her, didn't he? That's what I'll tell her when she asks the same question Owen did. That's the excuse I'll make for the man to diminish the blow. He fucked up, and he couldn't deal with what he did, so he left.
We spend the afternoon packing everything from her room into boxes and loading them in a truck and trailer. The majority goes with the twins, who agree to unload them at the shop temporarily, while the clothes and things I believe look like items she brought home from school go in the trunks of the Chevelle or Owen's Supra. When we're done, the home she moved to the summer before freshman year of high school is nothing but a broken and beat up shell. Eerily reflective of the couple who lived there.
"She won't end up like that." Owen's forehead wrinkles as he looks at me. "Sorry. Just talking to myself," I admit, ducking my head and massaging my sweaty neck.
When we arrive at my place, I have Owen wait outside while I run in and confirm Jess is up for him seeing her as she is. He could unload the boxes from his car into the shed for now, but I know him—he wants to lay eyes on her himself. My boys and I talked a lot of shit while packing today. They've taken her in as one of their own, and I'm not sure if Jess and I were to split if they would part ways with her, too.
Jess's laughter, echoed by Jules's and Cassie's, greets me when I open the back door. The joy is so unexpected after the last thirty-something hours, that I’m compelled to stop and listen. Unfortunately, my house is wide open, and my creepy lurking is picked up within seconds.
"I made a run for Chinese." I hold the paper sack high before setting it on the counter. "I hope you two can stay for dinner because I ordered an obscene amount of food."
"Absolutely." Jules touches my arm as we pass each other, her eyes staying with mine. I read her wink as a good sign. Cassie offers me a warm smile as she joins Jules in the kitchen, washing their hands and unpacking the containers.
My words falter as Jess adjusts the furniture they'd shifted while talking. The secret I hold isn't one I want to share. I catch her around the waist as she pulls the chair into its correct position. "Hi." I nuzzle her neck, and her arms wrap around mine. "So, Owen’s here, but if you don't want him to see you, he'll understand. He'll—"
"What?" Jess peels my arms away and heads for the back door. "Get inside here." She beckons Owen, and glares at me. "This is your house, Carter."
I don't argue. I just nod and help Jules and Cassie gather dishes and silverware. When Owen steps inside, my girl lays into him about never needing permission to walk into my house, but Owen doesn't pay heed to most of what she says, he's too busy cupping his large hand around her head and pulling her into his chest for a long hug. Fuck. His loyalty to our friendship may be lost to her if I'm not careful, though I’m not sure I would care.
I wrestle with telling Jess about her father the entire night, working up the courage after Jules and Cassie head to the Blacklin's for the night. Owen slips on his shoes after I give him the signal and moves toward the door.
Jess looks up while loading our dinner dishes into the dishwasher. "Are you sneaking out?"
"Hey, babe?" I draw her attention from Owen so he can step outside. "We went to your house to grab some of your things."
She freezes, a plate wobbling in her fingers beneath the water. Removing the dish from her hand, I turn the water off and point her facing me. Her chin trembles.
"We boxed up your room. Finn and Frey took most of it to the garage for you, but Owen and I have some stuff in our cars."
Her eyes widen with each word. "He just let you in? Did he say anything? How is he?"
Some news hurts, no matter how hard you work to ease the pain. "The house was empty."
She scratches at her arm twice. "Empty?"
I rub my hand over my head, buying time, and that tic is all she needs. Her trembling jaw turns into quivering lips and doe eyes as misery steals over her features. "He left?"