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Mia hadn’t saidtips with Jackson’s mother or to answer a few of his father’s rare questions By the ti to take Mia and flee the house, but that was a big no-no on Thanksgiving Day Instead, they’d watched the Cowboys ga on the massive sectional sofa as far away as they could from Shane and Tiff Then, at hisrooa in order to spark soain failed

Jackson still couldn’t believe how cold Shane had acted toward hi Usually his brother wasa helluva lot of scowls in Jackson’s direction

Needless to say, he’d been relieved as heck when Shane and Tiff finally left Noas ten o’clock, his parents and sister had already turned in, and he and Mia were finally alone

"It’s the guilt, you know"

He turned to Mia with a frown "What?"

"That’s why your brother and Tiffany were acting like that They’re guilty as hell and neither of they would be a start"

"Obviously But I think they don’t kno to open up that dialogue I get the feeling that they’re scared of you"

He wrinkled his forehead "Why the heck would they be scared of me?"

"Because you’re the wronged party in this situation They’re scared of how you’ll react if they try to drag up all those old issues--they were probably scared of how you’d react back then, too And I think they’re also a bit resentful I mean, it’s clear that your parents are squarely on your side in this matter Your h it’s obvious they love Shane, they don’t look at hied "I think Shane and Tiffany pick up on that"

"Maybe" An unsteady breath left his mouth "Whatever I don’t wanna talk about this anyave his hand another squeeze "Okay," she said siaze "I really appreciate you bein’ here I don’t know if I could’ve gotten through that dinner without you"

"Sure you could You’re a big, manly Navy SEAL You can tackle any obstacle in your path"

He sht I was tempted to bolt out the front door every ten minutes or so"

Jackson’s mind continued to run over the day’s events, unable to stop dwelling on the icy stares Shane had kept hurling his way He was the one who ought to have been glaring Because of Shane and Tiffany, he couldn’t go into toithout being the object of vicious gossip Because of them, he’d once lain in a bloody mess on the barn floor And because of therown up in with the parents who’d loved and supported hiht, I can’t believe I’m about to do this"

Mia’s cryptic words jolted hireen eyes sparked his curiosity