She laughs softly and tucks the material around her breasts tighter. “What’d Jackson say?”
Right. Get this out of the way first. I drop down on the bed and motion her closer.
“Nuh-uh, I see you eye-balling my towel.”
I hold my hands up. “Can’t help it, but I promise I’ll behave. This is serious.”
She uncoils the towel wrapped around her head and blots her still-wet hair as she approaches the bed and sits next to me. “Okay. Give it to me straight. I can take it.”
“It’s nothing bad. Apparently, Suggs had his will changed before he died and left everything to you.”
She blinks at me a few times. “Left what to me? His cozy cabin of terror in the woods? Hell no.” She jumps off the bed and bites at her thumbnail. “I don’t want a damn thing from that lunatic.”
“Why don’t you wait and see what’s there before you reject it. Apparently, he didn’t have any other family, so no one’s going to contest the will.”
“I don’t care. I don’t want that—” She stops mid-sentence, her eyes widening and mouth curving into smile. “I’ll donate it! He wanted to make me into his baby-machine, so I’ll donate it to Planned Parenthood.”
At least she’s taking this better than I thought she would. Damn, am I proud of her too. “Seems appropriate.”
“Or Dream Makers.” She bites on her thumbnail harder. “Or RAINN. They help sexual assault victims.”
“Why don’t we see how much there is before you stress about where to donate it.” I pull her thumb out of her mouth. “You could also use it to buy your mom a house like you’ve always wanted.”
She wrinkles her nose. “No, then the place would be tainted. I should use the money to do good in the world to offset all the negativity I’ve been harboring since he violated my life.”
The world doesn’t deserve this woman. I sure as hell don’t. “It was just a thought.”
Her expression softens. “You won’t be mad if I donate it?”
“No. Why would I be mad?”
She shrugs. “I should pay you—”
“Stop right there.” If she says any version of pay me back I’ll go straight-up ape shit. “It’s not my money. It’s yours. And you don’t owe me anything.”
My tone closes that topic. She nods. “Let’s not dwell on it until it actually comes through. Knowing that creep, it could be a whole lotta nothing.”
“Right.” The guy’s dead, but somehow when we least expect it, he still manages to creep into our life.
Chapter Twenty-One
Shelby
I’m as confused as a dang turtle on the center stripe. Suggs left everything he had in the world to me? A way to apologize for the harm he caused? Or one final attempt to control me?
Somehow I doubt it’s the first one.
Does the reason matter?
I want to close the book on that small chapter of my life and move on. Never think of him or those terrifying hours of my life again.
As if I’d ever touch his money.
“You all right, Shelby?” Jiggy reaches over the table and waves his hand in my face.
I sip my coffee and nod.
Rooster’s watching me carefully so I force a smile. No reason to make him feel bad. All he did was deliver the news. It’s not his fault Suggs is still mucking up my life from the grave.
“What do you guys have planned for this morning?” I ask. Lord knows, Jiggy’s chatter might chase this dark cloud away.
Sure enough, he grins and reaches over to pat Rooster’s stomach. “Think you’re up for checking out those trails with me? You could use some cardio.”
Rooster brushes Jiggy’s hand away. “Get off me. I’ll run circles around you and you know it.”
“Just trying to be helpful.” Jiggy shoots me a wink. “Can’t have your man gettin’ flabby on you Shelby, right?”
I peer over my coffee cup to hide the twitching at the corners of my mouth. “Don’t drag me into this.” I can’t help but slide my gaze Rooster’s way. “My man looks perfectly yummy to me.”
“Uh-oh. I know that look.” Jigsaw punches Rooster’s shoulder and slides off the bench. “Go find your sneakers. Let’s get a run in before you two disappear into the bedroom. You can join us, Shelby.”
“Hell no.” I set my mug on the table and cross my arms over my chest. “I ain’t running anywhere unless a bear’s chasing me.”
Jiggy scratches his head. “I don’t think you’re supposed to run if a bear chases you. You’re supposed to climb a tree.”
My lips curl up. “Only thing I’m interested in climbing is Rooster.”
“Good Christ,” Jiggy mutters.
Rooster curls his arm around me and whispers in my ear, “You all right?”
“I enjoy messin’ with Jiggy.” I run my gaze over Rooster again. “But you do look damn fine this mornin’.”
“Hold that thought until I get back?” He kisses my cheek.
“I’ll do yoga. Loosen my hips.” I wiggle around in my seat. “Maybe you’ll join me when you return?”