His Valentine (Tangled in Temptation)

13. Kennedy

13

KENNEDY

“ Y ou’re shitting my dick,” I say, the words slipping out of my mouth right in front of Briar as we’re walking from Asher’s place to ours. Trent is beside me, and his body locks up when he sees what caught my attention.

“Son of a bitch,” he mutters.

“Ohhh, I’m telling you both said potty words.” Briar has been on this kick of scolding anyone who says any variety of a cuss word. Sometimes they aren’t even that bad. She’ll deem it bad in her eyes and add it to her never-ending list.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” Trent responds. I remain quiet. I’m too busy bouncing my gaze around every which way.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Asher says from behind us. Apparently, my big brother is pissed, rightfully so. I am, too. Chris knows better. I don’t mind that he wants to see Briar, but he’s well aware he needs to call and give me a heads-up.

“Calm down, Ash,” Trent says, already passing a very tired Briar off to me. She requested a ride home in the form of Trent carrying her. She’s flat tuckered out. After the weekend she’s had, bouncing from sleepover to sleepover, and then a day of fun in the sun along with swimming, I’m shocked she’s even able to hold her eyes open.

“Come here, baby girl.” She wraps her arms around my neck, legs circling my waist, and as much as I’m trying to shield her, it’s impossible. She recognizes Chris’ voice.

“Mommy?” she questions, unsure of how to handle the emotions that come with seeing her dad for the first time in almost a year. He made a sudden appearance a day after her last birthday. It’s been silence ever since in the form of him being here physically. Chris will call maybe once every few months or shoot a text and ask about her. I’ll send him a picture back and a quick recap. Then he won’t respond. It’s a never-ending cycle and a battle I’m not choosing to fight.

“It’s okay,” I coo softly, rubbing her back to keep her settled.

“I don’t want to see him.” She shoves her face in my neck. Trent looks at my daughter and then at me. My face must say it all. He bends down, drops a kiss to my lips, and then whispers one on the crown of Briar’s head.

“You don’t have to, sweetheart,” he assures her. “Be right back. May want to head inside or hang back with Lennon.” We’re barely off Asher’s front porch, and with the way he bellowed at Chris, the rest of the guys will be out here soon.

“I will. Might take her inside if it gets to be too bad. Then I’ll join you.” The facial expression he sends my way tells me that he’d rather I didn’t. Well, too damn bad. I don’t need anyone getting in trouble, causing a fight, and things going from bad to worse.

“I can’t stop you, but I’d rather you didn’t until I know why he’s here, yeah?” I nod, realizing compromising will be better than just going off half-cocked.

“Yeah, okay.” I watch as Chris steps out of the car. He’s smiling as if he hasn’t rocked anybody’s world, mainly Briar’s. This is who he is. He thinks everything is honky freaking dory. Trent heads to where Asher is standing, legs spread apart, arms hanging loosely at his sides. The one tell my brother has is the way his hands will clench into fists when he hears something he doesn’t like.

“Briar, do you want to come inside and lie on the couch?” Lennon steps out on the porch with us after we made the short trek back up them when Trent went to go stand with Asher. I thought he’d help the situation, but the way the voices are getting louder, it’s obviously not the case.

“I just wanna see my daughter,” Chris says from the sidewalk.

“Yes.” The word comes out more of a yesh with her face buried in my shoulder.

“Thanks, Lennie.” My girl is transferred yet again. I’d usually insist on carrying her, especially with my future sister-in-law so newly pregnant, except I really need to get down there. I love my brother, and I love Trent. I also love that they want to protect Briar and me, but I can’t let them fight all of my battles.

“No worries at all. Come on, pipsqueak, let’s get you settled and turn on some cartoons.” Lennon is going to be an amazing mom. She’s done this before in the form of raising her sister, Minnie. I stick around for a few more seconds, watching as they walk inside, but as soon as the door closes, I turn on my heel, run down the steps, and move between the two men staring angrily at Briar’s biological father.

“You know the rules,” Trent grunts.

“I’m in the area. Didn’t think seeing Briar for a few minutes would mean facing a firing squad,” Chris states.

“Chris, stop, please stop while you’re ahead,” I say, coming to stand between Asher and Trent. They could easily snap Chris in half, which I really don’t want to happen. The luck I’ve had this week, minus Trent and I finding our way together, obviously, I wouldn’t put it past Briar to be standing at the window watching it all unfold.

“A few minutes. Let me say hi,” he tries.

“No,” Asher barks.

“Buddy, this is not how things work. Kennedy has been more than lenient with this situation. She could have taken you to court ten times by now. You don’t pay dick when it comes to your daughter. You let everyone else pick up the pieces you should be putting back together. Damn, man, Briar clung to me when she realized you were here. She’s not even seven, and you’ve hurt her so deeply that she was ready to crawl inside me to hide when she heard your voice.” I hear Asher making a grunting noise. Pissed as hell is what he is, rightfully so. My brother has picked her up when I couldn’t, been there when I had to work two jobs, and where has Chris been? In the wind somewhere.

“Kennedy.” I raise my hand to stop Chris.

“I’m not budging on this. Next time, call.” I can hear the footsteps in the distance coming from behind us.

“The fuck is he doing here?” Tysen is pissed; I can feel his presence as well as hear the anger in his voice.

“I think it’s best if you leave now. Call me tomorrow, give me a chance to talk to Briar, and then you can see her.”

“Should have taken his ass to the cleaners,” Matthew, always the lawyer, pipes in.

“Yeah, I’ll do that. I didn’t mean any harm. Was in the area and figured it’d be cool. I’ll call tomorrow.” He puts up his hand in a no-offense gesture. I roll my eyes. He won’t call tomorrow. He’ll forget, and it’ll start this vicious cycle all over again.

“Okay.” I’ve had a lot of time to contemplate life in the past forty-eight hours. Depending on the cost of Trent’s grandma’s car and what I’ll have left over, I’m going to make an appointment with Matthew. He might not practice family law on the regular, and he’s told me so many times he’d be willing to look at my case, so I’m going to take him up on it.

“I’m going back in the house. Thanks, Ash.” I pat his chest then move toward Trent. “Thanks, big guy.” I lift up on my toes, he meets me halfway, and our lips graze one another’s.

“Anytime, babe, see you inside.” He squeezes my hip, his eyes bouncing around and being watchful. Yep, it’s time to head inside. I’ve got a girl to check on and parents to text. Mom and Mike are always kept aware when Chris makes an appearance, and since Briar talks to her Gee-paw, he more than needs to know.

“Damn, I missed all the fun.” Asher snorts at Jude’s assessment. Truth be told, he’s usually in his hidey hole working on a new app he’s developing.

Asher and Trent don’t turn their backs on Chris as he walks away. I do, though. He’s done it so many times to Briar that it’s the least of what he deserves.

“You alright?” Johnny asks, walking toward me.

“Yep, never better. I’m going to go check on my girl. Will you make sure they don’t decide to bust the headlights out of Chris’ car. There’s a good probability it isn’t even his.” He laughs at my statement, knowing it’s more than likely the truth.

“Yeah, girl. I’ll watch out for them,” he replies.

“Thanks, I think I’ve had enough excitement to last me at least a month, if not a year,” I say with a laugh.

“You got that right. Go on.” I nod, take a deep breath, and continue on my path. A few seconds later, I hear a motor start, then the noise of tires on pavement give me a piece of mind now that Chris is gone. There’s no looking back. I’m only looking ahead. My head is down, watching where I walk, when I reach the porch steps. The whole way up, I keep looking downward. One would think being a dancer and a stripper, I’d keep my eyes upward, except I’ve been known to trip going up the stairs.

“Hey, everything alright?” Lennie is standing in the doorway, holding the screen door open for me to enter.

“It is, thankfully. He’s gone,” I reply.

“She’s asleep, if you need to talk, and if you don’t, I’m okay with that, too,” Lennon says. Part of the reason I love her so much is she doesn’t push. The other is she’s just her, genuine to a fault, and she’s amazing for my brother, his perfect match.

“I’m going to take you up on that tomorrow. I’m too tired to do much more than head home and curl up on the couch with Trent and Briar.” I no sooner get the words out of my mouth than I hear another car pull up to our otherwise quiet neighborhood. Usually, it’s just the guys who take up all the spare space with their vehicles. In my driveway, Asher’s, and then parking on the street. Today, we’re down Jagger, so there seems to be way more room in front of our houses.

“Who is that?” I see Lennon peek around where I’m standing.

“Oh shit. I haven’t seen her in years. Her name is never spoken, and if you so much as breathe a word about her or her name, everyone gives you a death glare.”

“Well, Asher hasn’t said a single thing. He’s locked whatever her name is up in a vault, which is saying something.” Lennie steps away from the door, pulling it shut behind her, and we both move to the top of the steps, settling in for the drama to unfold.

“What the hell,” I hear Tysen say, realization hitting him first. Johnny had his back to the street, talking with the guys. Them and their little gathering of the minds. I’ve seen glimpses of the group chat; they’re worse than a bunch of girly teenagers.

“I wish I knew more of their background,” I tell Lennie, waiting for Johnny to notice, and when he does, it’s one for the books.

“I’ve got a feeling we’ll know more after this little tidbit of drama.” We probably should not be watching this unfold, not any of us. This is between Johnny and Winifred.

“Woman, you left me for your sister.” My nose wrinkles at his statement. Maybe her sister needed her, and Johnny couldn’t handle it.

“You know why I left. My reason is more than enough,” she replies.

“Leaving your man for a woman addicted to killing herself in the form of dope is not a good enough reason.” The plot is unfolding. This is more than the scene Chris created. The neighbors didn’t come outside for my drama, or maybe they did, and they’re staying for the second act.

“Johnny.” I watch as emotion takes hold of her. She’s trying to hold it together, but it’s written all over her face that she’s about to crumble.

“I think we might need to intervene,” Lennie says.

“Yep.” I’m already standing up, ready to intervene, when I hear the next part of the conversation.

“Been gone for years. Now you choose to come back. What the fuck for?” Johnny’s voice carries, dark and thunderous.

“Sign these, then I’ll leave and never come back.” She shoves the papers at his chest. Shit, that’s going to make more waves than ever before.

“I think we should go back inside now,” Lennie whispers.

“Lead the way. Hopefully, the guys will get the same memo,” I reply. Lennie loops her arm through mine, and we make our way back into their house with more questions and fewer answers.