James Lake Jr Novels & Stories

ALEXANDER "What can I do for you, Mr. Rivera? " James sits on the couch before him like a king. James usually did this in front of Mom and Dad to joke at them, pretending he was the king. Mom and Dad would laugh every time. I missed those days when they were still with us. "Mr. Larson, You pulled all your shares from Rivera's Enterprise. You know it will have a huge impact on the company. " "I know, and that's what I want. "

By the time he makes it past the television, ready to turn into the hallway next to the kitchen, James pokes his head around. “Hey! Glad you’re here, the guys are killing me for your spinach wraps.” James, seemingly a little buzzed off beer and Pizza, chuckles and River raises an eyebrow. “Out of all the things I’ve made, they want the spinach wraps?” “They play football and they all seem to have this crazy idea that spinach makes them big and strong enough to floor the other team.” James shrugs and River sighs, still upset he hadn’t turned the corner fast enough to avoid bumping into James—or anyone.

“Anyway, I leave Monday.” My hand froze mid-sip. “What?” I asked, voice flat, the rim of my coffee cup hovering an inch from my lips. James blinked, fry halfway to his mouth. “I said I’m leaving. Monday. For Chicago.” I stared at him. For a second, the diner noise blurred into static. “Since when?” I asked slowly. He shrugged, reaching for the ketchup. “Got the offer a couple weeks ago. Figured it wouldn’t happen, but then the call came through. Internship with one of the sports media companies there. Kinda wild.”

he spat, but Liam's expression remained sober, unsettling my heart. “What are you saying? Because I did none of those things! I only came here to find…” “I don’t need your explanation. You will certainly give that once you get there,” James asserted, turning to face the car that had just stopped in front of the building. “That scar!” Liam exclaimed, his gaze fixed on James’s elbow. “James Smith Jr.,” he blurted out immediately, and James turned to face him, completely stunned at hearing his full name. I was equally shocked; his reaction confirmed that Liam had called the name correctly.