But Daddy I Love Him ✸ JJ Maybank

Chapter Twenty Six

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

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Last night was a blur.

Currently, the Pogues were sitting in front of the burned home. Natalie sat between JJ and Kiara. There was nothing left of the Chateau. It was all gone.

Natalie looked over at John B, her heart breaking for him. He grew up there and he watched it burn down.

"Could've been a faulty electrical wire."

"Place was all wood. A tinderbox."

"Thing just went up. Boom."

"Verdict's in, bro. Whoever's up there does not like you."

Natalie slowly looked at JJ, giving him a look. "Seriously?"

They relocated at the dock. Natalie sat on the railing, Kiara beside her.

"Sarah, when did you say the pilot was getting in?" John B asked Sarah.

"Probably like an hour?" Sarah replied, shrugging. "I mean, once he's here, my dad says we can leave whenever we want."

"Well, as much as I would love to ghost my parents again, I can't." Pope said.

"Pope, we're talking El Dorado here." JJ reminded him. "Can you just slip out the back maybe?"

"Great advice." Kiara sarcastically said.

"It always worked for me. How to avoid unpleasant circumstances 101. If there's a problem, you don't wanna face it, turn that face and keister around and walk the other way."

Pope huffed, shaking his head. "I'm not doing that, okay?"

JJ sighed. "I just want you to be there, dog."

Pope placed a hand on JJ's shoulder. "I'm gonna be there. I'll meet you at the airstrip in an hour?"

John B nodded. "Yeah, we'll see you later."

"One hour, Pope. Not a second later."

Pope walked away and Cleo was quick to get up and follow him.

Natalie sighed, sliding off the railing. "I guess I'll go pack and break the news to my parents."

"You want me to come?" JJ asked, wanting to make sure she was going to be okay.

She shot him a look. "You know that isn't a good idea."

JJ pursed his lips, nodding his head slowly because she was right. Her parents, especially her dad, wouldn't be so thrilled to see him.

"I'll see you guys in an hour." Natalie said, walking away.

When Natalie returned home, she stood outside for five minutes, trying to think of what to say to her parents. She paced back and forth, muttering quietly to herself. Her neighbors probably thought she was psycho, but she didn't care.

Natalie froze when she saw a truck pull up outside the house. A man stepped out.

"Hey, Natalie." He greeted, receiving a weird look from her.