Bad Daddy

The whole gang is situated around my dining table, the one the girls picked out at Ikea, enjoying the food they all brought over. I'm here in body but not in mind. My mind is on the moment Jade and I had on my patio steps. I wanted to kiss her so badly and if I wasn't reading into it too much, so did she. But, I mean, that's not something you can just ask right? "Uh hey...so did you want to kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss you?" It seems so juvenile. I'm twenty-six not sixteen. I have never been so unsure of myself, and yet so conflicted. I'm not even divorced yet, that shouldn't matter honestly, but is it too soon? I wasn't kidding when I told her my family adopted her, I'm pretty sure they just did but what if this is just in my head? Or worse, we date and she ends up cheating on me too?

Melissa may have destroyed me for any other woman. Am I damaged goods? Would I even want to marry again? Bleh, why am I even thinking about marriage, I'm technically still married. Fuck. I think I need a therapy session.

There's pat on my arm, "Dude..."

I glance at Vance who's looking at me weird. "What?"

"I've been calling your name..you alright?"

I look around and everyone's staring at me. Well shit. "Yeah I'm good." I shove some mein lo into my mouth and avoid their eyes.

"What did I just say?" Vance retorts.

"Leave him be." V chimes in.

"Whatever. Jade, you wanna go?"

This piques my interest. Go where? With who? Surely, not Vance. I'll knock his stupid face in.

"Yeah, I'd love to go. I've never been down to the strip."

"Whoo!" Vance cheers, then pats my back.

"You in too? It's been a hot minute since you've been there!"

I sag in relief at the mention of the strip. It has been a really long time since I've been there, I miss it. "Yeah, man. I'm in."

"You have to race one, Jade you gotta see bro race. He was a legend." Vance brags.

"I was not and my car isn't equipped for that."

"You kinda were." V adds in with a small shrug.

"Sounds fun!" Jade cuts in, "I'm excited!"

"You're going to love it!" Vance says to Jade then tells me, "Meet at our place at seven."

"So do you race?" I hear Jade ask V.

V smiles wide, "Oh yeah."

"Really!? What's it like?"

"It's intense and heart pounding." she pauses, "It's almost as good as sex." She lowered her voice but it was still heard. The groans and gagging sound around the table.

"C'mon V!" Vance throws something at her and manages to smack her right in the face. Jade loses her shit, "Oh... my... gosh." she manages through wheezing breaths, "I am so sorry V." Her laughter blends in with the rest of the table. Everyone is roaring with laughter, myself included.

"It's not that funny." V grumbles while wiping her forehead. Chase is trying to contain his laughter. She glares at him. "Did I get it all off?"

"Almost." He licks her forehead and has us all groaning again. He winks at her, "Now it's gone."

"Hey Vance, you may wanna go elsewhere tonight." V throws out.

"Fuck V, I just ate."

I won't lie, V being so open about her sex life is something I haven't gotten use to but she's no longer a kid and they've been together for two years. I know she's no saint. Doesn't make it any easier to hear.

It's no surprise when V and Chase are the first to leave. Vaughn, Vin, and Vance hang out for another hour. They each embrace her in bear hugs, your typical brotherly loving hugs. I'll have to thank them for what they did tonight, I know it won't entirely erase the shit day she had but it helped cheer her up. I saw it in her demeanor all night.

She sighs loudly after closing the door behind my brothers, "I love your family."

"They're alright."

We both begin cleaning up the mess my family she loves so much left behind. "You're really lucky to have them."

I know she's referring to her own lack of family and that hurts my heart a little, "Well, like I said, I'm pretty sure they adopted you. I also think they like you a lot more anyways."

She laughs, "Yeah well, I have boobs."

My head tosses back and a loud boisterous laugh erupts from my mouth. She does indeed have boobs.

"Why is that so funny?"

I shake my head, "No reason."

Jade's luscious lips purse together and I gotta look away.

"When do you need to get your rental? Do you need a ride?" We never got to really discuss the details of what she needs.

"Oh yeah. Can you give me a ride to school in the morning? Zara's gonna take me for my rental at eleven."

I refrain from offering myself to take her to pick it up, don't want to seem too needy right? "Yeah sure, I usually leave here around seven thirty but will have to leave around seven fifteen. That work okay?"

"Yep! Perfect. Thank you so much."

I shake my head, "It's the least I can do for you."

She starts to say something when a deep meow speaks from between us. Marlins graced us with his presence. He's been in hiding since everyone came over, not too keen on strangers.

"Well hey my handsome man." Jade bends over and scoops him up.

"Oh crap. He didn't eat, with everyone here, I totally forgot."

Jade tsk's, "Bad daddy."

My movements pause for a second at her words, my head going somewhere it has no business going. I laugh at myself and shake it off, grabbing Marlin a can of soft food and opening it into his dish. He's next to me instantly, chowing down like he hasn't eaten all day. I mean I guess that's accurate. "Sorry guy." I whisper and pet his back.

Jade places all the containers away in the fridge as I throw away the now empty can. She twirls around and yawns, "It's been a long day, I'm gonna get a shower and head to bed."

"Yeah. It's been a crazy day. I hope you sleep well."

Jade smiles and moves forward until her arms are wrapped around me. My arms instantly move around her shoulders, pulling her into me. She pulls back way too soon, and I reluctantly loosen my hold. She smiles and moves up on her toes, bringing her lips closer to my face. I stiffen, frozen. Holy crap. Is she going to kiss me? She's going to kiss me. I don't move as her lips near but move to the side of my face, planting a small peck on my cheek. "Thank you."

She moves away quickly and disappears to the left side of my home. I don't release a breath until I hear the sound of a door close. This may be a really bad idea but I wouldn't want her anywhere else.

Oh my goodness, you guys..this chapter literally poured out of me. I love when that happens WHOO! It made me laugh and smile so much. It's not long but I absolutely love it. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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