Chapter Four
ZZ
I bypass Storm in the living room on my way out the door. It’s been tense and fucking awkward as fuck with her over the past few weeks. A man can only take so many blows to his ego before he stops trying.
And I have.
It’s time she got a taste of her own medicine.
I’m going to see how long it takes her to realize I’ve stopped trying to talk or fuck her.
I’m hoping she’ll realize it soon.
I miss my Sugar.
Storm has always processed her thoughts and feelings differently. She’s been through so much in her young life, I try to be understanding and patient with her.
As I figured, she doesn’t even notice me walk through the room or out the door.
Fuck.
“You ready, darlin?” I question my daughter, Tea.
It’s our lunch date.
It’s important, as her dad; she knows that I’ll always be here, even if she has a new baby sister.
She’ll always be my little girl.
Tatiana gazes up from her phone with a grin. “I am. Pizza and maybe a beer?”
I bark out a laugh. “One glass from the pitcher.”
She only has a little longer left before she can legally drink.
I open the passenger side door of the Jeep I bought her, and I don’t shut it until she’s safely buckled in. I upgraded her piece of shit Piper kept trashing.
Fuck. I hope she gets a little cleanlier now that she’s going to be a mom.
I climb in and grin when the heaviness in my chest disappears.
I’ve missed time with my baby girl. “I don’t know how I’ll feel when you’re legally able to drink,” I say to her as we drive to the pizza parlor. “It’s fucked up.”
Tea grabs my hand on the gearshift and gives a light squeeze. “You still have a little over a year before I can go clubbing, dad.”
Over my dead fucking body.
“Bad shit happens at clubs,” I say tersely.
“I’m messing with you,” she giggles. “It’s so easy.”
“I’ve missed you, darlin’,” I tell her as we pull into the parking lot of the pizzeria. “We don’t’ spend enough time together anymore.”
“Dad,” she says with a stern voice. “I’m not going anywhere, and I know you’re worried about me feeling left out; I get it, but I already know you love me.”
The hostess recognizes Tatiana, and they talk as we follow her to a booth.
“I never realized your dad was so young,” the hostess tries to whisper and fails. “He’s hot.”
“And unavailable with a new baby,” Tea laughs. “It was good to see you.”
The hostess takes her leave, and I raise an eyebrow at my daughter. “A little harsh with your dismissal, yeah?”
“Nope,” she smirks. “You’re my dad, and she’s a whore from high school.” Tea shivers. “It’s gross having people comment on my dad’s attractiveness.”
The waiter takes our order a few minutes later while my daughter plays on her phone.
When the pitcher of beer comes, I ask for another glass and challenge the college-age dude with a stare when he asks for Tea’s ID. His shoulders slump in defeat when he eyes my cut, he eventually gives me a small nod, and the kid must be the Flash because the little fucker is back within seconds taking our order.
“I’ll never grow tired of that,” Tea says with a smile. “I admit. Growing up, it kind of sucked. Now,” she shrugs, “it amuses me.”
“If these assholes only knew how much shit we keep from their doors,” I growl. “They’d be rollin’ out the red carpet.” I pour us some beer as the waiter places the basket of breadsticks on the table. “Thank you,” I offer up. I’m not a total dick. I understand the kid was only doing his job. “Make sure you keep the breadsticks comin’, and you’ll get a fat ass tip, yeah?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did you go to school with that kid,” I ask when the waiter leaves.
“No. He’s got to be an implant for college.”
We’re silent as we each eat a breadstick; both of our stomachs were rumbling. I’m positive she didn’t eat breakfast so she could fill up on pizza and breadsticks.
“Dad,” she says as she wipes the grease from the breadstick off her hands. “I need to talk to you.”
I motion with my hand for her to talk.
“I’m not happy with my schooling.”
I lean back and continue eating on my second piece of bread.
She’s changed courses twice now. I’m not surprised. She’s wanted to be a lot of things growing up. A ballerina. A nurse. A businesswoman. The list goes on and on.
I swallow the last bite. “You want to drop out again?”
Tatiana takes a nervous drink from her glass and slumps back in the booth. “I’m sorry I’m wasting your money.”
“I’m not, Tea.” I sit up straight, giving her a serious look. “The shit I do, it makes it so I can afford for you to do whatever you want in life. I’m your dad. It’s my fuckin’ job to make sure you’re happy, yeah. Don’t fuckin’ ever say it’s wasteful again.”
Tea’s eyes water when she tries to hide her sad smile from me. “I don’t want you disappointed in me.”
I reach over the table and wipe away her tears. “Never.”
I know my daughter though, and I know this isn’t the only thing weighing on her mind. “What else is botherin’ you, Tea? Somethin’ is.” I state when I pull back. “I know my kid.”
“You don’t wanna hear about it. It’d actually be weird to talk to you about it.”
Shadow.
The little fucker.
“You’re my daughter, and he’s my MC brother. It’s already weird, but it's my job to be there for my little girl; even when it’s shit I don’t wanna hear. Spill it,” I order as I gulp down the contents of my glass.
I pour one more and call it quits. I’m not fucking fond of people drinking and driving. Even me.
“We’re not together, but he still tries to act like he has a say in my life.”
It’s because he loves you, my sweet girl.
“Continue.”
“I’m the one who called it quits,” she mumbles and snags another breadstick, rips off one of the ends and shoves it in her mouth.
“Darlin,” I murmur. “Why?”
Every single person in our family believes Shadow was the one to end their little tryst.
Shit!
I’ve been treating him with disrespect because I believed he was the one to break her heart, and it was the other way around, all along. “Tea, darlin, I’ve been a dick to him.”
Our two pizzas arrive, and the waiter replaces our empty bread basket with a full one.
“I’m sorry.”
“You should be. I gotta apologize to him now.”
I fucking hate apologizing.
“Why,” I repeat as I divvy out pizza onto our plates.
“I don’t know,” she whispers. “By the time I realized what I did, I tried to take it back. He was so angry. He’s still so mad at me.”
I hand Tea her plate. “He wouldn’t take you back.”
“No! We’ve been arguing ever since.”
Everything becomes clearer; she wounded his pride and shredded his heart.
“You miss him.”
“Yes,” she cries. “So much.”
I take a couple bites out of my first slice of pizza and set it back down on my plate. “Have you told him you miss him.”
Tea looks away as she chews.
“You haven’t.”
Her head moves in a slow no motion as her eyes water.
“You’re breakin’ my heart with those tears, darlin’.”
“My heart is broken,” she hiccups. “And, it’s all my fault.”
An invisible hand wraps around my heart and squeezes it tight with her confession. “What can I do?”
“You can’t fix this, dad.”
I can fucking try.
“I said things that can’t be taken back.”
I chew another bite. “Was it honestly that bad, Tea?”
“Yes. It was truly awful. I didn’t mean any of it, and I regret every word.”
If my daughter says it was bad, it was bad.
“Have you told him?”
“I’ve tried. He dismisses me, or we start arguing.”
I have to lay off the little fucker now.
“What’s going on with you and Storm?”
Way to change the subject, daughter.
“Tatiana,” I warn. “I get you’re an adult now, baby, but my business is still my business, yeah?”
“You’re barely speaking,” she whispers. “It worries me.”
I toss my food onto my plate. “We’re only in a rut, there’s no need to worry.”
Tea takes another sip of her beer. “We’re not far in age, but she’s been a good surrogate mom.”
I exhale a long hard breath. I never imagined my issues with Storm would affect Tatiana; she’s seriously bothered.
“Tea… she’s mine for life,” I say with a gentle tone. “She’s not goin’ anywhere.”
I’m gonna have to force Storm to listen to me; our shit is affecting my other kid, and I can’t be having it.
“I know she isn’t, but I never want you to split up or anything.”
Jesus!
“Finish your food, Tatiana.”
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