Dirty Thoughts - Megan Erickson Page 0,87

Max’s and Asher’s—coasting from head to toe. “Calvin,” she said, a little in awe.

He could only nod. He’d thought he’d feel . . . sadness. Or anger. Or something when he saw her again. But really, he felt only a mild curiosity.

Cal looked at Jack out of the corner of his eye. He did look sad. And Cal wondered if he still loved Jill, despite what she’d done to his family.

A door opened behind Cal, and then a deep voice said, “Well, holy shit.”

Cal braced himself, because the brother with no filter had just appeared.

Jill’s smile was shaky. “Hi, Brent.”

“An appearance! By God, let’s make a float and parade down Main Street.”

“Shut up,” Jack growled.

Cal elbowed Brent in the stomach, who made a small oomph sound but then kept his mouth shut.

Jill’s eyes flicked to Cal, her nerves clear in her rigid posture. “Is Asher here?”

“You interested in seeing him now?” Cal asked.

Jill wrung her hands. “I just . . . I figured he was in good hands, but then a friend said . . . well, she said I should go see him.”

It was amazing how this woman could have zero maternal instinct. Jenna had more sense when it came to Asher than his own fucking mother. She’d would make a fine mother.

“I-I’m trying,” Jill muttered, almost to herself.

Cal didn’t know what to say to that. He was past the point that trying would make a fuck of a difference in his life, but Asher still craved attention from his mom. So Cal turned to walk back into the house. “He’s inside. Come on in.”

Even though it was awkward as hell to have her there, Cal knew it was worth it when Asher’s face lit up when he spotted Jill. “Mom!” he cried, standing up. “You came!”

Jill’s smile wasn’t forced anymore. “Yeah, I’m, uh, here.” Her eyes darted around, to Max, whose jaw was hanging on the floor. Her smile fell a little. But Asher was walking briskly toward her, his arms already rising from his sides to embrace her.

Cal looked around—at his family, his employees—and his heart ached, because he knew Jenna should be here. Asher had asked about her, but Cal had been honest, telling him they’d broken up, and the kid looked as upset as Cal.

When Asher sat down on the couch with his mom, Cal heard her say, “Honey, I need to talk to you about your father.”

Cal didn’t want to hear the rest. He made his way to his back door to retreat to his deck and tried to tune out their murmured words, not wanting to hear that Asher was going to pack up and go home.

And then the kid’s voice, shaky but firm, said, “No, I want to stay here.”

Cal stopped beside the couch and stared.

Jill’s eyes were wide as she shifted her gaze from her youngest son, to her oldest, and then back again. “But, sweetie—”

“I want to stay with Cal,” Asher said, his voice no longer shaking. “I like it here. I’ve made friends. I want to go to high school here.”

“Your home is—”

“Here. I’ve never felt more at home than I do here. I love you, Mom. But nothing’s tying you to Virginia if you’ve left Dad. How about you move here?”

There was a coughing sound behind them, and Jack pounded his chest and then strode off into the kitchen, his boots heavy on Cal’s hardwood floor.

Jill watched her ex-husband’s retreating back. “Ash—”

“Can I stay here, Cal?” Asher turned those deep brown eyes up at him.

And Cal couldn’t move. Those were Max’s eyes, the same ones he’d looked into when the kid was a baby. Those were Asher’s eyes, the same ones that had looked at him as a surrogate father for the last month or so.

Cal could tell him no, that he’d be better off with his mom, that it was less complicated for everyone. That Cal didn’t want him or this responsibility or fucking any of it.

But that would be a lie.

As worry seeped into Asher’s gaze while Cal stayed silent, Cal realized how fucking stupid he was. “You want to?”

Asher stood up. “Of course.”

“But I did a shitty job, Asher. You got hurt on my watch.”

Asher smiled a little. “I got hurt because I did something dumb. If you’ll let me, I want to stay because I love this town and this family. You’ve been the best dad-slash-older brother I think I could ever have. I don’t want to give that up.” He picked at his