Page 38 of Embers of You (Amity #1)

Jameson

We have a call to Sutton’s neighborhood, and when it comes through I hear Scenic drive and am instantly on edge.

Luckily, the house number is different so I’m able to keep my calm as we head out.

Once we get there I realize it’s one of the houses across the street from Sutton.

I knock on the door and Wes is the one that answers.

“What’s going on?” he asks, confused.

“Uh, we had a call for this address about a possible fire,” I answer, now just as confused as him.

“My fire alarm went off, but I didn’t call…” His voice trails off and I see him look toward the neighbors house next to him. “Sorry guys, it’s a false alarm. If you excuse me I need to have a talk with my overbearing neighbor.”

“Just to be clear, you don’t want us to check anything out?” I clarify because we can’t leave until a scene is cleared.

“No, you’re off the hook.” Wes is already walking out toward his next door neighbor.

I nod to my coworkers and we load back up to go back to the station. Just as I’m climbing into the truck, the yelling starts.

“Why did you call them, it was just a fire alarm?” Wes snaps.

“I’m not going to have my house burn down because you’re incapable of cooking and started a damned fire.” I look over and see it’s Bailey, Sutton’s friend, yelling back at him.

“It went off for ten seconds. If you would just mind your own business, you wouldn’t even hear it. Actually, I’m not sure how you hear anything over the sound of your constant bitching.”

“I don’t know how you hear anything over your inflated ego and that stupid car you drive.”

“You know, if you want a ride all you have to do is ask. I mean another one, that is.”

She slams the door in his face and I get in the truck, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping, but fully intending on asking Sutton about that once we’re back.

“If that isn’t some powerful sexual tension, then I don’t know what is,” Parker asserts.

“Yeah? You would know about that, wouldn’t you?” Dave taunts.

“With your mom, yeah I would.”

I shake my head, starting the truck and driving us the short distance back to the station while they continue their bickering. I swear, sometimes it’s worse than siblings around here.

Once we’re back, I text Sutton when I’m able. I could walk over since she’s only next door, but I’m not going to bother her again. Plus, I’m sure Parker would want to join and bother Lily, and I’m not going to subject that poor girl to him anymore than she already is.

Jameson: Do you happen to know why your neighbors want to rip each other’s heads off?

Sutton: Is that what you think they want to do? Because I think they want to rip each other’s clothes off.

Jameson: Funny, Parker said the same thing.

Sutton: Great minds think alike, I guess.

Jameson: You calling Parker a great mind should probably have me a little worried.

Sutton: I think it’s because he’s young like me, and you don’t get it since you’re so…

Jameson: So what?!

Sutton: So much older *laughing emoji*

Jameson: I’m not that much older than you!

Sutton: Eleven years.

Jameson: And you’re still five years older than Parker.

Sutton: Maybe I should date him, since we are so close in age and have so much in common. Pass my number along to him, would you?

Jameson: I’ve never been a jealous man, but you’re bringing it out of me. Do I need to come over there?

Sutton: What would you do if you did?

I inwardly groan. I like how she’s opened up to me. She’s more carefree and trusting, but right now, her teasing is going to send me over the edge. I crave her enough as it is, and knowing she’s so close, but that there’s nothing either of us can do about it, is it’s own form of torture.

Jameson: Are you wanting me to tell you how I would drag you into the back room and prove that age only makes everything better? That I can make you come with the simplest touch because I’ve studied your body and learned all the ways to make it sing for me?

Jameson: Do you want me to tell you that I would do anything for you, including wringing every single orgasm from you, and make you scream my name for so long that your throat is hoarse for days?

Sutton: Oh my God…

Jameson: Would that be enough to prove it to you? Or do I need to tell you how I would tie your hands behind your back as I bend you over, and fuck you hard enough to see stars?

Sutton: Jameson…

Jameson: How does that sound?

Sutton: Sounds like we both need to get off work, so it can be a reality.

I adjust myself in my pants, annoyed with myself that I’m so desperate for her when there’s really nothing I can do about it right now. But knowing she wants to fulfill my fantasies with me has to be enough for now.

Sutton: You know, for how much you’ve mentioned wanting to tie me up, I’m a little disappointed you haven’t done it yet.

Just when I thought I couldn’t be harder, she had to go and say that.

Jameson: Sounds like we have to change that the next time we’re alone.

Sutton: Guess so.

I’m pretty sure I’m in love with this girl.

I think I’ve loved her since the first moment I saw her, and everything afterwards has only made me fall harder.

I know I can’t tell her, because she would likely freak out.

Admitting it to myself will have to be enough for now.

At least until the day I can say the words to her without her freaking out and running away again.

If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I can’t ever lose her.

I walk into my parent’s house to get Duke after my shift, and don’t see him curled up in his bed in the living room.

I also don’t see Ma anywhere. I call out for her, but there’s no response.

I’m immediately on edge. She didn’t say she was going anywhere and I don’t want her out somewhere no one knows about.

She could be hurt or a million other things.

I call out for her again, walking deeper into the house.

The bedroom door is shut, and I open it slowly.

“Ma?” I hear a snore and a shuffle before the sound of Duke’s paws patter across the floor.

I open the door wider and see Ma is sleeping, my worry heightening.

It’s not unusual for her to take a nap, but she’s usually quick to wake up if I call for her.

I approach the side of her bed, lightly shaking her and her eyes shoot open. I let out a sigh of relief I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Since when are you against me napping? You’re the one always telling me to rest,” she teases, her voice groggy but she has a small smile on her face.

“I’m not, you should rest.”

“Well, now I’m up.” She starts to sit up and I help her, though she tries to shake me off.

“Have you seen your dad?”

“Not yet, I just got in.”

“I really think you should try talking to him. I know it’s hard, Jameson, but I think you both are misunderstanding each other. He said something about needing help with the cattle, maybe you could find common ground like you used to.”

I don’t have the heart to tell her I’ve tried and that it’s gotten us nowhere. Instead, I nod. “I’ll try, Ma.”

“Good, and bring Sutton for dinner soon.”

I chuckle and repeat, “I’ll try.”

Duke follows me out, hopping up into my truck with me and I drive us toward my house, making sure to pass by the cattle on the way. If he’s not there, then I guess I’ll have to try something else.

He’s out there, standing by the paddock just looking out like I’ve seen him do a few times now. Part of me wonders what he’s thinking about, why he does this instead of spending time with Ma. If all the work is done why not go be with your wife instead of staring out at the landscape.

I approach him. “Ma said you needed help with something?”

He doesn’t even look at me as I step up next to him; he just continues to look out. “I’ve got it.”

I sigh. “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Shut me out. Not make an effort for our relationship?”

He scoffs.

“What do you think? Do you think you’re putting an effort in here? Do you think Ma is happy with the way things have been since I came back? What’s the point of being so pissed at me?”

“You don’t know anything about what it was like after you left. You couldn’t run away fast enough. I wanted this place for you and all you wanted to do was leave it. Now you want everything to be perfect?”

“I want to feel like a family.”

“And what does that feel like to you, son? Because you shouldn’t have left your family in the first place.”

“You’ll never get it, will you? You think everything has to be done your way or it was a mistake. Ma wants us to fix our issues, but that’s just not possible, is it?”

He’s quiet for a few seconds, and I’m about to give up. I try one more time, hoping maybe I could somehow get through to him.

“Can we at least try? For her?”

He grunts, and I take that as his answer.

“Good talk.” I shake my head, walking away. I expect him to call after me, to do something to change the wedge shoved between us. To prove that he does care about me, but he doesn’t. He just lets me walk away without a single word.