Page 71 of Tank’s Weakness

“Finally. I have been waiting for hours, Tanky. What took you so long? It was my replacement, wasn’t it? Did you make him wait?” Jagger glares at me.

It’s not a menacing glare, though. It looks more like someone is playing with his toy and he’s about to throw a tantrum.

“Jagger, watch it,” Tank growls at him.

I have to admit, I like obedient Tank on his knees for me, but this Tank? The one who is protective and willing to go toe-to-toe with his best friend for me? He’s hot.

Maybe we can explore that in the bedroom. A role-play sort of thing. I can still be in control but make him dominate me.

Top him from the bottom.

Pulling myself back to the present, I stare Jagger down. “I know you have some big feelings right now, and that’s okay. You are allowed to feel them, but do you feel it’s fair to be taking those big feelings to try and hurt another person with them?”

He pouts. “I didn’t. That’s not what I was doing.”

“It’s okay. It’s human nature to lash out when you feel big things, but there are better, more positive ways to handle it. Like by telling Tank, ‘I am hurt that you weren’t here when I thought you were going to be.’ Then you give Tank an opportunity to respond.”

“I didn’t say that. I’m not hurt. That’s not what I said.” Jagger actually looks confused.

I try to hide my smirk. “What is it that you are feeling then? We can talk it out and get to the bottom of it.”

I see the way his face relaxes. “You take up all his time now. I guess I’m threatened by you.”

I nod. “I apologize for stealing so much of his time. I’ll be more considerate of his other obligations from now on. Would that make you feel better?”

He nods. “It would, actually. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Dude, she just mind-fucked Jagger,” I hear a woman whisper from behind Jagger.

I look around him to see two couples sitting on the couch.

“Sorry, that was majestic, though. Can you teach me your ways?”

Tank pulls me under his arm, kissing the side of my head.

“Everyone, this is Delaney, my girl. Delaney, that’s Sloane, Gunner, Smoke, you’ve met Kelly, and the big guy leaning against the wall is Bear. You know Jagger.”

I throw Kelly a quick smile, happy to see another familiar face before turning back to Jagger.

“I do. We are besties now, aren’t we?” I ask him.

Jagger’s smile grows. “Hell yeah, we are. Come on, bestie.”

He tries to pull me away from Tank, but Tank smacks his hand. That starts them play-fighting, so I go and take a seat next to Sloane on the couch.

“Seriously, how did you do that? Does it work with two-year-olds?” Kelly asks.

“You have to work with them to acknowledge why they are feeling how they do before you can come up with a resolution. With Jagger, he felt like he lost his best friend, so he was acting angry, but really he was hurt, even if he won’t admit it. So I identified it and offered a solution. We don’t have to be enemies. Instead, we can be friends and both be in Tank’s life.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.

“Jane is going to love you. She will be here shortly. Bertha came in tonight to see the kids and is going to babysit while they come,” Sloane tells me.

“I met Jane. She seems sweet,” I tell her.

“Bertha is here?” Jagger says, stopping his fight with Tank.

“Yeah, so don’t bother her. She will stick a lead pipe up your ass then smoke you,” Gunner growls at him.