“Hey, Lily. How’s it going, kid?”
She never turns away from the TV where some sparkly dragon drags his ass across a stage and sings about being happy.
I run my hand over her silky locks and smile when she finally looks up at me. Rider always talks softly to his kid, so I try to imitate his voice. “Hey, baby. How are you?”
Christ almighty, now I have to pretend to be a nice guy. But it’s not like I want to be an asshole to my daughter.
“Num-nums.” She holds out a gooey palm of cereal. “Eat beefass.”
Beefass?
“She means breakfast,” Janelle says as she plops down on the bed. “She really means lunch because she ate breakfast at the crack of dawn and then a snack and then a second snack.”
It’s barely eleven in the morning. I guess it’s a good thing I’m an early riser.
I glance around the small room. Aside from a pile of dirty laundry in the corner and a mini-fridge, Janelle didn’t bring much.
“What do you guys need? Besides a highchair?” I stand and pull out the notes app on my phone and type that on my list. “I can make a run to Target or Walmart or whatever and get her some basics.” Remembering all the crap Rider had to buy for Poppy gives me pause. “Course, I’m not sure where it’s all gonna fit.”
Janelle sits up and fidgets. Bites her lip. Fidgets some more. “Can’t we stay with you? You said you were going to think about it.”
“Do you really wanna stay with me and my girlfriend?” I blurt, a little shocked with myself.
I’m not sure where those words come from, but now that they’re out there, I’m glad to have some kind of barrier between me and Janelle. I don’t want her thinking we’re ever gonna be an item again.
Her eyes narrow. “You have a girlfriend? Since when?”
“Keeping tabs on me?”
She flushes. “I mean, yeah. Maybe. I just... your cousin didn’t think you were dating anyone.”
“My family doesn’t know shit about my life here in Charming.”
Her brow furrows. “So... is it serious? So serious you came here for a booty call on Friday night?”
Busted.
But it’s not like I’ll ever confess anything to her.
“I came here because you begged me to talk, remember? But yes, I was planning to move in with Sienna for the remainder of the summer and our senior year.” Sienna needs a roommate, so this isn’t farfetched.
Maybe Olly was onto something with our neighbor pretending to be my girlfriend. How much would that really require anyway? Maybe nothing if I can convince Janelle she doesn’t want to stay with me in the first place.
She runs her finger along the bedspread and laughs. “Just... I’d be really grateful if we could move in.” Her voice drops to a sultry purr. “You and I already have a baby, but we could always be friends with benefits, Ben. No one would have to know.”
Her nipples are hard and poking through the flimsy sports bra. They barely contain her big tits. She tilts her head, and her long hair spills over her shoulder as she smiles.
You know that saying? Making a deal with the Devil? That’s what I feel like she’s offering right now. Not that she’s inherently evil or anything. Just that getting in bed with this woman, literally or figuratively, would only lead to bad things.
The next time my aunt asks me why I’m not dating a nice girl, in my head, I can point to this moment. Janelle was the last person I let myself have feelings for, and look what that got me.
I promise myself I’ll never date another liar. Hell, I might never seriously date again. Because right now, I can’t envision ever trusting anyone the way I stupidly trusted the woman sitting across from me.
I cross my arms. I’m not the hayseed Janelle dated in high school. Not to sound like a douchebag, but I can think of a dozen girls who’d be down to fuck tonight, no strings attached. I can’t take the credit for that—it’s a perk of being on a championship football team.
So I don’t need to dabble with an ex. That I even considered it makes me want to punch myself in the face.
I decide right here and now that I’m not moving just because this kid could be mine. I’m done being manipulated by Janelle. When we get the paternity results back, then I’ll decide what to do. I’ll get stuff for the kid because our families go way back, and Janelle obviously needs help, but anything beyond that can wait.
“Have you even heard from Ernest? You said you were worried about him tracking you down, but it’s not like he’d have a reason to come to Charming.”
Her smile drops as fear tightens her eyes. “He’s, uh, he’s always been controlling. I’m not joking when I say I’m afraid of what he might do.”
What does it say that she’d rather be with a controlling dick than you?
That remoteness I’m always fighting sweeps over me.
“If you want to stay in a nicer place that has better security, let me know. I’ll pay for it. Once we get the paternity results, we’ll work out custody. That’s what I can offer.”
That’s all I can offer.
10
SIENNA
A loud banging wakes me up.
And it won’t stop.
I crawl out of bed and drag myself to the front door, where I find Ben with a fierce scowl on his face.
“You’re supposed to text me back every day to let me know you didn’t die of a brain aneurism.”
It takes a second to process what he’s saying. Since I spent most of the weekend convalescing on his couch, this is the first day I’ve been on my own, and I already blew it. But before I can open my mouth to apologize, he hands me a bag of food, stalks into my house, and heads for the kitchen where he sets down a tray of drinks.
“I mean, yeah, come in.” I probably shouldn’t be joking, as he does not look like he’s in the mood.
He pauses while he reaches for a plate. “Sorry. Shit.” When he turns to face me, that anger in his eyes is replaced with embarrassment... and concern? “Hi, Sienna. I brought an early dinner. Can I come in so we can talk?”
My lips twitch as I try not to smile. I open the giant bag and take a whiff. “Did you really bring me a po’ boy sandwich from the Yellow Rose? Those are my favorite.”
The furrow in his brow smooths. “I might have had a clue. Rider was always grabbing these for Gabby, so I took a gamble and figured you might like them too.”
“She and I always shared because one is too big for either of us.”
I smile. He grins in response before his eyes take a slow travel down my body and quickly dart up again. He coughs and turns around to finish grabbing plates.
Glancing down, I realize I’m only wearing a t-shirt and undies, but the t-shirt goes past my thighs.
“Don’t be shy. You’ve seen more at those pool parties you guys host,” I tease.
“Yeah, but you’re Gabby’s best friend, and I don’t wanna make things weird.”
“With Gabby or me?”
“Either.”
I’m mildly disappointed he doesn’t want to check me out, but I understand. I hold up a finger as I head back to my bedroom and toss on some baggy shorts.