Jason grimaced, then looked back to Elizabeth, and the suggestion to her that they finish this later died on his lips when he saw the way her eyes had dropped to the ground, the way her shoulders had tensed. Bracing for the impact of what she knew was coming.
What always happened when he was standing with her, and someone else called. If he told her to go home, or even to wait in the penthouse for him to deal with Sonny, she might listen. She might even let him finish the conversation. And they might even be able to move on from it.
But there would always be this moment. If he sent her away now to deal with Sonny, even if it was just to get rid of him —
He would never be able to take it back.
“You have my number,” Elizabeth said, forcing the words out. “When you know—”
He caught her elbow again—reached out almost desperately to stop her. “Wait. Don’t go. Don’t go,” he repeated when she looked at him, her eyes tremulous, hopeful. “Don’t go,” he said a third time. “I can do this.” He reached out, and she carefully transferred Cameron into his arms, and Jason carefully adjusted him against his shoulder, stroking his son’s back. Cameron fussed, still not used to him —
“Jason, what’s going on?” Sonny demanded, striding towards them. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth, if something’s wrong, it’s going to have to wait. Unless it’s life or death. Jason and I have to talk—”
“No, we don’t.” Jason looked at Sonny, at his oldest friend. “I’m busy. Tonight. And tomorrow. And for the rest of the month. And after that. ”
Sonny furrowed his brow, shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “What?”
Jason turned so that Cameron was visible. “I want you to meet Cameron. My son.”
THE END
The original ending for this story was always going to be tragic because, well, that’s the song. But at the time I was writing it, we started to get those promos of Jason seeing that person in the airport, and I was like, you know what? No. Happy endings.
So the happy ending was written and posted. And it survives as a choose your adventure 😛
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