I didn’t know what to say.
“James,” he urged, tapping the table. “What’s the problem, son?”
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I finally blurted, feeling like less of a man with each word. “This is the type of reckless decision you make when you’re in your twenties. Not at the age where I should be making more solid decisions and preparing myself for—”
“You sound like me,” my father interrupted. “And I don’t mean that as a compliment.”
“Hmm, let me record this moment,” Judah joked.
“I ain’t too old to put my foot in your ass,” our father threatened, frowning at him. “Now, this is serious. I realize I’m the one who instilled that fear in you two—well, one of you.” His eyes bounced from my brother to me. “So it’s only right that I'm the one who helps you overcome it. You’re never too old to go after what you love, son. Don’t shy away from being afraid of it. If you ain’t scared, you ain’t doing something right. But fear means nothing when you have Luck.”
Sitting back, I palmed my forehead. “I don’t see the point in fixing what isn’t broken. Pursuing music takes time away from the store and landscaping. I’d have to—”
“I’ve been holding the store down for this long alone, it’s nothing to keep going.” Jude interrupted. “If push comes to shove, I can hire someone else to help me out. Shit, as much as your girl stays in the store, she might want to help.”
“Excuse me?” Our dad’s eyes ping-ponged between us.
“Her name is Nyx, and it’s a long story,” I gave him the short version before addressing Jude. “And you aren’t slick. Nyx working at the store means an opportunity for you to see more of Rae.”
“Unlike you, brother. I have no shame.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“I told you that her ass blocked me?”
“Jude, I do not have time for your drama right now.”
“I’ll have more questions about these women later, but, we’re straying away from the subject. I don’t want you to make the same mistake I made, Jamie. So whatever you need to keep propelling yourself forward, your family is here for you. If need be, I’ll step in and handle things with your landscaping business to take the worry and stress off your shoulders.
