“Is Cleo my new auntie?! Daddy said—” She cuts me off just as Derek pries her from my arms, putting a hand over her mouth.
“I said that was a secret between us, Dels.” Derek nervously laughs as Deli tries to speak from under his hand as he sits them down on the loveseat across the living room.
Jace smiles at the action, his eyes resembling hearts as he watches the father and daughter interact. It’s like he’s in a daze standing in front of us, watching them.
“Sorry! I forgot why I came home for a second. I have news…” He pauses, looking each and every one of us in the eye for dramatic affect.
“Well get on with it.” Cleo sighs, sitting up on the couch, wiggling out my grip.
I frown at the loss of her warmth and tug her back into me. There’s no way I’m letting that slide again, whatever he has to say he’s going to have to say it while she’s cuddled up into me.
Cleo doesn’t acknowledge my clinginess for a second as she gives Jace her full attention.
He pauses for an extra second, a slow smirk pulling across his face.
“We got the video down!” Jace cheers.
Our eyes widen at the news, and Cleo’s mouth drops as she looks around the room. Derek gives her a subtle nod, smiling like the true dad that he is as she gasps.
“Wait, you’re serious?! Oh, my goodness… How?! I’ve been searching for ways to get it down for the longest.”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. Just know that you have thebestbest friend in the world. Now, where’s my hug?” he asks with a smug smirk, opening his arms for her.
Cleo seems like she’ll get up to hug him but looks up at me and settles back into her spot beside me.
“His cousin Caroline hacked the site and got the video taken down and removed from all search engines… Sienna’s been working with your aunt to get all the legal stuff situated. We’re still waiting on Caroline to send the IP address over so you can sue the blackmailer,” says Derek, clearly over Jace’s over the top persona.
Jace, on the other hand, is still standing with his arms out waiting for Cleo’s hug and the prick has the nerve to wink at me.
“Sit your stupid a-s-s down before I have to smack you for propositioning my girlfriend.” I deadpan.
Jace frowns, sitting down beside Cleo.
“How dare you let that peasant talk to me like that CJ, I was here first!” he exclaims, folding his arms over his chest.
Cleo pays the dork zero mind, turning her attention to Derek.
“You guys play Brighton on Friday, right?" She asks, clearly ignoring both Jace and me as the blonde sighs dramatically.
“Yep, it’s supposed to be a full house too.” Derek sighs, placing Delilah on the empty cushion next to him. He’s been more out of it than usual when itcomes to hockey. I think it’s because of his hips but he won’t ever admit that something’s wrong unless it’s a critical injury.
“Hey, B?” Cleo leans back into my chest; her sweet scent coats my senses as her curly hair rubs against my chin.
Since our time earlier last month, she’s been wearing it curly more often and I am not complaining one bit. I love her hair no matter the style.
“Kick their asses.” She sighs, twisting to snuggle into my arms.
Could a woman be any more perfect? The answer is no… No one tops Cleo Jones.
“Sure thing, baby. Just say the word, and I’ll burn their entire world down.”
fifty
Cleo
“Those boys better takeBrighton by the balls and crush them to smithereens then dance on their fucking graves! I didn’t wear this stupid jersey for nothing.”
Denver and I pause in our strides towards the concession stand, sharing an equally horrified and confused look before looking back at Georgia.
