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“Sure thing, just let me know what you want.”
I nod, then walk away to go check on Monica and grab my phone from my room.
While I know that this new arrangement is a blessing for my daughter, I’m not sure how I’ll handle being around a now-single Jimmy all the time.
Chapter Sixty-eight
JIMMY
Most of the stuff I order arrives late the following day—thank you Amazon priority shipping. The first thing I do is plug my phone in to charge it. Lilah and Monica are swimming in the indoor pool before dinner, so I decide to wait to see if Monica wants to help me open the rest of the boxes.
I didn't want to watch their swimming lesson today. Not because I’m not interested in watching my daughter but because I’m too interested in watching her mother. My head is a mess, but I can still read my own attraction. When she appeared by the pool yesterday, the way the small scraps of fabric hugged her curves in all the right places didn’t escape my notice and it should have. My life is complicated enough without adding anything like that to the mix.
Once my phone is charged enough, I power it on. It beeps and buzzes what seems like a million times, alerting me to a bunch of missed calls and texts about my surprise daughter. The majority of them are from Tripp and Keane. Ironically, the DNA test came back, confirming what I already knew. Monica is my daughter.
I dial Keane first to fill him in. He thinks I’m playing a joke at first, but once he realizes I’m not fucking around, he assures me that he’ll fill in everyone else on the team and advises me to stay put. He’ll coordinate with Adelaide’s team to figure out a joint statement to release. Amazing how we don’t even have to answer questions regarding our breakup. Our people will handle it for us like it was a business venture instead of an engagement.
Once we’re done, I call Tripp.
He picks up on the first ring. “Where the fuck have you been? I’ve been ringing you non-stop.”
“Sorry, man. Shit’s been crazy.”
“I gather that. You and your 'love child'"—his voice is laced with sarcasm on those last two words—“are all anyone is talking about.”
“Yeah well, there will be a lot more for them to talk about soon.”
“What do you mean?”
I fill him in on everything that went down with Adelaide, the state of or wedding, and where I presently am.
“Didn’t see that coming.”
“You and me both.”
“Fuck, man, that bites. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. So now I have no idea what I’m gonna do, but for the time being, I’m going to stay here with them and spend time with my daughter. She’s the only bright spot in my life right now.”
“Make sure you call me if you need anything.”
“Will do, thanks.”
“Oh, and James… you’re probably going to be pissed at me for saying this, but I’m going to anyway. Be careful. I know how you are around Lilah and I get that you’re hurting right now, but she’s not your rebound girl.”
“I appreciate your words, but the warning isn’t necessary.”
“If you say so.” He hangs up. The man knows me way too well.
I slink back into a chair, steeple my hands, and think. My feelings about Adelaide’s betrayal are so different from the what I felt after Lilah’s. I don’t feel a heavy loss when I think of Adelaide, only anger and betrayal. I’d like to think it’s because Adelaide and I weren’t meant to be. That doesn’t mean that Lilah and I are though. We missed our chance at forever.
* * *
A few daysgo by and I’m growing restless in this house. As nice as it is and with as many amenities as it has, a guy can only watch so many episodes ofSuper Monsterswithout his eyeballs bleeding.
It’s a nice day out, so I join Lilah and Monica on the covered patio.
Awkward doesn’t come close to describing how Lilah and I are around one another now. She’s giving me a wide berth, which I appreciate, but at some point we have to bridge the gap and figure out a new normal.
