10. Chapter 10

"Iguess we know why he never said anything to either of us about the book and why he stopped writing me. He has a girlfriend living with him now."

"Petal, I'm sure that's not the whole story. Max can be an idiot sometimes, but I don't think he'd purposely ignore you, or his brother, because he was seeing someone. You can't think this is the first time he's been with a girl since you two started writing letters."

"I bet it's the first time he's lived with one. That changes things." I was pretty sure it changed things. If I was dating a guy who was always writing and receiving letters from another girl, I'd at least be curious about who she was and what they said to one another.

Jack looked away, contemplating what I had to say before glancing back down at his phone. "He's calling again. Maybe I should just give him your number."

"We've been writing letters to one another for two years, if he wanted my number, he would have asked for it."

"Did you ever ask for his number?"

I shook my head. "No, but I did ask for his email address because I thought it would be easier and quicker to write one another that way. He wouldn't give it to me."

"Did he say why?"

"He said it felt more personal writing actual letters where we had to decipher one another's handwriting." I thought it was a bullshit excuse to keep me from being able to write him more often.

"Well, sounds like you got your answer then."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Either way, he stopped writing me back like a month ago, so I think we're done with even doing it that way."

Jack sighed and moved close enough to pull me in for a side hug. "Sometimes, people grow apart as they grow up."

"We never grew together," I reminded him.

Jack laughed softly as he held me. "Sweetheart, I know those letters meant a lot to you. Wish you had told me he stopped writing them. I don't want you to let this get you down. There are too many things in your life to celebrate right now. That book of yours is selling well according to Evan."

I rolled my eyes. "He won't stop bragging about it."

"And he shouldn't. You two did something truly amazing, Petal."

"Lots of people can write and draw, Jack."

"True, but not all of them have the confidence to chase down their dreams and make them happen. What you and Evan did took courage, passion, and commitment. Don't ever sell yourself short."

"Thanks Jack."

"When are you going to call me Pops?"

"Never," I tossed back callously. A little sinkhole formed in my stomach when I saw the hurt on his face. "It's not what you think," I quickly explained. "I never want to call you Pops because you're not a grandfather to me like you are to the boys. You have taken over where my father left off. You're my second-chance dad, Jack. I never called you that because I was worried you wouldn't like it."

"Petal," he choked on my nickname as emotion made it hard to get the word out. He made up for it by nearly smothering me in the biggest hug I'd ever received. "I'd be proud to be called your dad. Not taking anything from Eric either. He was, and always will be, your true father but I don't think he'd mind one bit if you had someone else step in to fill those shoes, since he can't be here to do it himself."

I nodded and swiped away the tears that fell freely down my face. For some reason, I didn't think my dad would mind Jack taking his place either, since he couldn't be here with me.

"One day, when I get married, I want you to walk me down the aisle," I admitted.

"It would be an honor, sweetheart."

I grinned up at him as his phone started ringing again. "Should I answer it this time?" He held it up to show that Max was calling. I nodded my head, and he held me close, so that I could hear what his grandson had to say.

"Pops! Is something wrong? You hung up so quickly, I've been worried."

"No, Max. Everything is okay here. So, you have a girl living with you?"

"Not anymore."

"Why not? Sounded like you two were about to get cozy when I spoke to you earlier." I bristled at that, but Jack patted my back reassuringly as Max answered him.

"No, we weren't. We got into a fight because I haven't told the family about her."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because I didn't think she was serious," he explained.

"Then why in the hell was she living with you?"

"It's complicated, but basically she couldn't afford her place when her roommate up and left with no notice and I told her she could stay here until she could find something more affordable."

"I see, and then she made herself comfortable instead of looking for somewhere else to live?"

"Pretty much. Made herself comfortable with my mail, too."

"How's that?"

"Is Posie there? I really need to apologize to her. I only just got her letters and the graphic novel today. I got the letters I thought I'd been sending to her today, too."

"You might need to explain that to me, Max. Hang on, Posie is here, so I'm putting you on the loudspeaker."

I giggled and I heard Max do the same.

"It's speakerphone, Pops."

"Whatever. It makes you louder, so she can hear." Jack winked at me. He knew damn well what it was called. He was just trying to cast some light on the situation.

"Okay, now explain what happened. Don't leave us in the dark, boy."

"Becca was curious about Posie's letters. When she intercepted one from the mail before I could get to it, she opened it and read it. Then, when she went to put it back in the mail, she saw that I had put an outgoing letter to Posie there, and she took that too. After that, she realized she had to keep intercepting them because otherwise I'd know Posie hadn't received her letters. At least, that's what she told me when I found them after I got off the phone with you."

"So, this girl was not only hiding your incoming but outgoing mail concerning Posie?" Jack asked him.

"Yeah, I haven't even had a chance to look at them yet, but Posie?"

"Yeah?"

"I wanted you to know that the cover of that book is on fucking fire. I knew you sketched stuff all the time, but I never realized you were that good."

"Thanks," I offered as my cheeks blazed with heat.

"Considering what happened, I think you were right about the email thing. We should do that."

For some reason, it felt like a consolation prize to have him finally agree to emailing rather than sending handwritten letters. It was because of another woman that he was finally willing to allow me that level of access. There was a part of me that wanted to shoot his offer down, but with Jack standing there watching me so carefully, I didn't dare.

He"d always wanted Max and me to have a relationship for some reason. It wasn't harming me, so I figured there was no reason not to try.

"Okay."

I heard his laughter through the line. "I'm going to need your email address," he reminded me.

"I gave it to you in my letter. Did you throw it out?"

"No, I still have all of them. I figured it would be easier to get it from you now than to go hunting it down."

I gave him my email and he hung up shortly after.

"At least now you know he wasn't ignoring you on purpose," Jack mentioned.

"I suppose not," was my only answer as I contemplated what it must have been like for that woman to live with Max, knowing he was writing letters to another female, and she was writing him back. Would I have done the same thing in her position? I'd like to think that I'd just ask him about it.