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She sniffles, squeezing my daddy's pillow that still smells like him, knowing she's put some of his cologne on there again, and whispers back, "I love you too, baby girl."
My tears fall at my daddy's nickname.
I kiss her head again as her eyes close before leaving, locking up on my way out. She'll sleep for the rest of the day. I quickly pulled the Mustang back into the garage before climbing into my Jeep and wiping my cheeks. I look at the clock and see I don't have time to change, so I take a deep breath and pull off from the curb at Momma's, heading to Sweet Treats.
When I walk into the shop, I stop short and suck in a breath when I lock my eyes on Jackson. His back is to me, talking to some petite, curvy blonde bombshell, and I swallow hard.
I have no right to feel jealous right now; he thinks I have a boyfriend.
Crap.
I feel my eyes sting with tears, and I take a deep breath again before stepping into the shop, looking around, but I don't see Todd yet. I swallow and stand in line, hoping he won't turn and see me. I'm a mess; I know I am, and I know my eyes are red from crying. The blonde looks up, and her violet eyes make contact with my green ones before she furrows her brows at me. Great, I really do look like a mess.
I clear my throat. "Can I have a hazelnut cream coffee, please?"
Jackson instantly turns at the sound of my voice, his eyes lighting up before he takes one look at me, and they instantly turn dark, shit. His gray eyes, now looking black with anger, he stalks towards me while the lady nods before looking at Jackson's back as he approaches me. "Ink, are you good?"
He stops just before me and tilts his head, his eyes narrowing. "I don't know, Annie, girl. Tell me, Soph, am I good? Or do I need to kill someone?"
I give him a small smile before I clear my throat. "You're good."
He raises a brow at me while the woman's face goes from shocked to ecstatic within seconds, making me furrow my brows. Jackson shakes his head, never breaking eye contact with me as he speaks to the woman, Annie. "Not one word to anyone, Annie, not even your old man; I've got to win this one round first." Annie scowls and huffs before going back to make my coffee while nodding, and I shake my head at him, making him smile.
He gently leans forward and wipes under my eyes with his thumbs. "What happened after I left Pixie?"
I shrug, not wanting to burden him. "Nothing."
He just raises a brow at me when the door opens again, and Jackson scowls when Todd comes up to my side and kisses my head, and I smile at him. Alex approaches me and kisses my other side before frowning, noticing my red eyes.
He wraps his arm around me while Todd grins at Jackson, who hasn't taken his eyes off me.
"Your momma struggle at the cemetery?"
My eyes tear up again, and I sniffle, nodding my head before Alex hugs me to him, making Jackson growl like a bloody dog.
Todd looks at me and asks, "Where is she now?"
I sniffled again. "I put her to bed. I honestly thought today would be different. She got Daddy's Mustang out and everything, but as soon as we got to his grave, she broke like it happened yesterday. Leah's staying with her tonight."
It's our routine. I go with Momma to the cemetery, and she stays with her during the night.
Todd sighs before taking me from Alex's arms into his own while Jackson fists his hands down his sides. I go to speak, but the door opens again, and this time it's Mr. Jenkins, shit. I grip the back of Todd's shirt, and he looks down at me with a furrowed brow until his father speaks.
"Well, if it isn't the love birds."
He tenses while Jackson shakes his head, returns to the counter, and grabs something. He gives Todd a nod before passing me, but not without murmuring in my ear as he passes. "You'll be fucking mine. I'll make sure of it" before he walks past us and leaves as Alex whispers, "shit," realizing who Jackson is while my heart is in my throat. Todd squeezes my waist, hoping to get my breathing back, while Mr. Jenkins looks at me and furrows his brows, seeing my tears, which I quickly wipe. "Are you OK, Sophie?"
I clear my throat, hoping I don't sound breathless from Jackson's promise that he made in front of someone he doesn't realize is actually gay: "It's my parents' wedding anniversary; momma's struggling."
He nods and sighs before stating, "Well, she'll heal soon and move on. Give her time," not realizing how it sounded.
Both my brows shoot up while Todd vibrates with anger. I grip him to stop him from kicking off before I whisper in his ear, "Three weeks," making him nod and hold me tighter. In contrast, Alex grips my hand, not realizing Jackson is watching from the front of the bakery, making it look like something it's not.
Crap.
Chapter 7
Ink – 2 weeks later
