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STONE
This past week has been crazy between my breakdown with Gibson, the run-in with Charis’s ex, and the crazy night at the Texas Barbeque Palace. The tension after Charis jumped from our embrace had been off the charts.
Even Simon asked if I’ve sorted out what I wanted. I remind him I’ve always known what I want with these two, and that’s making them mine. Convincing them they want it, though, is a whole other story.
But with Friday upon me, and my picnic date with Charis, Meadow, and Jett, I receive a text from Gibson, which has me a little down in the dumps.
Teach:I’m not available for tomorrow. So, there’s that.
Oh, I won’t give up, not easily, but with my mind on Charis for the night, I’ll deal with the pouting teach tomorrow. My assumption is Bridget has told him we have a date tonight.
“Jett, buddy, you ready?” I’m packing the picnic basket with everything we need for the evening.
“Coming, Daddy.” He runs down the circular staircase, his little feet going so fast, I stand at the bottom just in case he takes a spill. I love how excited he is over a simple picnic. “Is Meadow going to be there?”
I grab his hand, exiting the front door to my Porsche in the driveway. “Yeah, is that okay?”
“Yeah, I like that she listens to me. I have to listen to others, but she does what I ask. But don’t worry. I won’t boss her around. I hate bossy people.”
I let out a laugh, and he buckles up. This little boy doesn’t know anything other than being bossy. Again, another example of my DNA in him.
“But, I promise, even if I am bossy, I won’t be mean.” This kid. I’ve learned so much about him in the past couple of weeks. It’s funny, I’m such a dominant man but when it had come to Jett’s grandpa I was a wimp. I’m truly getting to know my son on a different level.
We pull into the park near the private gazebos and the ducks by the lake. I park next to Charis’s 4x4, and she turns her head enough to wave. She’s on the phone and gives me an index finger to tell me to hold on.
We’re out with the picnic basket by the time she ends her call. Opening the door, she’s a vision in tight jeans, a pair of Dr. Martens, and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Why is that her everyday attire gets me hard, so fucking hard for her?
A ding has me pulling for my phone as my eyes stay plastered on her. Her long ringlets stop right at the top of her supple breasts. Hell.
I take three steps to bring her into my space. Placing a kiss on her cheek, I whisper into her ear, “You look good enough to eat.”
Meadow opens the door and runs up to Jett, giving him a hug. “Can we go play on the playset, Mommy?”
I loop my arm with hers and follow the kids to the playground, right next to the private gazebo. My text alert beeps again, and I take a little peek at it, only to place it back in my pocket. Interesting, I think to myself. It’s Gibson again, asking me if I’m purposely ignoring him. I’m not purposely ignoring him. I’m just not going to deal with his temper tantrum when I’m with Charis.
I settle down at the table in the gazebo that looks out to the lake, but next to the small playground where Meadow and Jett are playing hide-and-seek.
“He’s so good with her. So patient. He’s almost six?”
“He’ll be six in five months. And Meadow?”
She smiles at the mention of her daughter’s name. I pour her a glass of wine, placing it in her delicate fingers, and she looks behind her at both children running after each other.
“She turned three a month ago. She pretty much came out talking. Plus, she’s tall like her dad, so no one believes she’s just three.”
She doesn’t stop at the mention of Meadow’s father.
“She looks just like you.”
“Yeah, and Jett’s your little you.” It’s all superficial chitchat, but we have to start somewhere.
“He’s like me in so many ways. It’s almost scary. I’m just glad there’s a lot of Katherine in him, too.”
She takes a sip of the Cabernet, and I’m getting out the cheese and crackers. “I have dinner, too, but I wanted to do this up right.”
This lands me the most precious, appreciative smile from Charis.
“You’re a good man, Stone O’Leary. You and I understand loss, in a way some never could.”
