My jaw is clenched so tight I’m sure I could shatter my fucking teeth. I wanted to drive over to that house and drag James’s bitch ass out of it. I don’t hit women, but if I did, I would choke the shit out of my ex for not standing up for her son. Where the hell does he get off telling anyone that a ten-year-old kid was too needy? He’s fucking ten. Of course, he needs her.
Plus, it’s all bullshit because Jake isn’t needy. He enjoys spending time with his parents, but he also enjoys doing his own thing and hanging out with his friends. And soft? I’m not teaching my son any of that toxic masculinity bullshit you see these chumps trying to show off today.
Besides, what the fuck does James know? He’s living off a woman with a child, while still chasing dreams of being a race car driver. That shit is soft.
Once I’ve controlled my urge to put my foot in Valerie and James’s asses, I speak.
“Do you ever hear me complain about hanging out with you?”
“No.”
“What about Aunt El? She ever complains when you and Cam are helping her bake or when she’s watching those movies with you?”
El was always curled up on the couch watching superhero movies with the boys. It was their favorite thing to do outside of playing video games when they were together. A few times she has tried to rope me into watching the movies with them, but it just isn’t my thing. However, she loves it.
Jake chuckles. “Of course not.”
“Exactly. Wanting to spend time with your parents is not being needy. I hate you heard him say that, but his opinion of you doesn’t matter. What have I told you about other people’s opinions?”
“That the only opinion of me that matters is the man staring back at me in the mirror.” He recites the words I’ve preached to him since he was five years old.
“That’s right.”
“But, Mom—”
I cut him off. “Your mom loves you, Jake. It may seem like she’s too busy, but she’s just trying to find her place in this new relationship.”
I didn’t know that for sure, but I would not let my son go around thinking his mom didn’t want to spend time with him. What was for sure was that I was going to bring this shit up to her the next time I saw her.
“Will it be like that when you date? Will you need time and space?”
Leaning forward on my elbows, I looked him in the eye. “When I date, there will be a balancing act. I won’t lie. But anyone I decide to be with will have to understand that you are and will always be my number one priority.”
A grin fills his face, and he looks happier about our talk.
“Okay,” he says. “But when you do find a girlfriend, can you make sure she’s not like Cam’s new stepmom? Cam says she hardly speaks to him and she can’t cook.” I shake my head.
I don’t know what the hell Drew was thinking of leaving his wife for a woman thirteen years younger than him. I mean, I know what he was thinking, but it was a stupid ass thought.
I ruffled the curls on top of Jake’s head. “I’ll make sure that when I start looking for a relationship again, I’ll check her cooking skills first,” I joke.
He laughs. “Just find someone like Aunt Ella. She can cook, bake, and she likes the same movies I like.”
Jake turns back to his fishing rod, not knowing that he’d just dropped a fucking bomb in my lap. If only he knew how badly I wished I had the real thing. I didn’t need anyonelikeElla. Hell, I wanted Ella.
For the rest of the day, my son and I enjoyed our break from school. We spent the day catching fish and talking. By the time the sun set, we were pulling back up to my house. As soon as I put the truck in park, Jake jumped out.
“Hey, AJ!” he shouts to AJ as he pulls the trash cans to the side of the road.
“Sup, Jake.” His tone was drier than the desert, which wasn’t normal for him. He treated Jake like a little brother.
“Dad, can I go over and show Cam the picture of the fish I caught?”
“Yeah,” I say as I shut the truck door. Before the words are out of my mouth Jake is rushing across the lawn and into Ella's front door.
I place my attention on AJ. Leaning my back against the truck; I cross my arms over my chest and give him my attention.
“What’s with you?”
