Chapter Fifteen
Chas
Jack sat on the couch, his head down, and Addie stood in front of him, her face taut, hands on hips.
“What’s going on?” Chas asked, entering the living room.
“Mrs. D’Angelo called about Jack.”
Tossing his jacket on the chair, Chas darted his gaze to Jack and then back to Addie. “Who’s she?”
“His principal. She said Jack got in a fight with a boy at school.”
Thrusting his chest out, Chas grinned and put his hand on Jack’s shoulder, squeezing it. “Way to go, Champ.”
Jack looked up and Chas high-fived him.
“You’re not mad?” his son asked.
“Fuck no.” Addie clearing her throat reminded Chas she was still in the room. He glanced at her furrowed brow. “What?”
“You’re applauding him for hurting another boy? Are you thinking this through?”
“I’m telling him he did a good job standing up to a fuckin’ bully.”
“Are you being bullied? You never told me.”
“That’s not the kind of shit a boy tells his mom. Anyway, I took care of it.” Chas sat on the arm of the couch.
“And how did you do that?” Redness mottled her face.
“By teaching him some moves to protect himself. I can’t believe you’re so bent outta shape over this. A man needs to know how to stand up for himself.”
“But he’s not a man, Chas. He’s a boy, or can’t you see that?”
“Every man was a boy. It’s never too early to show that you’re tough. You get respect that way and people don’t mess with you.” Chas looked at Jack, who had his head down again. He went over and ruffled his hair. “You did good. Did the fucker go down and stay down?”
A gleam shone in his eyes and he laughed. “Better than that, Dad. He ran away and everybody cheered and came up to me. It was awesome.” He glanced at his mother. “Sorry, Mom,” he mumbled.
“This is unbelievable. I was wrong in blaming you. This is your father’s fault.” Narrowing her eyes, she pointed at Chas. “You can meet with the principal at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.” She stormed out of the room.
Inhaling deeply, Chas watched as Addie put on her coat, grabbed her purse, and slammed the back door. A few seconds later, the Land Rover’s engine revved to life and the familiar clang of the garage door closing seeped through the walls.
“Mom’s pissed.” Jack leaned back and put his feet up on the table.
“She’ll get over it. Women are like that. They’re all into talking and shit because that’s the way they resolve stuff with their girlfriends. Us guys just throw a few punches and we’re good. Women don’t get it. So, you must’ve been practicing what I taught you.”
“I did, and when Owen came for me, I didn’t cower or run like I always did. I just stood there. He seemed surprised. Some of the kids came over to see what was going on. Owen came toward me and I knew he was going to punch me, so I did like you told me to do—anticipate his move and do the opposite of what he expected me to do. He missed me and I punched him in the gut real hard. Then the fight was on.”
Chas loved seeing the confidence in his son’s face, the way he became animated in talking about the fight, and his booming laugh made Chas’s heart swell. No matter how many arguments Addie threw at him about peace versus violence, he’d never regret teaching Jack how to defend himself. The glow over Jack’s face was priceless, and as he watched him hold his chin high and push his shoulders back, Chas knew Jack would never cower in another corner again. When six o’clock rolled around, Chas took out a package of hot dogs and put them in a pot of water on the stove. He opened a couple cans of chili beans and put them in another pot.
“You’re cooking?” Jack said, coming into the kitchen.
“I’m hungry, Daddy,” Hope said.
“I’m making dinner, sweet bear.” He looked at Jack. “And I used to cook all the time for us before your mom.”
“It was hot dogs and beans, pretty much,” Jack said as he pulled the kitchen chair out for Hope.
“Then it’ll be like old times because that’s what we’re having. You like hot dogs, don’t you, sweet bear?”
“I love them. Mama doesn’t make them too much.”
“I’m an expert with them.”
Addie didn’t come home until well after Hope had gone to sleep. Chas was watching television on the couch when his ears pricked at the sound of the garage door. As she entered the house, a rush of cold air coiled around him, making the flames in the fireplace leap and dance.
“You have a good evening?” he asked, his gaze still on the television.
“I did. I went to the mall, then went over to Clotille and Rock’s house. She made the best rice and beans I’ve ever had. Did you order a pizza for the kids?”
“I cooked. It would’ve been nice for you to have sent a fuckin’ text or something. I get that you needed some space to cool off, but not sending a text to me or Jack is shitty. The kids kept asking where you were.”
“I sent you one.”
Chas looked at his phone and saw a text had come in fifteen minutes before. When he looked at the time it was sent, it was two hours before. “These damn phones.”
“Did you get it?”
“Just recently.”
Sitting at the other end of the couch, she lifted his feet and put them on her lap. “I know we’re never going to agree with the fighting thing with Jack. I was so mad at you.”
“I know you were. And you’re right, we’re not going to agree. Women just see things differently. You’re pissed at Jack because he stood up for himself by punching the brat, and I’m proud. It’ll be like that forever. My mom is still appalled to know that I’ll beat the shit out of anyone who messes with me. My dad gets it. There you have it.”
“I suppose. I hope you told Jack that it’s not good to start fights, just fight to defend himself.”
“Yeah, I told him that.” Chas thought about how many barroom brawls he’d had when he was younger. Some of them were because he was provoked, while others were just because he didn’t like the way some fucker looked at him. He pushed up and swung his legs off the couch. “You still pissed at me?” Scooting toward her, he reached out and grabbed her hand.
“Maybe.”
“Don’t be.” He swept her hair aside and slowly licked her neck.
“I don’t forgive that easily,” she said as she moved closer to him.
“That’s too bad,” he breathed in her ear, then slipped her earlobe between his teeth and sucked gently. A small moan slipped from her lips. As he sucked her ear and neck, he unbuttoned her blouse, then slipped his hand inside her bra, squeezing her breast. “I fuckin’ love your tits, precious.”
She unsnapped the front of her bra and her big tits spilled out. “What about Jack?”
“He’s in the middle of a video game. We got time.”
Grasping her waist, he scooted her down until she lay beneath him on the couch. As he unzipped her pants, he drew one of her nipples into his mouth, sucking and nipping it as he felt her shiver.
“Are you closer to forgiving me?” His words were smothered against her skin.
“Yeah,” she breathed.
He ran his tongue from the base of her throat down to her belly button, swirling in and around it, his hands pressing down on her squirming body beneath him. Locking his gaze on her, he slowly slipped his hand inside her panties, his lips twitching as he watched her face contort while he sank his finger deeply inside her. “You’re wet as hell. I love that.” Using the tip of his tongue, he teased her nipple, making it grow rock hard as he thrust his digits in and out of her heat. Low moans came from her throat and she stuffed her fist in her mouth as if trying to contain them.
“When I’m done loving you, you’re not going to even remember why you were pissed at me.”
The light from the crackling fire bathed her creamy skin in an amber glow and made her red hair shimmer like it was gold.
“You’re stunning,” he said.
Slipping her hands under his shirt, her fingers outlined his defined muscles. “So are you,” she said softly.
Electric heat moved through him as his need for her intensified. As she stared up at him, desire brimming in her gaze, he slowly started taking her clothes off, piece by piece, kissing and caressing her skin as he revealed it. He’d be gentle, making sure each lick, kiss, bite, and touch reminded her why she fell in love with him. And then he’d go rough, claiming her all over again as only an outlaw knew how.
* * *
Leg crossed over his thigh, Chas sat in the principal’s office, glancing at the clock and growing madder by the second. The door opened and a man in his late thirties dressed in a suit walked in, a tall, stocky boy beside him.
“Mr. Price. Thank you for coming.”
“You’re late,” Chas said, and Jack giggled.
Mrs. D’Angelo glowered at both of them, then smiled sweetly at the man and the boy.
The man leaned forward and held out his hand to Chas. “Deke Price. This is my boy, Owen.”
“Chas.” Ignoring Deke’s gesture, he jerked his head at his son. “Jack.”
Deke frowned and let his hand fall to his lap.
“What do you want to talk about? I got stuff to do.” Chas stared at the gray-haired principal, who shuffled some papers on her desk.
“Jack was in a fight yesterday. He punched Owen several times, causing the boy to have to seek the assistance of the nurse.”
Chas turned to Owen. “Did he break your nose?” Owen shook his head, his gaze downcast. “Any bones broken?” Another shake of the head. “Any internal injuries?” Another shake. Chas cracked his knuckles. “So why am I here? Two boys fought out their differences.”
“Mr. Vickers, that is hardly the attitude I’d like to see from a parent,” the principal said.
“That’s the attitude you’re gonna get. Are we done here?”
“We’re most certainly not. Your son attacked Owen.”
“The way I heard it, Jack was just defending himself.”
“Is that true, Owen?” Deke asked.
“No. He started it.” Owen threw Jack a dirty look.
“Did not! You’re always starting something with me, but this time I showed you.” Jack moved forward until he was on the edge of the chair.
“Enough, both of you. Jack, if there was a problem, you should’ve looked for a teacher to help. Fighting is never the answer.”
“Sometimes it’s the only one. I don’t tell Jack to pick fights, but if someone messes with him, he’s got a right to give it back. This kid here threw the first punch. It was a fair fight,” Chas said.
Deke scoffed. “Of course you’d think that way. Aren’t you in that outlaw gang?”
Bristling, Chas clenched his hands. “It doesn’t matter who and what I am. Your son’s nothing but a damn bully. He’s been picking on my kid, and now he’s fuckin’ eating crow because his ass got beat.”
“Mr. Vickers! We don’t allow language like that at the school.” Blotches of red had crept onto the principal’s face, especially around her chin and cheeks, and her brown eyes flashed.
“They’re just words, lady.” He stood up. “I gotta get going.”
“We’re not finished,” Mrs. D’Angelo said.
“I am, and so is Jack.”
Deke shook his head at the principal and threw her a knowing smile.
Chas glared at the prick. “Instead of thinking you’re better than everyone because you wear a suit, I’d deal with your kid and figure out why he’s picking on younger kids.”
“There’s nothing wrong with Owen.”
Chas looked at the principal. “Jack’s been going to school here for the last seven years. Have you ever had a problem with him?”
She splayed her hands out on the desk. “No, I haven’t. That’s why I was so surprised by all this.”
“Then you should’ve figured something was up. Jack told you what the deal was.”
“You’re right, but fighting still isn’t allowed at school. I’m going to have to suspend both boys for it.”
Deke jumped to his feet. “This is outrageous! Owen didn’t do anything. This boy attacked him.”
“Mr. Price, I’m not sure who did what. The fact is both boys were fighting, so they’ll be suspended for two days.”
“Works for me,” Chas said as he motioned Jack to get up.
“The suspension will start now. Hopefully both Owen and Jack will learn from this and think twice before fighting.”
Chas nodded, put his hand on Jack’s shoulder, and walked out of the school. When they got to the car, Chas turned to Jack and winked. “You got a couple days free. Wanna grab some food at Ruthie’s?”
“Mom’s gonna be real mad at me.”
“I don’t think so. I kind of softened her up last night.” Memories of Addie’s legs spread wide and his tongue buried inside her pussy reeled through his mind. “Let’s get some breakfast.”
The snow covered both of them as they walked through the parking lot. A bell chimed when Chas opened the diner’s door and heat surrounded them, warming their cold bodies.
As they ate steak, eggs, and hash browns, Chas saw his ex-wife near the cash register, staring at him. What the fuck’s she doing back in Pinewood Springs? She waved at him, then started walking over to their booth. Shit.
“Hi, Chas. And Jack. How are you guys doing? You don’t mind if I sit for a few,” she said as she scooted in next to Jack.
The cheerful look on Jack’s face switched to a stoic one and he moved stiffly as he made room for her to sit down.
“Why’re you here, Brianna?” Chas asked.
“That’s the first thing you ask me after all these years? Don’t you want to know how I’ve been doing?” She put her arm around Jack. “What about you, baby? Do you want to know how your mama’s been?”
Jack shrugged off her arm and stared down at his plate.
“Fuckin’ cool it. I know you too well. Why the hell are you here?” Chas glared at her.
“My mom’s real sick. They don’t think she’s going to make it.” She brushed her finger over her cheek.
He liked his ex-mother-in-law; she was a genuinely nice person. In all the years that he and Brianna had been married, he’d tried to figure out how such a good person could have had such a mean and conniving bitch for a daughter. He’d thought it must’ve come from Brianna’s dad. He’d heard the man was one cruel sonofabitch, but he’d run off years before Chas and Brianna had met.
“Mom said she hasn’t seen Jack in a long time. I think she’d like to see him before she dies.” Her voice hitched on the last word.
He placed his hand on hers. “This must be tough on you. Your mom’s a good woman. The last couple of times I was gonna bring Jack over, she said she was busy. She didn’t tell me she wasn’t feeling well.”
“That’s the way she is. Doesn’t want to stress anyone out. I had no idea she had cancer. None of us did. It sucks.”
“I’ll bring Jack to see her. I’d like to see her too. Is she at Pinewood Hospital?”
Brianna nodded and grasped his fingers. “I’m so scared I’m gonna lose it when she dies. I’ve been working so hard to straighten out my life.”
“That’s good. Are you still in Durango?”
“No. Me and Johnny split up. It was the best thing for me. I got clean and sober.”
“Where’re you living now?” Chas smiled at the waitress as she refilled his coffee cup.
“You want something?” Stella asked Brianna. She shook her head and the waitress ambled away.
“I’m living here at my mother’s house. I got a job and everything.”
All of a sudden, he had a sour taste in his mouth. Glancing over at Jack, his heart squeezed as he watched the color drain from his face. He’s remembering how she treated him. There’s no fuckin’ way she’s getting close to him. Or me. He pulled his hand away from hers.
“Where’re you working?” he asked.
“I’m a receptionist for this charity. It’s called Brighter Lives.”
“Mom does stuff with them,” Jack blurted out, then clammed up when Brianna gave him a death stare.
“That’s right. Addie and several of the old ladies are involved in a fundraiser we’re doing next Saturday.”
“Are you still with her?”
“Yeah. Of course. We’re married and have a daughter.”
The lines around her mouth deepened. “Mom told me. She was surprised we didn’t get back together.”
“She never said anything to me like that.” What he wanted to tell Brianna was that her mother told him she was finally happy he’d found a good woman who would love him and be loyal to him. He waved Stella over. Visiting time is over. “Check, please.”
“How’re you doing, Jack?” Brianna asked sweetly.
Jack shrugged. “Okay. Are we going now, Dad?”
“Yeah.” Chas slid out of the booth.
“We should get together for dinner sometime.” She brushed against Chas.
“I don’t think so. I’ll take Jack to see his grandma.”
“When? I mean, I’d like to be there when you do.”
“Just when I get some free time. We gotta go.”
“It was great seeing you again. You look real good still. How do you think I look?” She ran her hands over her body.
“You look fine.” He walked to the cash register and Jack rushed in front of him. After paying, he headed for the door, and Brianna came up to him.
“Don’t I get a hug?”
“No.”
“Jack?”
Jack’s eyes darted to Chas. He pulled Jack to him. “He’s not into that.”
Bracing himself, he stepped out in the cold, and with his hand on Jack’s shoulder, they went to their car.
As they drove to Pinewood Hospital, Jack blew his breath on the window and made patterns on the steam with his finger. “Do I have to start going over to Mom’s again?”
“No way.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. I mean, if you want to, I’m not gonna st—”
“I don’t want to. I love Addie. She’s my mom. Is that bad?”
Chas shook his head. “Not at all. Addie loves you too. Your blood mom wasn’t so good to you. It’s okay not to love her the way you do Addie.”
A satisfied smile spread over Jack’s face as he settled back in his seat. Chas reached over and ruffled his hair, then turned on the radio.
There’s no damn way I’m letting Brianna start trouble. Clean or not, Brianna only had one agenda in life—getting whatever she could for her. It was her world and she didn’t give a shit about anyone. She gave up her parental rights to Jack years before, and there was no way she was going to start anything up.
Snowflakes swirled around and landed on the windshield.
“It’s snowing again. Maybe Ethan can come over and we can build a snowman. Can I ask him?”
“Sure.”
Jack took out his phone, and as he tapped his text, warmth spread through Chas. Seeing Brianna reminded him how lucky he was to have Addie in his life. His family was everything to him.
The SUV rambled down the slick, snow-packed street.