Jett
I’m all alone on Christmas Eve. Pierce is with Ginny.
I can’t be around that woman. I’ve barely uttered a word to her since the night I found out who she slept with.
Friendly exes are a thing of the past. I feel bad for Pierce, but I can’t pretend that what she did is okay.
It will never be okay. Kennedy needs to see one of her parents prioritize her for the first time in her life. That’s what I’m giving my daughter.
Everything with Ginny is through the lawyers now. We’re negotiating a lump sum payout so I can forever be done with her.
Tonight, Vance is hosting his family, Sulley’s family, and the Humblecuts, which includes Kennedy.
He invited me, but I declined. I’m sure the big, happy families are sitting around the table now smiling and laughing.
I’m capable of neither. There was no way I’d be able to fake my way through that meal, especially with the Humblecuts, who practically sing Mary fucking Poppins music when they’re together.
I’m happy my daughter finally has the big, happy family Christmas she deserves, even if not with me.
I’m sitting in my home theater all alone, again watching the video of Fallon and me in my gym on a loop.
We were so smoking hot together. Our passion and chemistry practically jump off the screen.
As much as I enjoy watching the sex, it’s the way she’s looking at me in the video that always captures my attention.
It’s love. Pure, perfect love. For the first time in my life, a woman saw past everything and just wanted me exactly as I am.
Not what I could offer her. Not Jett, the star quarterback and coach.
She wanted Jett, the regular guy, warts and all.
My eyes take in her naked body. She’s so fucking beautiful.
I don’t care what she says, she’s perfect to me.
For nearly ten months, she was mine. I had her.
That amazing woman loved me, and I fucked it all up.
I’ve spent most of the past twenty-five years hating myself, but never more than I do right now.
I polish off what must be my seventh or eighth beer just as the brightness of the hallway light creeps into the dark room. I turn and notice the door to the theater gradually opening. Squinting at the offensive invasion of light, I see Kennedy walk in. “Dad?” she calls.
“I’m over here,” I begrudgingly croak out.
Her eyes find me before they move to the screen. She makes a look of disgust. “Ugh. Gross. Turn that shit off. I can’t believe you two made a porno.”
As I scramble for the remote control to power down the screen, she continues to stare at it. “Fuck, Fallon looks hot. She’s got great tits.”
“Do you mind?” I snap. “Show her some respect. Look away,” I command.
Where is the fucking remote control?
“Is she tied up? I can’t believe you give me shit for my love life when the freaky apple didn’t fall far from the tree. You guys are kinky fuckers.”
I eventually find the remote and mercifully power the screen down, making the room dark.
Kennedy flicks the light switch, and I avert my eyes. “Ugh. Turn it off. And watch your mouth.”
Her eyes widen. “Watch my mouth? You’ve got my coach tied up naked in your home gym while you plow into her, but me saying fuck is offending your delicate sensibilities?”
I groan in annoyance. “Shouldn’t you be with the Griswolds? What are you doing here?”
“No, what the hell are you doing here? You’re sitting home by yourself on Christmas Eve, whacking off to sex videos of Fallon. That’s pathetic.”
I sink back into the black leather chair. “No shit. But seriously, why are you here? You should be at Vance’s house with an actual happy family.”
Her face softens a bit. “I thought you might need me more, and I’m pretty sure I was right.”
She plops down on the oversized chair next to me and pushes the recliner back before placing her hands over her large belly. “Ah, fuck, that feels good. This kid is wreaking havoc on my back.”
“Just wait until it curses like a sailor in front of you,” I mumble.
She lets out a laugh. “Your priorities are fucked.”
I sigh as I match her reclining angle in my chair and turn my head to her. “Please stop cursing. It drives me crazy.”
“My kid’s first word will probably be fuck.”
I nod. “I know.”
I take her in. She’s in a forest-green sweater dress with a brown leather belt and brown leather boots.
Even heavily pregnant, she’s a beacon of fashion with perfect hair and makeup.
She’s always so well put together. I don’t know how she does it.
I’m the exact opposite, wearing worn sweatpants, an old Camels T-shirt, and my hair is probably standing in seventeen different directions because it hasn’t been brushed in a few days.
She exhales a long breath. “What are you doing to yourself? You’re a mess.”
“I fucked up my life. Again. I’m so pathetic.” My voice cracks. “I can’t live without her. I miss her.”
“She misses you too. She’s just as miserable as you are.”
“I doubt that.”
“Dad,” she pleads, “you love each other. You’re both unhappy without the other. She made you a better man. A happier man. I know you made her happy too. You need to find your way back to each other. You belong together.”
I shake my head. “I tried. She doesn’t want me anymore. I…may have overreacted about her hiding your pregnancy from me.”
“It wasn’t her news to share with you. I’m not a child.”
I nod. “That’s what she said.”
“She’s right. She’s one of those annoying people who are always right. Just do whatever she says and you’ll be fine.”
I try to offer a small smile at her attempt to lighten things, but I’m pretty sure I fail miserably. “It’s over. Even if she gets past how horribly I treated her, she wants to have kids. I can’t give her that, and I won’t take it away from her.”
“Why can’t you give them to her?” she challenges.
“Newsflash, I wasn’t very good at the parenting thing the first time around. I’m pretty sure you know firsthand.”
She rolls her eyes. “That’s why you don’t want to have kids with her?”
“Of course. I was a horrible father to you and Pierce. Why would I bring more kids into the world just to fuck them up? It’s not fair to them.”
She’s silent for a bit, as though she’s gathering her thoughts. “Did you ever love Ginny?”
Now it’s my turn to be silent. How do I tell my daughter I never loved her mother? I soften it as best I can. “Not in the way a man should love his wife.”
She nods in understanding. “Did she trap you by becoming pregnant with me?”
I shake my head. “Having you is the greatest accomplishment of my life. Nothing, Kennedy, I mean nothing, brings me more joy than you.”
Her eyes fill with tears. “That wasn’t an answer, but in some ways, I guess it was.
I always knew you fudged the date of when you got married.
I found your marriage certificate when I was eight.
That lowlife cast out a line to catch a soon-to-be-wealthy pro quarterback, and you were the unlucky victim. Did she poke holes in the condom?”
“I don’t want to talk about this.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
My jaw tightens. “I don’t know what she did or didn’t do. I was too drunk to even remember,” I bark out before I have the chance to take back the words. I regret them immediately.
Sitting up, I grab for her hand. “Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
She swallows as a single tear falls from her eye before she quickly wipes it away and straightens her shoulders. “It’s nothing I didn’t suspect. It’s fine.” She offers me a small smile. “If I didn’t look like you, I’d tell you to ask for a paternity test.”
I sink back into my chair and admit, “I had one done before we got married. Lucky for you, you’re definitely mine,” I add sarcastically.
She nods as she points to her stomach. “This kid was created by two people who hated each other, got drunk and married in Vegas, and were too horny one night to remember to put on a condom until it was too late.”
“I didn’t need to hear that articulated,” I grumble. “But you love each other now, right?”
She nods. “Yes. Very much. I’m happy with how everything turned out. I love him, and I know he loves me.”
I shake my head. “I can’t believe you’re married to Daylen Humblecut.”
She smiles. “That makes two of us. But maybe sometimes good things can come from not so good circumstances.” She widens her eyes in insinuation.
I take her hand again and kiss it. “I love you. You are truly my greatest blessing in this world.”
She nods. “That’s how I view my peanut. Do you want me to tell you what we’re having?”
“You guys know?” That’s news to me. Daylen refers to the baby as a girl, but I’ve learned it’s because he wants it to be a girl, not because they know anything for sure.
She shakes her head. “No, no one else knows, not even Daylen. He didn’t want us to find out, but I’m not so good at doing things I don’t want to do. I sent him out of the room on some bullshit mission so I could ask the doctor.”
I chuckle. “Of course you did.”
“It’s a girl,” she blurts. “I’m going to have a daughter.”
Happy tears spill from my eyes. “Congratulations. There’s nothing better than a daughter.”
She nibbles her lower lip nervously. “I’m so scared I’ll be a shitty mom, but Daylen thinks I’ll be a good one.”
I squeeze her hand in reassurance. “You’ll be a great mom. Guaranteed. You have the biggest, purest heart.”
“So do you, Dad. I’m guessing you have more love to give.”
“No, I—”