Chapter 7: Doppelbanger: Chapter 7

“THANK YOU.” I smile as I grab the mimosa from the procured hand of the technician who’s filling my pedicure tub, beginning my attempt to drink away the looming hangover from last night’s binge. As I set my glass into the cup holder, I somehow manage to lock eyes with the CEO, who just happens to be giving me a disapproving look.

Who does this man think he is? The fun police?

Focusing on my phone so I don’t have to look at his stupid judgmental face, I scroll through Facebook and play a few games of Candy Crush. When what I deem to be a safe amount of time has passed, I steal another look.

Without thought, I lift my phone, snapping a picture of the tender moment between Jeffrey and his girls. Then, I stare at it, my insides twisting up into knots. His feet are resting on the ledge, where the technician is applying a second coat of Pepto pink polish to his toes. He’s laughing at something one of the girls must have just said.

For a moment I forget what a jerk he is. With them, he’s an absolute prince. I have no clue what happened to their mother, but I’m curious. My heart aches for their loss. There’s something about seeing this man with these little girls that has my insides turning to mush.

I attach the picture with a message to my best friend.

I fucked him in a moon chair on the Serenity deck last night. Do you still love me, even though I’m a bit of a ho?

Where were my kids?

In the kid camps.

Then of course. Everyone should go through a ho phase. It builds character.

See. This is why I love you.

After my pedicure, I retrieve the boys and take them to the buffet line for lunch. We grab a table near the windows, so we can look out at the ocean while we eat. We’ve barely touched our food when Jeffrey and his girls slide into the booth directly across from ours. I try to ignore the way my heart starts racing at his nearness. At the way my blood heats, remembering his thick cock slamming into me last night.

“Why don’t you and Willow sit with Ms. Gina and Kyle, and the twins and I can sit at this one?” Evangeline suggests to her father, drawing me from my thoughts. My cheeks heat with shame, as if any of them has any clue what I was just daydreaming about.

“Just sit down and eat your lunch. We’re not asking anyone to move.” Jeff looks annoyed with life, but I’m sure it’s just having to be around us—me in particular. He talks a good game, but I can already tell those girls could get him to do just about anything they wanted. The way he adores them makes him impossible for me to hate.

“We don’t mind switching spots with you,” Landon insists, shoving Lake out of the booth. It’s so cute how eager he is to be with his girl. Spencer is going to flip when I tell her about this.

The fourteen-year-old ginger groans at Jeffrey. “You told me to try not to be miserable on this vacation, Dad. This is me…

.” Her eyes plead with her father’s. “Can’t you try too, ?”

Begrudgingly, he agrees. “If it’s okay with Tink—er, I mean Gina.”

He looks to me for permission, and our eyes lock. That damn vaginal heartbeat is back.

“Of course we don’t mind. Do we, Savage?”

“Actually—,” he starts, his eyes homing in on the bubbly blonde who’s already climbing into the bench seat across from him. “I don’t really feel like company right now.” His eyes grow wide, begging me to get rid of his unwanted stalker.

“Stop it, Kyle. Be nice.” I don’t tell him no often, but I will not allow him to hurt that precious little girl’s feelings.

“What tolor did you get, Gigi?” the three-year-old asks, referring to my nails.

I hold my hand out in her direction. “Aqua, like the waves. What color did you decide on?”

Willow holds her hand in front of her face, wiggling her fingers. “Me and my daddy both dot pink ones!”

Jeff’s head hangs, and Kyle’s eyes bug out. “What kind of man are you?”

“The kind who’ll do anything to make his little princess smile.”

Kyle bursts out laughing. “Sucker!”

“Tyle,” Willow drawls. “You didn’t even tompliment my new hairdo.” She must have gotten her hair blown out after her pedicure.

“Oh, brudder.” I try to contain my laughter as Savage’s eyes roll dramatically. “I not your husband, Willow. That is my job.”

“It’s neber too soon to start praticing, Tyle.”

“You two sure sound like an old married couple,” I tease, addressing the two little ones, who are presently glaring at each other across the table.

“Good.” Willow’s smile splits her face. Gosh, her dimples are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

“Where are you guys headed after lunch?” I ask. Jeffrey is staring down into his plate like it’s the most interesting thing he’s ever seen. It’s just fried chicken and potatoes. It ain’t all that special.

“Why?” he asks, looking up at me with a frown after checking to be sure the kids aren’t paying us any mind. “You planning on ruining the rest of my day as well?”

“You’re the one who turned up at the nail salon, and you came over to join us for lunch…I figured maybe you wanted to let the kids hang out.” I cross my arms on my chest and harrumph. “You don’t have to be an ass to me, Jeffrey,” I hiss. “I already told you, I don’t catch feelings. If this is how you treat other women to keep them from falling for you, feel free to tone it down. There is absolutely zero danger of that happening.”

“I was getting my nails done first.” He looks and sounds so ridiculous, defending his trip to the salon, that I can’t help but laugh.

“The point is…I didn’t go there looking for you.” I glance down to his flip-flop clad foot, sticking out into the aisle. “I don’t even know why I suggested the black. Pink is definitely your color.”

“If you’re trying to get a rise out of me, Tink, it isn’t going to work.”

“I’m fairly certain you and I both know that I would have no problem getting a rise out of you that’s what I wanted.”