Page 97 of Money Shot

“Tell him to come here,” I said.

“Jackson, come here for a minute,” Vince hollered over his shoulder.

Jackson?

“What’s his name?” I asked.

“Jackson,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes and stared. “Jackson?”

He nodded his head once. “Yeah, Jackson.”

Vince had no idea his mother had told me of his childhood friend, Jackson. Hearing the man’s name made goosebumps rise along my arms and caused my heart to race. I gazed over Vince’s shoulder and focused on Jackson, and all of a sudden my perception of him changed. He looked like he actually cared.

I grinned.

“Jackson Shephard,” the man said as he stepped onto the porch and extended his hand.

I shook his hand and smiled. “Sienna Boyco.”

As he leaned back and crossed his arms, his mouth curled into a smirk. “What can I do for you?”

He looked like a fighter. He was big, muscular, tattooed, and had a permanent smirk on his face like he knew something I didn’t. I gazed back at him knowing ninety percent of the population on earth would run from this guy, but all in all I felt extremely comfortable with him and I didn’t really know why.

“Just stand over there,” I said as I pointed to the edge of the porch. “I want a witness.”

“You’ve got it, Boyco,” he said as he stepped to the side.

I shifted my eyes from Jackson to Vince and gave him my best angry glare.

“Okay. Here’s my response. Yes, I will take you back under these conditions. One, we start up right where we left off. Two, you never, and I mean never do what you did to me again. If we ever have an issue that is worthy of creating waves in our relationship, we talk first, react later. And three, you’re going to go to your mothers and tell her you’re sorry, and I mean like now. And Sunday dinner starts again tomorrow,” I paused and crossed my arms in front of my chest in standard Vince fashion. “Take it or leave it.”

He didn’t make me wait long.

He nodded his head and smiled. “I’ll take it.”

I shifted my eyes toward Jackson. “You witnessed it.”

Still smiling his shitty little smirk, he nodded his head once and pointed at me. “Sure did.”

Vince cocked his head to the side. “Go for a ride?”

“Sure, let me get my glasses,” I said.

“Looks like we’re headed to mom’s place next, huh?” Jackson asked as he coughed out a laugh.

Vince shrugged his shoulders. “Guess so.”

“Good,” he said. “We can stop and get Em.”

“Okay, let me get my glasses,” I said as I turned toward the house.

I hurried into the kitchen and as soon as I was behind the cover of the wall I pumped my fist at my side and smiled.

Yes!

I walked out onto the porch, kissed Vince, and followed him to the bike. After I got on, they both started their bikes, and we sat for a few seconds.

I had to know.

“Excuse me, Jackson?” I asked over the sound of the exhaust.

“Yeah,” he said with a nod of his head.

“Are you the one who talked him into coming here?” I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders and looked at Vince as if seeking authorization to answer.

“Yeah, he is,” Vince said over his shoulder.

I fucking knew it.

Thanks Mom and Dad.