Chapter 11

11

Jace pulled his phone out of his pocket as soon as it started ringing. He saw Ian's name across the screen. "Hey, buddy. What's up?" Something must have been happening since Ian preferred texting to calling.

"Hey, Dad. I know you're busy, but I was wondering if you'd come and look at an apartment with me. If you've got the time."

"Sure." Jace glanced at the pancake he'd been making. Bubbles had formed on the batter and were starting to pop. He flipped it quickly, happy to see that the other side was golden brown instead of black. It was nice to have someone to make meals for. Ian usually just snagged a protein bar and ran out the door. "Where and when? "

Ian gave him the information. "I know it's kind of last-minute, and you've got Erin there?—"

"It's fine," Jace insisted. "I'm happy to come look at a place with you. I told you I would, and I'll be there."

"All right. I'll see you there."

As Jace hung up, Erin came into the kitchen. "Hey. What's wrong?"

"Who says anything is wrong?" he asked.

"Your face," she replied simply.

He had to laugh a little at that. Only a few days, and she was already getting to know him better than he knew himself. "Ian just called. He asked me to come look at an apartment with him today."

"Oh, that's great."

Since his face was giving so much away, he peered into hers to see if it did the same. "You don't mind that I've got to take off?" He would've gladly invited her along, but he wasn't sure how Ian would feel about that. Jace had found his mate and fallen head over heels, but he didn't want to leave Ian behind. The boy might technically be grown, but he still needed his father.

"No, of course not," she assured him, laying her hand on his arm. "He's your son. I never had the chance to have kids, but if I did, I'd want to be there for them in times like this."

"Thanks for understanding." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I just feel bad for taking off when I've asked you to stay with me.

"You don't have to keep me constantly entertained, even if you're very good at it." She walked her fingers across his chest. "I can take care of myself. Would you mind if I used your washing machine?"

"Not at all." In fact, there was something about the idea that he kind of liked. Yeah, he was definitely falling for her. Maybe he'd already smashed into the ground.

As he drove to the address Ian had given him, Jace absentmindedly scratched at the stubble he hadn't bothered to shave off that morning. He did feel a little bad about leaving Erin behind, but he knew what was really bothering him. Ian had hesitated to ask. He'd worried that he was interrupting his father's good time. Whether Jace had a mate or not, Ian would always be his priority. He'd have to find some way to tell him that without getting too mushy.

The apartment complex was a nice one, with landscaped islands between the buildings and freshly asphalted parking spots. He found Ian's car and pulled in next to him.

"Hey. You're just in time. We're supposed to go to the office to meet the landlord." Ian glanced at his watch.

Jace had already seen the sign. "Looks like the office is right there, and we've still got fifteen minutes. We're good."

They stopped in the office, where the landlord didn't seem flustered one way or another if they were late or early. He introduced himself as Sam and brought them to the available unit. "Two bedrooms, two baths, and a balcony," he said as he stepped inside and closed the door behind them. "Water and trash are included in your rent, but the rest of the utilities are on you. We take care of all the landscaping and mowing."

"That'll save you some time," Jace commented. He could tell that Ian was still tense as they looked through the place. "What are the neighbors like?" he asked Sam.

"When we can, we try to put similar people near each other," the landlord explained. "I've found that it keeps everyone a bit happier. Other parents can understand a baby crying in the middle of the night, and other young folks understand someone coming home late. Most of the families with kids are in the next building, where the apartments are a bit bigger. Here, you find a lot of young adults. Some are couples, some are roommates. Everyone gets along pretty well, or at least I don't have any complaints."

Jace looked out the window. "The view isn't bad."

"Yeah." It was the first word Ian had said since they'd come in.

Something was definitely going on with him. Jace looked in some cabinets and drawers, checking everything over as if he were going to get the place himself. "Appliances all included?"

"Mmhm." Sam had his hands in his pockets. His massive keyring jingled as he rocked back and forth on his heels. "Got a laundry room down in the basement, too."

"That's a lot better than lugging it all to the laundromat." None of Jace's comments seemed to be getting through to Ian, who was now chewing on the ends of his fingers. "Sam, would you mind giving Ian and me a few minutes to talk this over?"

"Sure thing. I've got to check in with one of my tenants down the hall, anyway. She said her dishwasher has been acting up. I'll be back in a few." Sam let himself out, whistling as he went down the hallway .

Jace turned to Ian. "He seems like a nice enough guy."

"Mm," his son grunted, looking gloomily at the empty living room.

"And this is a pretty nice apartment. Probably nicer than the places I imagine most kids your age moving into."

"Yeah, but it's so expensive. " The landlord had left a sheet that broke down the pricing of the rent, showing what was included and what wasn't. It sat on the breakfast bar, and Ian tapped it with irritation. "I mean, it's great that I don't have to pay separately for trash and water, but I'm still paying for it."

"Utilities are an unfortunate reality," Jace said carefully. He knew Ian was going to make his own decisions about all of this. The boy was an adult now, and guiding him through this wasn't the same as guiding him through the eighth-grade dance or baseball tryouts. "If the cost is too much, what about getting a smaller place? Sam might have some with just one bedroom or maybe even a studio apartment."

"There aren't many available. I've seen the ones that are, and they're complete dumps. I couldn't ask Bailey to live like that." Ian looked at the price sheet once more and then pushed it away .

"Bailey? Oh." Jace opened the fridge. It wasn't a new model, exactly, but at least it was clean.

"We've talked a lot about what we can afford, and I thought it would be plenty. We have enough of a budget that we shouldn't have to live in a slum, but we don't have enough to get a nicer place like this."

"I didn't realize the two of you were moving in together." Jace flicked on a switch to see which light it turned on. He'd always known Ian would move out eventually, but he hadn't realized Bailey was part of the plan. How had he missed that?

"Well, I figure it's about time," Ian reasoned. He moved over to the glass door that led out onto the balcony and slid it open. "We've been dating for a while now, and I don't see myself ever wanting to be with anyone else. She's on board with starting up this business with Buzz and me, and it seems like this is the direction it needs to go."

"She's a great girl," Jace said. He truly did like Bailey. She had drive, and she was good to Ian. More importantly, they were good to each other. In many ways, they had a better relationship than some people he knew who were twice their age. He didn't want to discourage Ian from moving his life to the next step, but why did he feel so desperate? "Have you talked to her about the cost of this place? "

"Not yet," Ian admitted. He stepped out onto the balcony and looked around. "There's enough room out here for a grill and some chairs."

"Yes," Jace agreed. "You could put some hanging plants or bird feeders out here, too."

"We're not senior citizens, Dad," Ian snorted.

"No, but you just wait. You and Bailey move in together—whether it's here or somewhere else—and she'll be adding all sorts of personal touches you never thought of. A rug in the kitchen. A trash can in the bathroom. Plants on the balcony." Jace leaned on the railing, glad to find that it was sturdy.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No. Not at all. It's just how things happen a lot of the time. Men and women tend to think about their homes a little differently. I know it's all just a stereotype, and in some couples, the reverse is true. My real point is that Bailey will take an empty box like this apartment and turn it into a home."

Ian let out a long sigh as he came to lean on the railing next to his father. "That sounds kind of nice."

"Yeah. It does." He'd never had that experience himself. Not that there was anything wrong with his home. It was clean and comfortable, even if he'd accidentally tried to kill that philodendron in the kitchen several times. He thought about Erin back at his place, using his washing machine, maybe curled up on the couch watching TV. His bear was pleased at the idea of her being in his home.

Jace rubbed his hand over his face. "The thing is, there's no rush. I'm not trying to discourage you in any way. I can understand wanting to get out into the world on your own. It's just that if you're having a hard time figuring out the finances, maybe staying at home with me for a little while longer would be a good idea. You can save up, and then you and Bailey can get a place you can afford and be happy with."

"But if I go ahead and move out, you and Erin will be able to settle into the house together," Ian countered.

Jace swiveled his head. He'd been studying the landscaping and the other apartment buildings, making room in the conversation so that it didn't feel like a lecture or an interrogation, but now he eyed his son with concern and curiosity. "Erin and I haven't even discussed moving in together."

"But you said she's your mate," Ian replied, confusion taking over his face. "It's not like you're just going to find your mate and then go on living life the way you have been."

"No, but we're both adults. Established adults. You and Bailey have your whole lives ahead of you. You're ready to go out and make your mark on the world. It's great, but it's not the same thing for people like Erin and me. I'm not sure what we're going to do." They'd have to figure it out eventually, but right now, it was easier to live the fantasy of finally finding the person he was meant to be with. But how could they be together? He had a home and a clan there in Truro, and of course, there was Ian. She had her life in Salem. There was just enough distance between them that they wouldn't be able to go back and forth for very long. His chest tightened with worry.

"Now, the other thing," he continued, trying to break himself free of these feelings, "is that even if Erin did move in with me, you'd be welcome to live with us."

"Did she say that?" he asked.

"She doesn't have to. That's how it is," Jace replied firmly. "I have no doubt she'd be fine with it, and there would be enough room. I just want you to understand that you don't have to push yourself to make any decisions too early just because you don't want to get in my way. You're my son, and you're never in my way."

"Aw, Dad." Ian turned and went back inside. "You don't have to get all mushy about it. "

"A man has a right to get mushy once every twenty years or so." Jace shut the door.

"Well then, go home and be mushy with Erin." He gave his dad a gentle smack on the arm, brushing off the emotions but acknowledging them at the same time. "I appreciate what you're saying, but I really don't want to be around while my dad is with his new mate. You know what I mean?"

Considering how much time he'd spent with his clothes off lately, Jace certainly did. "No, not a clue," he said with a grin. "Maybe you could fill me in."

"No way, man. Not me. I don't know anything about that." He held his hands up innocently and then paused. "I think I hear Sam coming back."

Sure enough, that same lilting whistle was moving closer out in the hall. "Let's tell him you'll think about it. Then I'll help you look at some other places and go from there."

"Sounds good."

Jace made Ian promise to call him once he'd scheduled another walk-through and then drove home. He left the radio off and thumped his thumbs on the steering wheel as he thought. This was such an odd time in his life. He'd been a full-time father for years now. Ian didn't need him the same way he had before. Many of the changes had happened slowly, but suddenly, it was speeding up. He truly had the chance to live his own life now, and Erin's arrival in it felt like perfect timing. She was there just as Ian was about to leave.

Yet it felt like her presence was pushing Ian away. He couldn't let his son down or make him feel like he wasn't wanted anymore. He was grown, but he was still Jace's little boy.

Whatever happened, Jace had to make sure he didn't sacrifice his relationship with his son.