“Not great. Our son is growin’ and everythin’ is good with him. Sheridan is still havin’ problems and Dr. Matthews is talkin’ about admittin’ her to the hospital until she goes into labor. Her blood pressure was elevated at her last appointment a few days ago and she’s got some swellin’. Her back is really botherin’ her too even if she tried to say it wasn’t that bad,” I answer him before taking my shot and setting the glass back down on the bar in front of me.
“You talk to her yet?” Knuckles asks me as he leans forward to see me better.
“No. She had to go to the hospital after the appointment to get more fluids. I never got the chance to talk to her before her dad was at her side. Since then, I’ve been tryin’ to figure out how I can make this situation right and I know there’s nothin’ I can do,” I tell them as I spot Jess out of the corner of my eye trying to give a lap dance to a customer who is refusing. Turning to face the door, I find Tommy. With a nod toward Jess, he quickly moves to get her off the floor and back to cleaning.
“What’s goin’ on there?” my dad asks, a smile on his face as we all watch Jess throw a damn tantrum like a toddler.
“She tried tellin’ everyone she was in charge when I’m not in the buildin’. That I was gonna make her my ol’ lady and she was in my bed last night. Her fuckin’ delusions are gettin’ worse and I’m sick of her shit. I want to keep her close becauseI don’t trust the bitch, but I’m not gonna deal with this bullshit on a daily basis. Told her she was on her last shot and then put her on janitor duty for the night. She’s not supposed to be near the customers and won’t get any time on stage tonight,” I inform them as Tommy finally gets Jess to the back and away from our customers.
“Never did like the bitch,” my dad states, lifting his beer and taking a sip before turning away from the floor and the girls on stage.
My dad has been loyal to my mom since the day he first saw her. No matter where he is or who’s around, he refuses to look at another woman if he can help it. If one tries to talk to him, he quickly shuts it down and announces proudly that he’s married and won’t ever cheat on his ol’ lady. The mere mention of my mom’s name is more than enough to make him smile and light up. She’s the only woman on his mind and in his heart and isn’t afraid to let everyone around him know that.
For a few hours, the three of us watch everything in the club while talking. My dad and Knuckles try to help me come up with ideas of how to win Sherian over and make her forgive me for being a dumb fuck. Yes, my dad called me a dumb fuck. It’s not the first time and I know it won’t be the last time either. Jess ends up getting thrown out of the club for the night when she attempts to go into one of the private rooms. Doom was already informed of her duties for the night and Jess actually put her hands on him in a pathetic attempt to beat the shit out of him. Doom just stood there and took her hits before escorting her to her car and telling her not to come back until she hears from me. Other than her bullshit, the night ran smoothly and there were only a few times the bouncers had to step in to dissolve a situation before it became something larger. After closing Slayer’s Pit for the night, the three of us rode back tothe compound together and went our separate ways to get some sleep for the night. I climbed into bed with thoughts of Sheridan and our son on my mind knowing we need to talk about things sooner rather than later and having no clue how to move forward with our situation.
Chapter Six
Sheridan
WALKING IN THE diner, I spot Jess sitting at a table with a few other women. She’s holding court as normal and talking so loudly no one else can be heard in the diner. This is nothing new for the girl who has always had to be the center of attention no matter where she is. She’s wearing a shirt that shows more of her torso than it covers and I can almost guarantee her ass is hanging out of whatever pants, shorts, or skirt she’s wearing. Even in high school she wore clothing that looked as if she shopped in the kids section of a store instead of clothing that would cover her body. Just another way she sought attention from everyone around her. Her hair is hanging straight down her back in loose waves and the make-up covering her face is so caked on it looks as if she’s been wearing it for a few days. From ten feet away from her table, I can smell the perfume she constantly wears. It’s nauseating. Shaking my head, I stand up taller and prepare myself to pretend she’s not here.
Ignoring her, I walk through the diner to an empty table toward the back. My dad is meeting me for lunch since today is my birthday. It’s a tradition we’ve had for as long as I can remember. He’s the only member of my family who celebrates my birthday and cares whether or not I feel special every single year. It’s not like my mother would ever willingly celebrate my birthday. Hell, I haven’t seen her since the accident she caused which almost cost my life. From what I heard, my parentsfought in the hospital and my mom did spend a few days in jail because of the accident. When she got out, she disappeared and the only time I ever hear from her is when she calls to demand money from me.
My dad is my favorite person in the world and even when I don’t feel like celebrating, he still insists we do something. Even if it’s just getting something to eat before I head home again. Today, not only are we having lunch, we have an appointment after eating. The last thing I need to do is think about Jess and the shit she’ll try to stir up to ruin another day for me. My first memories are of me spending time with my dad no matter what he was doing. I spent countless hours with him in the garage as he worked on one car after another. I’ve learned how to work on vehicles and my dad ensured I’d never have to depend on a man to determine what is wrong with anything I drive. It’s honestly gotten me out of being screwed over by mechanics thinking because I’m a girl I won’t know anything about cars. Today is as much of a celebration for my dad as it is for me. He’s the only one who has stood by my side through everything and never once allowed me to give up.
“Well, if it isn’t the skank who fucks her way through life,” Jess calls out when she finally sees me sitting alone in the diner. “Who the hell said you could come in here?”
I ignore her and pick up the menu sitting on the table in front of me. Right now, I need something to do and covering my view of the room with the menu seems like the perfect solution.
“Have you become deaf now? You know I’m talking to you, skank,” Jess says, her voice taking on an ice edge because I’m choosing to ignore her. It’s the one thing she can’t stand and I’ve become an expert at ignoring people.
Still I say nothing and pretend to read the menu when I already know what I’ll order.
“You really gonna let her get away with ignoring you like that?” a man throws out the question causing me to look at the counter where I see an officer sitting with a cup of coffee in his hand. “That’s pretty disrespectful if you ask me and she should pay for it.”
“You’re right. I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you don’t ever ignore me,” Jess states and I move my eyes toward her table to find her getting out of her seat and heading my way.
My entire body tenses up in preparation of whatever Jess is about to do to me. Before she can get halfway to my table, an older woman walks out from behind the counter and stands in her way.
“I’ve had about enough of your shit, Jess. You come in here and cause a disturbance every damn time. I’m not gonna stand here and let you lay a finger on this young girl when she’s done nothing to you. I suggest you get the hell out of my diner and don’t ever come back in here. Officer Whitestone, you know better than to encourage that bullshit in my diner. You can also leave and don’t come back here again,” the woman says, her voice leaving no room for any arguments as a smile breaks out on my face.
“Who the fuck do you think you are to treat me this way?” Jess demands, popping out a hip and placing her hand on it. “I’m gonna be the ol’ lady of Tease and his club makes sure this diner stays open. If you want the help from them to continue, I suggest you fuck off and leave me alone.”
The woman starts laughing so hard it doesn’t take long for tears to roll down her face and her to bend over placing her hands on her knees.
“Don’t make me laugh, Jess. Tease would never make someone like you his ol’ lady. He has standards and you won’t ever measure up to what they are. You’ve made up this entire relationship in your damn head and everyone in town knows it. Get. The. Fuck. Out,” the woman demands, her voice no longer full of laughter as she stands tall and gets in Jess’ face.
Jess is speechless for several minutes as I watch her face turn red and the veins in her neck stand out in anger. She’s about to explode and I know it’s all gonna be aimed at me and no one else.
“Sheridan, you think you’re so much fucking better than me and everyone else around you. Tease doesn’t want a damn thing to do with you and he never will. Whatever relationship the two of you had in high school is over and he’s moved on from you. I’m his woman and he wants nothing to do with you. Hell, the only reason he even goes to the doctor’s appointments with you is because he wants to ensure his child is healthy and safe. The second you deliver the bastard, Tease is gonna take the baby from you and I’ll be their mom,” Jess screams out as the cop joins her and starts laughing while I feel my entire body start to tremble in fear at the thought of anyone trying to take my baby from me.
I barely hear anything as the woman quickly ushers the cop and Jess from the diner. I’m on autopilot as I get up from the table and head for the door. I can no longer remain in the diner despite Jess being kicked out and banned. Tears are already filling my eyes and I refuse to cry in front of a diner full of people. Jess has taken more than enough from me and I won’t allow her to have a moment more of my time. Not like this.
“Sheridan, Sweetheart, what’s going on with you?” my dad asks me, his voice soft and gentle as I sit in the passenger seat of his car.
“I ran into Jess in the diner. She was kicked out, but had more than enough to say before she left,” I tell him the truth because I don’t hide anything from my dad. I won’t go into detail, but he knows more than enough about Jess to understand her words cut me deeply.
“Someday that girl is gonna get what’s coming to her. I wish you’d stand up to her, Sheridan. You’re better than her in every way imaginable and Jess knows it. It’s why she constantly targets you. Jess peaked in high school and knows she’ll never be more than a drama queen who tries to hold everyone down in her attempt to remain relevant. You’re living your life and doing better than her in every way possible. Plus, you still have Tease’s attention and that kills her. He’s the one man she wants and the one who will never give her the time of day,” my dad says, his voice still soft and gentle as he reaches out and brushes away the tears rolling down my face. “Now, she doesn’t get another tear from you, Sheridan. Her words hurt but they mean nothing at the end of the day.”
