Brett smirks. “My meet and greet.”
“You spend the whole time gossipin’ about me? Sounds like a great way to spend the evening.” Sarcasm’s my bitch.
“Dad.” Nathan frowns. “You don’t tell a woman she’d be a bad mother. That’s romance one-oh-one.”
“Romance…” I nearly choke. “…one-oh-one? What the hell are you talking about, Nathan?”
Where are his balls? Has he been pussified?
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
“She was dealing with Carla and the kids, and she had no idea how to handle ‘em. I was just makin’ a point.”
Jackie is shaking her head like she’s disappointed in me. “You can’t judge that woman based on her encounter with Carla’s brood. They’re terrible. Show me anyone who can deal with those children.”
“Me.”
“That doesn’t count. You’ve known them since they were babies, and they’re aware you’re the next best thing to a father they’ve got right now.”
This is true. I finally got a response from Dave. He chose to spew some bullshit about his duty. Yeah, he’s in the service. He’s supposed to feel that way. But I ended my email reminding him he’s also got a duty to his kids. Let’s see how he responds to that.
“And also, you won’t pay them if they don’t listen to you.” That’s courtesy of Brett.
“I don’t pay them. I give them an allowance. It’s what their dad wants.”
Jackie leans in. “What I’m trying to say is, you shouldn’t have made her feel bad about Michael, Natalie, and Bart. They’re little assholes. EvenIwouldn’t be able to keep those kids under control, and you know I’m a kick-ass mom.”
Can’t argue with that. Jackie was and is a great mother. And trust me, she has never taken shit from anyone, even me. Maybe especially me.
“I didn’t mean it like she took it.”
“You spew shit before you think, bro.”
“Shut the fuck up, Brett.”
I take a long swig of my beer and fire up the grill. If I keep busy, maybe they’ll drop it.
“Dad?” I’m in the kitchen cleaning up. Everyone’s gone except me and Zoe.
I look over at my youngest. “Yeah?”
“I’ve been thinking about that woman.”
Fuck. I roll my eyes which makes her laugh.
“Hear me out.”
Turning, I lean my ass up against the counter and cross my arms. “Okay. I’m listenin’.”
“You’re a catch.”
I smirk at her compliment. “Thanks.”
Zoe scowls and crosses her arms too. We’re a pair. “You are. But you can be kind of a jerk.”
So? Except I nod so she doesn’t get angry. Zoe pissed isn’t good. She takes after me. That girl can hold a grudge like nobody’s business. Ask her ex-boyfriend.
“If I were you, every time you see her, think before you speak.”
