Jackson
IT TOOK SOME fancy southern talking but I somehow cornered Sasha, without Brad being around, and got her to agree to have dinner with her mother and me.
After a strong defensive practice—my guys know what I expect of them and after almost two years of working with me, they should—no one got hurt and only walked off the field with the usual aches and pains. After practice, I had a strong workout, because yes, I’m vain and don’t want to let myself go. Looking like Rob Ryan is not an option for me. A quick shower, change into my spare khakis and blue shirt I keep in my office just in case, because again, my vanity surges forward, blue looks good on me and makes my eyes pop—or so I have been told—I head out of my office to grab Claire and walk directly into two solid walls.
“Where you heading to, Jack?” Comes from Derrick.
“You’re smiling more than normal today, which is not like you. Especially after what we walked in on this morning,” says Ben.
Bastards! Don’t they have wives to go home to? “Just heading out. I’m having dinner with two beautiful women tonight. And this morning doesn’t matter. It was nothing”
“Nothing huh? Right…But okay. And the two women…Anyone we know?” Derrick says, and it is not meant in the nicest way.
“Fuck off. Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m having dinner with Claire and Sasha.” I say, puffing my chest out like a proud papa.
Pushing Derrick out of the way, Ben shoves forward and gets in my face. “They have been through enough. Don’t fuck with them, man. She is the reason we have the women that we have and she deserves the best.”
Losing my composure, which is rare when it comes to my two friends, I say, “What the fuck does that mean? You don’t think I know that she deserves the best? I have watched her struggle for over twenty years. I have loved that woman for years. So back the fuck off, Ben. If Claire doesn’t want me, I’ll let it go. I’ll hate it, but I’ll back off.”
With that one statement both Derrick and Ben’s eyes light up. “I knew it, man. Zoey is going to piss herself. She kept saying something was there. Has convinced herself that you are Sasha’s father.”
At the same time, Ben says, “Jesus, Suz was right. I’ll never live it down. You knew each other! Suzie has done her research and keeps hitting walls when it comes to you, electronically speaking. There isn’t anything Suzie can’t do with a computer. That never happens for her and it’s become the thorn in her side. But she knew something was up too.”
I chuckle at my two friends, which is what they are, and because I have never been able to hold onto my anger very well. Well except for when it comes to Brad. That son of a bitch will have my hate for the rest of my life.
“Ben, Suzie will never find anything on me.” At his shocked face, I push forward, “As good as your wife is, I’m better.” The look of amazement that my friends are displaying is amusing. “I have a doctorate in Computer Science. I have hacked the best of the best. Suz will never find anything on me that I don’t want her to. And no, Derrick, I’m not Sasha’s father. But I would kill to be.”
Laughing at my confidence, Ben says, “Please do not tell my wife that. It would be like throwing a bag of cheese balls in front of her that she can’t have. I swear that woman transferred her love of those disgusting things to Ally too. But the gauntlet will have been thrown down and I won’t see her for days, if not weeks.”
“Deal.” Looking at my friends, I survey their mood. Ben seems to be fine with me pursuing a relationship with Claire. He is an excellent judge of character. Plus the brain that has gotten him to the top of his career is needle sharp. He knows I would never hurt Claire or Sasha.
Derrick, however, is another story. He has been relatively quiet and although Claire loves and considers Ben, Suzie and Ally family, Derrick has more at stake. “Derrick? You okay with this?”
Walking away from Ben and me, Derrick strides down the hallway and then back. “You are putting me in one hellava position here, Jack. Claire and Sasha are the only family Zoey has. She told me about what Claire went through when she got pregnant with Sasha. And make no mistake, that kid is just as important to me as her mother is. But Zoey says that the Claire that came out from the other side isn’t the same one that raised her. None of us know what she went through, but whatever it was has left her with some major scars.”
Walking away again, Derrick pauses at the end of the hall, takes a deep breath, throws his hands up as though he is battling something within himself and walks back. “You hurt her or Sasha, you don’t have to worry about me. Zoey will kill you. And then I will have to get involved. I love these women. They are precious to me and have been for years.” He takes a deep breath and then lets it out. “Something is coming, I can feel it. Protect them. Because if you don’t, God help you. Zoey will kill you and then I’ll bury you.”
With that said, my friends pat me on my shoulder and walk away.
Turning back, Derrick shouts from halfway down the hall. “Jack, Claire walks Dallas every night at seven-o-five. She’s funny that way. Her routines are almost ritualistic. They stop and talk to everyone. She isn’t just the glue of my family, she is the same for her entire neighborhood. She helps those that need it without making it look like charity.”
He turns and starts to walk away again, then stops. Looking back at me, he says, “If this goes sour, I’ll sell your ass down the river to save my own. Zoey is vicious, especially when it comes to Claire.”