“Me too.” He touched the bill of his cap. “See you tomorrow if I don’t see you anymore today. His mother is taking him home.”
I half-waved, and he strode away from me, with the confidence of a man used to life working in his favor. I waited until he turned the corner, out of my sight, to dance in my chair. I owe Denise a huge gift for Christmas. I had a whole ass date for Thanksgiving with Carter St. Patrick.
And the turtle was back in the game.
Chapter 2
Carter
Brooklyn Kelley. I liked her name. It suited her. Although Brooklyn could be considered beautiful by anyone’s standards, her calm and warm disposition pulled me to her. I’d always preferred natural beauty, which was why I’d been drawn to my ex-wife and Joi. Her luminous brown skin probably tanned to a red hue in the summer, and the scrubs she wore emphasized her full breasts and thighs. Brooklyn would be stunning and elegant if she exerted the minimal effort. Already pictured her in an evening gown as she accompanied me to some black tie affair. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, hoping that tomorrow could be the start of something. After being married for eight years, and then with Joi for longer, I’d grown accustomed to having a woman in my bed most nights. I liked being in a relationship, despite what most women believed. I’d been a fuck boy in high school and college, but once I met Darren, my college sweetheart, I settled down and had a family.
I also loved being a father of three. Still wanted another child or two. At forty, I didn’t necessarily want a young wife. I preferred a woman around my age, which might limit me to one child instead of two. Brooklyn appeared younger, though her demeanor and profession suggested a woman at least in her thirties.
I walked back into my son’s hospital room and stood at his side. “You’ll be discharged soon, Kani. Stay off your ankle, you’ll get some crutches and heal within a week. Call me once you make it home, and then when you get to Houston tomorrow, since you’re good to fly.”
“Alright, Dad.” He nodded, barely looking up from his cell, typical behavior for a sixteen-year-old.
“Are you going to Dallas or spending time with your other family for Thanksgiving?” Joi snidely remarked.
“Neither,” I answered smoothly and curtly. “I’ll be around if my son needs me when you get back from Houston.”
“In other words, you’re spending Thanksgiving with some new chick.”
Sekani sighed loudly, reminding us he was in the room and he hated our arguments. I did too. With Darren, my ex-wife, the twins rarely heard us argue because we refused to do so in front of them. Joi and I tried and failed way too many times. Our fiery temperaments made it so. I realized that I needed a woman who could soften my roar. A woman whose simple touch on my chest or arm would curb my mouth or my anger. I needed the peace of a woman. Something Joi had been incapable of doing, at least with me.
“Not today, please,” I begged Joi. Being around her for any length of time taxed me. Funny how I used to love this woman and thought we could make it work. Starting our relationship from an affair ruined any real chances of a lasting love. She could never trust that I wouldn’t do to her what I’d done to Darren. My superstar status as an athlete didn’t help matters.
Joi opened her mouth, then clamped it shut and studied her phone.
I held my palm out, and Sekani latched on. “Love you so much.”
“Love you, Daddy.” His eyes watered, and my guilty heart clenched. My children were hurt the most in both my messy breakups, a fact I would regret the rest of my life. Maybe more children shouldn’t be in the cards for me if I can’t find a woman meant for me. I didn’t want to go through another dissolution of a relationship, and definitely not one involving children.
And on impulse, I invited a nice woman to my home—the type of woman who expected and deserved commitment. What did I do? I believe I’ve grown over the years, but have I really grown if I’m moving the way I used to with women?
A frowning Joi sat in the chair by Sekani’s bedside. I’d seen that expression far too much. The reality of us never quite lived up to the fantasy of us. I bent down and kissed her cheek, surprised that her familiar scent stirred more pleasant than bad memories.
Growth.
“Thank you for being a good mother to my son.”
A reluctant smile crossed her face. “Our son. Why do I always have to correct you?”
I stood back up. “Semantics.”
When I approached the door, I looked back at Sekani. “During the holidays, I’ll get the twins, and we’ll all go skiing or hit Disneyland or something, okay?”
Sekani’s sunny disposition returned. He loved spending time with his older siblings, who’d just started college. “Okay.”
My gaze slid to Joi’s, and I touched the bill of my hat again. She nodded, and for now, we were good again.
As I exited the room, Brooklyn approached with discharge papers. She smiled at me, and my heart skipped a beat. I alreadylikedthis woman, and I needed to be honest if we were going to spend the next day or so together. “Hey, can I wait for you outside?”
Her forehead puckered prettily. “Sure. I can step away after I drop off your son’s discharge papers.”
A nurse appeared seemingly out of nowhere. “You’ve been here too long. Go home. I can handle the discharge.”
Brooklyn shook her head warily. “Give me five minutes and meet me...” She raised her brows.
