“So why haven’t you said anything to anyone about it?” Anna asked.
“Because if everyone knew they’d complain he was treating me differently, I was already the class pet so to say and if they knew that I was also his daughter…we’re waiting until graduation for it to come out.”
“Wow, I’m happy for you. Now if only I could land a guy, any guy, would be great,” she teased. “How do you manage to find so many of them?”
“I grew up with a best friend who happens to be one, played pool regularly where lots of them hang out, and I suppose the packaging didn’t hurt either.”
“What packaging are you talking about?” Tate asked coming back over to her.
“The outside one that I possess,” she told him.
“Ah, she hates it when men stare at the northern region unless she’s beating the crap out of them at a game of pool, then she uses them for distraction. Plus when she puts on her skintight jeans and a top that shows off that tiny waist and her sweet ass,” Tate stated as Anna and several other’s mouths dropped open.
“What did I tell you I’d do if you don’t stop talking about my assTatum,” she said hip checking him. “I can reveal so much about you Tate, would you really want to push me?”
“Alright, I’ll behave,” he said kissing her cheek before heading back to check on Devon’s progress.
“You let him talk like that about you and your husband doesn’t care?” Gail asked.
“Tate knows me better than anyone, even Jordan in a way, but we’re strictly platonic. He’s not in love with me and I’m not in love with him. He jokes about it because he knows the truth and it doesn’t matter to me. Jordan knows it means nothing and it’s just how we are. He’s my best friend and no matter what he’ll always be there to protect me.”
“Sounds like a lot for a guy who’s just your friend,” Nick stated.
“Tate was the one person I could rely on no matter what. When I was fourteen some of the juniors at our school attacked me, wanted to see how far they could get, if I was like my mother who freely provided her company around town. Tate broke a hockey stick over one of their backs and was about to go after them with it again when they decided to run.”
“Wow,” Gail said staring up at Tate. “Was he always so built?”
“Tate? No way, when I first started working for Jordan, Tate was about an inch shorter, about like Devon. He didn’t work out, and he rode his motorcycle everywhere, well he still does that. To him it didn’t matter though, he threatened he’d clobber whatever gorilla needed if they stepped out of line. It was definitely an amusing prospect.”
“What was an amusing prospect?” Jordan asked sliding up behind her, pulling her into his hold.
“Tate beating up part of the guys if they’d stepped out of line when I first started working for you. Did you notice our newest employee?” she teased tilting her head up to look at him over her shoulder.
“I did, I take it this was the losing end of the bet?”
“It was.”
“And what would have happened if he’d managed to beat you?” he stated raising an eyebrow.
“I would have had to write the entire paper myself. I like this better though,” she laughed as Tate shook his head at Devon before pushing him out of the structure.
“This guy…you can definitely tell he’s a business major,” Tate said as they reached them. “I think we’re going to have to redo that wall but it’s worth it. The crew would like to say thank you Mel for being your normal amazing self. I haven’t laughed this hard probably since…well prom.”
“Which one?” she asked with a wink.
“I’d say they were both riots. I still don’t know how we could go to two proms and have a downpour occur during each.”
“Huh?” Devon said glancing between them.
“We may have been a bit devious at prom,” Mel stated with a huge grin.
“A bit?” Jordan asked. “Their junior year they hacked into the computer system at the Royale and had the sprinklers go off in only their ballroom just after they’d announced the king and queen.”
“Did you get caught?” Anna inquired.
“Nope and our senior year we took it a step further,” Mel laughed. “We stole a copy of the video the AV Club had put together of the candidates and intersected it with scenes fromThe Wizard of Ozwhen the queen bee’s picture came up they started to play and when the witch screamed her ‘I’m melting’ it showed Stephanie’s face dissolving then the sprinklers went off.”
“Which effectively ended the dance,” Tate added.
