Disappointment lingered in his eyes. “And you’re sayin’ what?”
“I don’t know if any of this is a good idea.”
“I see.” The gruff tone of his voice proved he didn’t agree. “Then I guess this is goodnight.”
He didn’t say goodbye and my heart did a funny little stutter. Jayce wasn’t giving up. Not entirely.
The idea that he would want to fight for a chance made me feel all warm and gooey inside.
“Yes. Goodnig
ht.”
He leaned down and placed a quick kiss on top of my head and then backed away. “I’ll be seeing you around, little mama.” A determined look entered his eyes and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to seeing what Jayce planned next.
“Dad, I need to use the mustang.”
My arms instantly folded across my chest as I scowled. “Where the fuck are you going now?” It was an act. I was just giving him shit and knew he’d see right through it.
His dark hair was swept back in a ponytail, showing off the shaved sides of his head where he used and dulled my razor to keep it smooth as a baby’s butt. Broad shoulders matched my own and so did the confident stance he took as we faced off. Handsome fucker looked just like me at that age and it was super hard not to crack a smile.
“Got a date.”
“With who?”
“You gonna bust my balls? ‘Cause I like this girl, Dad. She’s something special.” In his eyes I saw the truth. My son had it bad for whoever she was, and he wanted to impress her.
I ticked my head in his direction. “Fine. But don’t be later than midnight. You’ve got school tomorrow.”
Colter shrugged. “Need to loosen the reins there, pop. I’m not a little kid anymore.”
“But still under my roof and not an adult. Shit, son. Look who’s bustin’ balls now.”
My son’s head shook from side to side as he let out a loud guffaw. “I learned from the best.”
He sure did. “Keep your eyes on the road and off the girl when you’re drivin’. Don’t need you to get in a wreck.”
Colter snickered. “I’ll remember that. Ro sure is pretty though.”
Ro? Who was that?
My eyes narrowed. “Fuck. You’re not seeing Murder’s daughter, right?”
Rochelle was the only teenage girl I knew about that had the nickname.
“Yeah, I am. Like I said. I like her, Dad.”
“Then you better keep that girl safe and your hands to yourself. Treat her like a princess. We both know what will happen if you don’t.”
“I know. Trust me.”
“Murder will kick your ass and then I will after.”
Colter’s lips twitched. “Yeah.”
I watched him walk away and slide into the driver’s side of the car as my heart did a funny little lurch. That boy was the one good thing I did right in my entire fucked-up life. He was the reason I kept on breathing and didn’t give into the dark shit that could easily pull me under.
If his mother were still alive, she’d have my ass for the freedom I gave him. Colter came and went as much as he wanted. I rarely said a word as long as he kept his grades up.