Ink Enduring (Montgomery Ink #5)(13)

Instead of moving toward him, instead of reaching out and giving him a hug like he wanted to, he stood there on the small porch and tried not to look like he was desperate. He’d lived a hard life, and had grown up into a man he’d thought Jake would be proud of, but as soon as he saw that face, as soon as he looked into those eyes, it was as if everything had been washed away and time stood still.

“Jake?” the soft voice said again, worry in her tone.

Jake cleared his throat. “It’s an old friend,” he finally said.

Border let out a breath. “Is that Maya?” he asked, not knowing why he did.

Jake looked confused for a moment before shaking his head. “No…”

A blonde woman came up to Jake’s side and pressed into him. Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

For some reason, the sight felt like a blow to the chest. Who was this woman? He thought Jake was with Maya, or at least on the way to being so. Border would have been fine with that, though he didn’t know why he felt so certain about that fact. Nothing made sense, and now he knew he’d make a f*cking mistake by coming here.

“Hi, I’m Holly,” the woman said. “Did Jake call you Border?”

He nodded and held out his hand like an idiot. He wondered what Jake had told her about him, if anything at all. He was pretty sure Jake had mentioned him to Maya, even in passing, but he’d never heard of this Holly. And what the hell? Why did he feel he had a right to be included in Jake’s life? He’d left fifteen years ago. He shouldn’t be so f*cking hurt over the fact that he didn’t know what the hell was going on.

“Hi, and yeah, I’m Border.”

Holly took his hand and shook it before looking over her shoulder at Jake. “Are you going to let him in, or is he going to sit here on your porch for the rest of the night.”

Your porch. So she didn’t live there. And why did he care? He was only there to make amends to Jake. Maybe. Fuck. He should have gone to a motel instead of doing this.

Jake shook himself before stepping back, taking Holly with him. “Yeah. Sorry, man, come on in.”

Holly went to her toes and kissed Jake’s chin. “I have a feeling you two need to talk. Why don’t I head home now and give you two some time.”

Jake frowned. “You don’t have to do that.”

Border nodded, though he felt like he needed to be alone with Jake. And not alone at all since his brain was currently on a path to hell. “Yeah, you don’t have to.”

Jake shot him a look he couldn’t interpret, and Border just held back a sigh. He honestly had no idea what he was doing, but whatever he was doing, he was doing it all wrong.

“I know I don’t have to, but I don’t want to be in the way.” Jake lowered his head, and Holly kissed him softly. That same blow to the chest came back, only not as hard as the first time. “It was good to meet you, Border,” she said as she made her way to the door to get her coat. “I’ll see you later, I’m thinking.”

With that, she gave them a little wave and left, closing the door behind her and leaving Border and Jake alone in the house.

They stood in silence for a few moments, the awkwardness of the situation settling over his skin. Jake hadn’t been the one to let Border in or say he wanted to talk. That was all Holly.

“So…you and Holly?”

Jake cocked a brow. “Yeah, me and Holly. I’m thinking about asking her to marry me, actually.” Jake blinked at him as if he hadn’t meant to add that last part.

Border sucked in a breath, his chest hurting like a bitch.

You don’t have a right to that hurt, *.

He let that voice circle around him, and it calmed him enough that he could speak. “Good for you.” Jake snorted, but he didn’t look like he found anything funny about the situation. “I mean it. I’m glad you’re…well, I’m just glad you found someone.”

Not totally a lie, but not quite the truth.

“Why did you think she was Maya?” Jake asked.

Border shrugged, his hands in his pockets again. “You talked about Maya like…well, I was wrong I guess.”

“Yeah, you were wrong. Maya’s just my friend, but Holly is the one here. Holly is the one that stays.” Jake bit off a curse. “I’m going to ask Holly to marry me because it’s about damn time I settle down, and she’s the one for me.”

Border didn’t know why Jake was saying these things to him, but he had a feeling the man was saying it more to himself than Border.

“Okay,” Border said. “I…I don’t know why I’m here.”

“You don’t know a lot of things, Border. You never did.” Jake ran a hand over his face. “Sorry. Fuck. Okay, do you have a place to stay? I know your dad lost the house—” Jake cut himself off even as Border stiffened.

“Dad’s dead, Jake,” Border said, his voice emotionless. “Got drunk and got behind the wheel. Luckily, he only killed himself and the damn tree he hit. So, yeah, he lost the house, and he’s not here anymore. I came to say…well, I don’t know what I wanted to say, but I can go now. I guess I just wanted to let you know I’m here.”

Jake’s face paled again, and he took a step toward Border, his arm outstretched before he froze and lowered his hand. “Shit, Border.”