Page 32 of June: Jess' Story

A

Your brother is about to do something stupid. He’s at Jimbo’s. If I stop him, there’ll be cops and broken bones. You want to come get him? Or should I take care of it?

M

On my way. Wait for me.

Only reason I don’t leave is to make sure Matt doesn’t walk out that door with jailbait on his arm. I stand up against my Jeep until Max rolls into Jimbo’s gravel parking lot in an Aston Martin. Looks like being a CFO and owning a ranch pays.

Max jogs over to me, giving me a handshake.

“Max, if he fucks with Britain…” I say in warning, but he’s already shaking his head.

“Nah, I won’t let him either. I’ve got something in the works right now. Promise, I won’t let him do anything stupid before then. Can’t make any promises for later, though.” I nod in understanding. I may have threatened Max to get Liam back here. If for no other reason than I can kick his fucking ass.

“Need me to stick around for backup?” I ask Max.

“I think I’ll manage.”

“K, I’ll see you around, man,” I say to Max as Matt comes waltzing out of Jimbo’s, with his “old friend” draped around him.

“Christ’s sake,” I mutter under my breath at the same time Max says, “This fucking idiot.”

“You warned him, didn’t you?” Max asks, and I nod. He gives me a stern look. “I got it, hang back.”

He walks straight up to Matt, takes the hand of the cute girl, pulling her off to the side, then shoves Matt hard, causing him to trip and fall into the gravel parking lot. Max proceeds to rip him a new asshole, and I laugh, then get in my Jeep and drive away.

Won’t be doing any of this again. At least not anytime soon. And for sure not in this fucking town.

EIGHT

Jess

“You’re still up?” I find Damian sprawled out on the sectional, flipping through channels in the darkened great room when I come down the stairs from Britain’s bedroom. I planned to wait till Brit was asleep to sneak out, but after a deep chat and cry session about Liam, she told me to go. Probably because I was the one falling asleep.

He gives me a somber smile and says, “Yeah. Wanna watch something?” Then pats the seat beside him expectantly.Yes.

“Little bit. I’m tired,” I say, then yawn as I walk around to sit beside him, setting the baby monitor on the coffee table first.

With Britain in bed for the night and the girls sleeping over at Sandy’s, I don’t give him the two seat buffer I normally would. This time, I take the seat right next to him. And when he looks at me, he smiles with a lot less sadness.

“You’re taking this really well…” I note, tilting my head to examine him. He almost seems unbothered(?). I don’t know if I’d take it that far, but maybe he’sfinallygetting over Britain.

“Yeah. I guess it just feels like things are changing, but not necessarily for the worse. Can’t really explain it right now.” I just nod at his response. I can’t say I agree with that sentiment. Things are definitely changing, but in my case, all things are trendingworse.

I’m happy for him, though, for his engagement. For turning over a new leaf with Brit.Congrats on turning the corner, Damian.I don’t say anything, though. I just turn to face the tv screen.

Without even consciously thinking about it, my head drops to his shoulder while he keeps scrolling. When he spots Casino playing, he doesn’t even have to ask, he chooses it and we both settle in. My head rests heavily on his shoulder, while his hand is splayed across my leg. It’s neither intimate or romantic, just comfortable. In every way. (Or maybe that’s just the exhaustion talking.)

He squeezes my leg to get my attention and says, “Come, sit here,” patting the floor in front of him.

“It’s been a long day, I know,” he says when I just look at him confused. But I don’t really question, I just stand, zombie-like, then take a seat cross-legged on the floor in front of him.

With his legs on either side of me, he scoots forward and moves his hands to my neck.Oh, fuck me.His thumbs dig deep into my tense muscles as he pushes, then drags them down my spine, willing me to close my eyes and let go.

When he runs his hands into my hair, pushing his thumbs against my skull behind my ears, I think I moan involuntarily.Fuck, I should be embarrassed, but with Damian, I don’t care.

He stops abruptly, and I whine, “Whhhyyyare you stopping?”