Awkward situations was something that Jack knew well and he was trying his hardest in the moment to avoid awkward territory. He didn’t want Ivy to feel like she couldn’t show up in the store because he was around, he already was dealing with the realization that was probably what Peter was doing. If he knew that him finding his kids would have caused drama he would have prepared for all possible situations better. Thing’s were never going to be perfect, but he wanted to try to get as close to it as possible and that good nature went towards people connected to his kids, even if they had broken up, which was new information to Jack as well.
“Oh…Oh shit, I’m sorry Ivy” Jack replied feeling that awkward creep in slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t know. I haven’t seen Peter a lot lately, other than me hoping to run into him here. It’s mostly been me catching up on things with Damien. “ Jack rambled before he registered the rest of what she had said. He didn’t know what to say to Ivy. Yeah, it hurt his feelings that it seemed like Peter disliked him, but he understood where the guy was coming from. He understood how essentially getting to know a stranger could flip over his entire life. He was just hoping giving him space would be enough. “I’m not sure what to say, but thank you for being so nice about me Ivy. “ Jack nodded, genuinely appreciative of her. He couldn’t address the being nicer thing, just because he was still thinking about all of that himself. He was however connecting some dots when it came to Ivy and her own home life. The way she talked about parents made him believe hers weren’t in the picture in some way. “I do understand not realizing how important someone is until it’s gone and I’m sorry that it happens to anyone at all.” Jack explained. He didn’t really have any blood relatives aside from Damien and Peter. His family was Forest and Milo, so he knew how much it mattered to have what you could. “Honestly I’m the one lucky to get to know them again, even if the road hasn’t been easy” He shrugged. It was better to have anything than nothing.
Jack let out a breath like he had no idea what he was doing, when it came to the living situation. He genuinely was very confused on what to do about the whole thing. “ I wanted to get a house. I think I’m too old to sleep on couches now, but I don’t know how to approach it. I don’t want to put anyone in a position where they have to make drastic decisions, but I think more space would be nice, even if it’s just being able to sleep in a bed again” He chuckled trying to stay away from the awkward parts of the conversation now. It was getting distracting for him now.
“Damien texts me sometimes. Apparently he’s been sleeping at friends’ houses... Faolan’s I think.” She shrugged as if she couldn’t care less but she did care. He was right upstairs from her work and never caught a glimpse of him. Damn he was evasive. She smirked at Jack’s words. It wasn’t really that she liked Jack that much--she didn’t dislike him! But it was more the concept of a dad than Jack himself. The idea of a father figure being in Peter’s life was better than none, and yeah Jack was pretty chill and rad and cool. “You’re a cool guy, Jack,” she let out. “Yeah, you know that more than anyone, huh?” she asked rhetorically. Jack had lost his entire family, but somehow been allotted a second chance. “I believe you, Jack. But Peter... God. He’s such a sweet guy. I don’t know why he’s... stubborn.” She sounded defeated, like she was fighting a losing battle uphill.
“A house would be nice! I know Peter... the houses that he did live in... they weren’t ideal. Maybe I shouldn’t tell you this, but yeah, he had some shitty homes. Not homes. Places he lived. But if you could make him a home...” If I could, she thought, and remembered hazily being drugged after her wisdom teeth extraction and asking Peter to marry her... fuck it, she was so pissed at him and herself, she wiped the back of her hand across her face in case any tears threatened to fall, to catch them before it was visible. “Just tell the boys... well, one, sleep in Peter’s bed while he’s gone. Please. For the sake of your back,” she finally lit up a little, or rather lightened the mood. Talking about how old Jack was, when he looked like that... wow. As if he ever got back pains. She probably got more than him! “Just tell them you need a bed. You want Hopscotch to get a yard. If you can afford it, go for it!”