It took me a couple days to crush the little green beast inside of me that wanted the world to be flat for just a moment so I could push her off the side and into the unknown abyss. But when I allowed myself to take in his words and feel his love for me, it wasn’t hard to see that my big badass has a heart just as big as his pierced dick.
Both of which I love about him.
“What do you think of Virginia?” I ask her.
“Richmond?” she asks, and I nod. “There isn’t lots of people.”
I laugh. “Much quieter than New York City.”
She looks around in wonder. “Lots of green.”
“Do you like green?”
“Do you?” she asks.
“I think it’s beautiful.”
She nods. “Me, too.”
When Dad pulls up to the curb and the lift gate of the Denali is opened, Tags puts their bags inside.
Dad walks around the SUV, looks at Luna, and holds out his arms. “Come here for a second.”
She looks at me.
“Luna, this is my dad, Jase. He’s cool most of the time.”
“She knows that, don’t you, girl?”
Luna laughs as I hand her to him.
“How much do you weigh?”
Paula laughs. “I hope he doesn’t ask all his passengers that question.”
Dad holds out his hand and smiles. “Nice to meet you, Paula. I’m Jase.”
She looks at his hand then up at him. “You the man who popped my boy in the nose?”
“Paula …” Tags laughs.
“I got his back. As long as you’re chill, I’m chill.”
Dad smiles and nods. “Glad you do.” Then he winks at her. “We chill?”
“And … she’s a goner,” Kiki whispers then adds, “And to think I go to school with a bunch of nuns. His affect blocked by their love of Jesus.”
“Okay, I’m thinking you’re still too small for a booster seat, so we’re going with the best seat in our ride.” He opens the door. “Check that out, Luna. That’s yours.”
“What is it?”
“We always call our rides a she. This one’s badass. Comes with a five-point harness and cup holders. Two in case you have a drink and a snack.” He sets her in. “Safest one on the market, little moon. You know why?”
She laughs as she looks at it.
“Built of steel, safety guaranteed, and a ride you’ll never forget.”
“He never shuts it off, does he?” Kiki whispers.
“No.” I laugh. “Never.”
“How’s that feel?” he asks Luna.
“Good.”
“Tug at the straps to see if it’s a good fit.”
She tugs at them and nods.
“Okay, perfect. Should we take them with us?” He tosses his thumb over his shoulder at us.
She smiles and nods.
“You sure?”
She giggles. “Yes.”
“Positive?”
“Uh-huh.”
When he steps back, she’s beaming.
He looks at Kiki. “And where do you think you got it from?”
“Mom, definitely Mom.” Kiki laughs as she climbs in. “Hey, Luna, I’m Kiki.”
She looks her over and waves.
“This may be a little overwhelming—meeting all these new people—but that also makes it super cool. Lots of new friends and fun times to be had.”
“Do you have a dog?”
“No, my dad never loved me enough to get me one.” Kiki pouts.
“Who’s your dad?” Luna asks.
Dad laughs. “Not fair, Katherine. Not fair at all.”
I see the door crack open and light peeks through the door. “She’s asleep, Bella.”
“What if she wakes up?”
“You drew her a map of the place, your dad has a video monitor in here. I’m sure there’s an infrared alarm across the floor that will alert the state police the minute her toes touch the ground.”
“Not the police, but I’ll know,” I hear Dad say from the other room.
“And he has the handheld receiver.”
Dad laughs. “You have one, too.”
“Leave them alone, Jase.” Carly chuckles.
“But she’s so snuggly,” I whisper.
“That she is,” he replies.
I give her a kiss on the back of the head then roll off my back and scoot off the bed. When I get to the door, I look back.
“She’s whipped, sweets. Your crew has run her ragged, and I’m pretty sure she had the best day of her life.”
I look up at him. “And this makes you sad, why?”
“Not sad.” He gives me a quick peck. “Just eye-opening.”
“In a good way or bad?”
“In a good way, but five to eight months too soon, if you know what I mean.”
I follow him out to the living room.
“You should take her with you,” Kiki says before popping a grape in her mouth.
“Yeah right.” I laugh.
“Why not? Paula just said this is the first time she’s flown, and now that she’s done it, she wouldn’t mind visiting her family in Germany.” Kiki looks at her. “Cousins, right?”
“When the time is right,” Paula says as she lifts a cup of coffee to her lips.
“The time is this summer. I have no desire to be slave to Steel’s mail room. Take me with. I can hang out with Luna when you two are getting busy. I mean, when you two are busy.”
Paula and Carly laugh. Dad? Not so much.
“Mail room summers help save for cars.”
“So does Momma Joe,” Kiki counters.
“Hard work is the foundation for you to build a stronger future on, Katherine.”
“So is a trust fund, Dad.”
He leans in, face all hard and intense. “The foundation comes from inside. You could inherit a million dollars, and if you don’t understand how hard it was for those to make that possible for you, you’ll lose it, Katherine. Then your kids, and their kids, and those in generations to come will be left not knowing how hard it is to come by and will end up with shit. Money is a huge responsibility, no matter how little or how much you have. Basics, Kiki. Basics.”
“Well, I get loyalty, which to me would make me think of all those things for my kids, their kids, and generations to come. So you did good, Dad. Pat yourself on the back and let me do something for Paula, Bella, Tags, and Luna.”
“It’s cool, Kiki—Luna needs structure—but thanks for the offer.” Tags sits down and pats the spot beside him.
“I already miss my boy; couldn’t imagine not waking up to that little girl’s face every day.” Paula laughs.
Tags smiles. “And Paula can travel the world soon.”
“You gonna make that happen, Tags?” Dad asks.
“With everything in my power.”
Dad stands up. “You got a minute?”
“Oh, for the love of God, it’s nine at night, Jase; leave the poor guy alone,” Carly says, handing me a glass of wine.
Tags stands. “Sure.”
Twenty-Six