”Things can be easy between us or they can be hard. Chris wants things to be easy, so I’d like things to be easy as well,” she says. I can hear the authority in her voice, which is laughable, because Chris is a grown man and she definitely doesn’t have any authority over me.
“Well, whether they’re easy for you or not isn’t my concern, Jenna. I’m here for Caylen. She’s my main priority,” I say bluntly, and her eyes widen. I don’t think she’s used to someone being as blunt with her as she is with everyone else.
“It’s funny that you say that because I have a sneaking suspicion that isn’t the only reason you’re here,” she says, sliding down from her perch on the railing.
“I think you want my fiancé,” she says bluntly, and I let out a laugh. The grown up thing is to tell Jenna that this conversation's over but I’m not feeling very mature today.
“You mean my husband,” I shoot back and her grin disappears.
“Look. I don’t know what your relationship with ‘Cal’ was like and I don’t really care. I’m going to be Chris’s wife very soon and I’d really appreciate it if you wouldn’t try to use your daughter as a pawn,” she says. My cheeks grow warm and I bite my lip. She has to be baiting me, wanting me to flip out and be the crazy woman like last time. Then she can show Chris that I’m an overemotional lunatic. I’m not going to do that, though.
“I’m not going anywhere, Lauren. Chris is too nice to say this to you, but we were in love before we knew you existed. It’s not fair, but I’m here to stay. The sooner you come to terms with that, the better it will be for everyone. Including Caylen.”
“Well, until you are his wife, I think the parenting conversations will stay between Chris and me. Thank you, though,” I say, wearing my practiced smile like a champ. At that moment, Mr. Scott walks up. He looks at each of us, the tension obviously thick.
“Ladies,” he says, giving me a nod. I can’t help but notice that Jenna gets an actual smile.
“Mr. Scott, will you send Chris out? Lauren, I think we’re done.” She says the last part dismissively.
“I’ll do that,” he says. I follow Mr. Scott into the house, glancing back at her before closing the door.
“Is everything okay?” He sort of grunts, glancing up at me momentarily as he sorts through his mail.
“Peachy,” I say tightly.
He smirks at me before heading off to relay Jenna’s message and leaves me standing in the living room. He’s such a prick. I quickly head to the bathroom, avoiding Mrs. Scott and Chris, who are in the kitchen, talking. I try to stop myself from pacing the small space but I’m trying to bring my anger down ten notches. I cannot believe that Chris could care about somebody like that. She’s such an arrogant bitch! And she had the audacity to speak to me like that after not having said a word to me when I walked in the room. And then she gloats about being Chris’s fiancée before we’re even divorced. To think that I have to deal with a woman like that for the rest of my life makes me want to scream. Even if Chris doesn’t want to be with me, he could find someone with a better attitude than hers. I sit on the edge of the tub and adjust my ponytail. I chuckle to myself. Who the hell am I to tell Chris he can’t have feelings for a bitch? Cal could be a complete asshole most of the time.
I guess Chris and I have more in common than I thought.
Chapter 37
Chris
When I walk out on the porch to meet Jenna, she immediately pulls me towards her and kisses me on the lips. It’s strange because she’s been understandably standoffish since Lauren arrived on my doorstep. I didn’t get a chance to see Lauren on my way out. I’m guessing the conversation went well for Jenna since she is in such a good mood.
“So what was that about?” I ask, holding her waist as she smiles up at me.
“The kiss?” she purrs.
“Your private talk with Lauren.” I chuckle.
“I just thought we needed to clear up some things. Have a better understanding of one another,” she says sweetly, and I can feel my eyebrow arch. I know Jenna and from the way she acted towards Lauren inside, I can only imagine what happened outside, especially with her being in such a good mood.
“What’d you say?” I ask her hesitantly.
“Nothing much. Just making sure she’s aware of the context of our relationship and where she fits.” She shrugs innocently.
Oh no.
“Jenna,” I say, letting her go and she frowns. “What did you say?” I ask her again, and she rolls her eyes.
“What’s more important is what she said,” she retorts, and I cover my face and sigh.
“I just want you guys to get along,” I say in frustration because I know whatever was said hasn’t made them any closer.
“Look, we’re both adults. We’re never going to be friends. What’s important is that she should know her place,” she says.
“Let me guess. You put her in her place?” I groan.
“I had to. You don’t like to do the hard stuff, Chris, which is fine. We balance each other out. That’s what makes us work,” she says innocently.
“Jenna, I told you I’d handle this!” I say angrily.
“There is still a lot more for you to handle, Chris, but we both know how you are, and I wanted it known as soon as possible where this is going to end,” she says stubbornly.
“That’s the thing, this doesn’t end! She’s in our lives permanently. It’d be a lot easier to deal with her amicably than have her upset and pissed off. Things don’t have to be like that,” I say.
“I can’t believe you’re mad at me for doing what you should have from the beginning!” she scoffs. “You need to get the notion that we are all going to be best friends and have dinners and outings together, out of your head. That’s never going to happen. Do you remember how we met and why she’s here?” she spits at me.
“I’m not asking you to be her friend. What I am asking you to do is to be cordial and polite, to not treat her like, like…” I stumble to find the right word.
“Like she’s the bane of my existence.” She chuckles.
“Yeah, that’d be nice,” I say sarcastically.
“But she is,” she says bluntly, and I sigh.
“She’s only going to be here for three weeks tops, Jenna. I really hope that you can start to try to not see her that way. When we’re married, there are most likely going to be times when you will have to speak with her or be around her while I’m not there…”
“You mean in town?” she asks, interrupting me.
“What?” I ask.
“You said she’ll only be here three weeks tops. You mean in town?” she asks suspiciously, and I look away from her knowing that this is about to take the conversation in the opposite direction than I wanted it to go in.
“She’s staying here?” Jenna spits my words back at me. I shouldn’t have said anything but I didn’t know if Lauren had mentioned it. I’m trying not to add liar along with mentally unstable fiancé to my résumé, but reactions like this, even if understandable, make me want to lie.