“Oh my god, please tell me we aren’t here for you tostalk Birdie,” Paige huffed, glancing over to where I could see Birdie’s curvy little figure, bent over and burying her fingers in a fluorescent pink bowling ball.
I was so hard-up for her that I felt drool pool in my mouth at the action. “Yes, we are.”
“Dad, you don’t want to look—pathetic do you?”
Paige’s voice trailed off as I glared at her.
“Let me be very fucking clear. I am never getting back with your mother. I am going to look as pathetic I can to get Birdie back.”
“Allright. I get it. Sorry, sorry.”
“Did either of you encourage her to interrupt the wedding?”
“No,” Hieronymus said quickly. A little too quickly.
“Then I want the two of you to shape up and help.”
“Why should we help you with Birdie? She’s—”
“She’s what?” and I was surprised at the dangerous tone to my voice.
“She’s very sweet, but, you know—”
“I know what?”
“She’s, like—not classy, you know? It’s so obvious to everyone why you chose her.”
“And what reason is that?”
I did not like hearing any of this but it was becoming very clear why Birdie believed I thought of her as a gold-digger. Because I’d unknowingly allowed this level of disrespect to flourish in my own family.
Unknowingly meaning I didn’t care what they thought of her, didn’t make sure with an iron fist that my bratty, snobby, pain in the ass family treated her with the respect she deserved.
“Well, she’s—” Hieronymus said, looking over at his twin sister.
“Daddy, she’s hot,” Paige said bluntly. “You know, sex appeal.”
“Well, she’s a lot more than just sexual appeal,” I said as Birdie bent over to pick up a bowling ball, her cute little jeans shorts riding up until I saw the delectable curve of her ass.
Then Lulabel turned around and saw me looking at Birdie.
Fuck fuck.
I didn’t want Birdie to think I was just out here lusting after her from the shadows like a creeper.
“The two of you are not getting one more dollar until I see evidence that you’re going to be nicer to Birdie,” I warned as my children whimpered in distress.
Stalking forward as Lulabel glared at me, I tapped the shoulder of the man in the next lane.
“I’ll give you $20,00 to switch lanes with us.”
Hieronymus and Paige began to select their bowling balls, looking like they’d just been sentenced to twenty years of hard labor, and my eldest child Percival sat down beside me.
He had his extra moral look going on with his face, which ordinarily I would tell him to keep the bishop shit in his piehole, but just then Birdie turned around and met my eyes.
She did not look happy to see me whatsoever, and for whatever reason, Lulabel and Percival seemed to be her favorite people, so I swallowed my criticism.
“Father, I want to talk to you a little bit about the Sin of Lust,” Percy said, adjusting his spectacles and folding his hands reprovingly in front of him.
