Page 104 of Fierce-Baker

“He’s something else,” he said.

“Where do you think things are going with you two?”

“Now you’re getting ahead of yourself,” he said. “Let’s go back to Dad.”

“And ruin my morning? I don’t think so,” Brittany complained.

“Sorry. I’m not dealing with this. It’s not anything serious. It’s not like Dad is making an effort to call me. Never has. Not even a text.” There was more silence there. “What aren’t you telling me? Do you talk to Dad?”

“Not really. I do more than you. He lets me in on the financial stuff. You know that. But once he talks about life in general I normally cut him off. Your name never comes up. I think... never mind.”

“Nope. Say it. I’m a big boy and can handle it.”

“I think you cut ties,” Brittany said gently, “and he’s refusing to take the next step. And I think Mom is pushing you because she doesn’t want to rock the boat with him. She still lives with him. She wantsyouto make the move so she doesn’t have to.”

He put his blinker on and turned sharper than necessary, the motion tilting his SUV.

What Brittany said made too much sense.

“You’re probably right. But she might as well save her breath because it’s not happening. Not anytime soon.”

“She needs a reason to call,” Brittany said. “She knows you don’t tell her much about your life. She doesn’t want to tell you much about hers. We criticize too much in her eyes.”

“With reason,” he said. “I’m not one for talking just for the sake of it.”

“I told Mom that.”

“And it’s not as if she ever asks what’s going on in my life. Do you know the last time she did?” he asked.

“No. When?”

“No clue. That’s how long it’s been. So for her to make assumptions on my life is a crock of shit. She calls when she’s depressed, upset, or wants to complain about Dad. She never calls to ask how I’m doing or if I’m seeing anyone.”

“If you’re in love?” Emme shouted. “We care though.”

Damn. He was thrilled his sister found what he had.

“I’m glad you care, Emme. I care about you both too. My sister should have told me sooner about you though.”

“Don’t take her side,” Brittany said when he heard more laughing. “Anyway. I wanted to see how you were doing. Mom didn’t tell me everything and she never does. But what she did sounded pretty harsh. I’m positive you felt like shit after even though it all had to be said.”

“I’m feeling less like that than I used to.”

But it’d never go away completely. It almost couldn’t.

They were still his parents, but it didn’t mean he had to agree with anything they did.

“There you are,”Jolene said, her smile painted on as wide as she could make it.

It’d been darn hard to not ask more questions yesterday, but she’d managed it.

Today was a new day.

Baker’s shoulders dropped with her tapping her foot outside his office door.

“What the hell, Jolene? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

She moved aside for him to put the key in the door and open it. Gavin had a master key. She could have stolen it for the day and been sitting in there, but that might be a little too much even for her.