The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros

Author:Rebecca Yarros
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance; Contemporary Fiction; Contemporary Womens Fiction, Military, romance, new adult, single dad, grief, Outer Banks, North Carolina, anxiety, mental health, renovation, beach, beach house, single parent, single father, Coast Guard, search and rescue, pilot, military romance; New Adult Fiction; New Adult Romance; Entangled Publishing; Entangled Embrace; Rebecca Yarros; Stand Alone Romance; Single Title Romance; The Reality of Everything
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-11-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Jackson

“Because it’s a school night,” I said as calmly as I could possibly manage, folding my arms across my chest. Seven p.m. on a school night to be precise. I’d been on nights for the past five days, and I didn’t want to spend the only night I had off this week arguing with Claire, but here we were.

I wanted to spend what time I had with Morgan, especially since I hadn’t seen her since I’d crawled out of her bed Saturday morning. It had almost been impossible to make myself go.

“So let her skip tomorrow. It’s preschool, for God’s sake, not Harvard.” She walked past me into the living room.

“Absolutely not.” It wasn’t the first time she’d been in my house, but it still threw me to see her taking in the pictures of Fin I had scattered around.

“But I’m making up for lost time, Jax. It’s just a sleepover.” Claire sank into my couch, kicked off her shoes, and tucked her legs under her, sitting like she always did. A few years ago, that familiar sight might have stirred up long-dead feelings, but not anymore.

I leaned back and shot a glance up my stairs to be sure Finley wasn’t eavesdropping. “It’s not just a sleepover. It’s a complete disruption in her schedule.”

Her lips pursed. “She’s five. She doesn’t need a schedule.”

“She’s five, which is why she needs a schedule. Kids like boundaries and predictability, Claire. You coming home is great, but Finley can’t just bounce around like a tennis ball.”

“I came back to spend time with her,” she argued. “How can I do that if you won’t let me?” Her face fell.

“Who says I’m not letting you?” I rubbed the skin between my eyebrows and prayed for patience. Claire had thrown everything into upheaval in the last ten days.

“You just said I can’t take her tonight!” she snapped.

“First, keep your voice down. Fin doesn’t need to hear any of this. Second, no, you can’t just pick her up and take her when it suits you. You had her last weekend. This is my weekend, and weekends don’t start on Thursday nights.” I cued up a playlist on my phone, and Mumford and Sons played through the speakers. Hopefully, that would keep Fin’s ears from hearing much.

A slow smile spread across Claire’s face. “You still listen to this?”

“Apparently.”

Her smile faded at my tone. “Why aren’t you happy that I’m home, Jax? Isn’t this what you wanted?”

I blew out a breath and sat in the love seat across from her. “I’m happy you’re home, as long as you’re actually staying.”

She had the nerve to look hurt. “This time is different, Jax.”

“Really? And why is that?” I leaned forward, bracing my elbows on my knees.

“Because when Brianna called and said she thought you were really moving on, I realized that I needed to be here.” Her eyes searched mine for something I couldn’t give her.

My stomach twisted. “You’re home for Finley, right? Because that’s the only relationship you can improve.”

She drew back and blinked quickly, looking away.

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