River's End (River's End Series, #1)(86)

“What exactly are you so pissed off about?”

“You told me you were getting laid and then fell sound asleep.”

“Yeah? Okay. So? It was a long trip today, and the extreme heat would’ve zapped anyone.”

“You got laid and fell asleep, just like you intentionally planned. I’m glad I could help you out with that.”

Jack started to answer when he noticed headlights at the top of the driveway turning in with an arc of light that swept over the darkened ranch. Then, rather oddly, the lights on the vehicle went out, as did the engine, and the car gently rolled towards the house, parking very near to where Erin’s trailer once sat. Jack tensed up. Was it Chance? Or a random burglar? Who the hell else would approach the ranch so silently and stealthily?

Erin jerked her arm from his hand, and nodded towards the car. “Like father, like son, huh?”

“What?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s Ben and Marcy. Trying to find a quiet spot to park.”

Jack closed his eyes. “Well, shit.” He glanced down at himself, and decided that wearing a t-shirt and a damp beach towel wasn’t exactly how he wanted to confront his son, but what other choice did he have? As Erin so succinctly pointed out, he was Ben’s father, and it was time he acted like it, despite however unpopular any confrontation with Ben might become.

He turned and left Erin. No doubt, she wasn’t finished with whatever got her so pissed off. He wanted to turn and make a beeline for his bed and stay there, away from Erin, and now his young son who so obviously was making out in the front seat of the truck he borrowed. He almost felt hypocritical, however, when he remembered parking near that very spot and making out with Ben’s mother at the very same age. His chest tightened.

He didn’t look in the windows, but rather, thumped his fist on the roof of the cab. He waited the few moments for the kids inside to fumble around, until finally, Ben’s head popped out.

“You have five minutes to get your ass into the house.”

“Yessir,” Ben said, not meeting Jack’s eyes. For once, he didn’t argue or grumble. Ben’s eyes were on him as Jack turned and left the car with his towel flapping behind him ridiculously. He stomped into the house. Yeah, great way to appear real fierce.

He threw on a clean t-shirt and black sweats once he got inside before steeling himself for an avenue of fatherhood he never really thought he’d encounter. He wished like hell that Ben’s mother were here to tell him what to do. Should he be understanding? And quiet? Or yell? And maybe even ground him? What the hell do you do with your hormonal teenage son? Without ending up looking like a total hypocrite? Being a father was so different from being the teenager who could only think about having sex. Only now could Jack realize all the things that could have gone so wrong for Lily and him, as he instantly saw what might go wrong for Ben and Marcy.

He looked up from the table when Erin walked in. She wore a t-shirt and flannel pajamas pants, and her hair was dry now, falling down to her waist while the curls spiraled around her head. He’d never seen her without the signature headband she always wore. Her hair was crazy beautiful, and extraordinary, really.

“Can we get into this later?” he asked, feeling tired just thinking about everything he’d done wrong. The first mistake was having ever touched her. He ran a hand over his face. “Ben will be right in.”

“I know. He saw me.”

“I know. He saw me wearing a frickin’ beach towel. I’m sure he’s figured out what I must’ve been doing at midnight, walking around the ranch that way.”

She looked away as he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Shit. This night that started out so great was ending in painful embarrassment for all involved.

Ben and Marcy walked in. They both hung their heads, refusing to meet Jack’s gaze. He waited until they sat down.

“First of all, where is your brother, Ben?”

“He decided to stay the night at the Collivers’ house. They called you, but you didn’t answer. They got a hold of Ian and he said it was okay. Check your messages, Dad.”

The snide tone was there. Yeah, Ben knew why he didn’t answer his phone.

“And so you decided… what? To pick up Marcy and sneak her back here?”

Ben shrugged.

“Second, you’re not supposed to be driving alone yet. What the hell were you thinking? If you’d gotten pulled over, you’d have lost your permit, and probably wouldn’t drive for another year. As it is, you have to wait until December.”

Ben’s head shot up. He was due to turn sixteen in three short weeks. “Dad, you can’t do that.”

Jack grunted. “I sure as shit can. You broke numerous rules here tonight, the least of which we’ve yet to discuss.”

Ben stood up, his youthful age making his skinny arms quiver. “You mean, like what you and Erin were doing? I saw you, Dad. You were wearing a towel. A towel. I’m not stupid. I know what that means.”

Jack nodded. There was no use denying the obvious. “Yeah, well, Ben, the difference is I’m an adult, and Erin is an adult, so it’s not the same thing.”

“How isn’t it the same thing?”

“Because I’m not a stupid kid who’s sneaking around with a young girl and about to make the biggest mistake of both of their lives.” He walked forward and slammed a fistful of condoms down. “Do you have any of these?”