Chapter 32
Riggs
Zoe laughs as she tells me about the drama of the crushes the kids have over dinner. She doesn’t want to talk about her session with Jamar, but she happily goes on about Ollie and Millie before moving to Avery’s crush.
“Tyler’s a sweet kid. He worries about everyone’s feelings. It’s adorable how he is with Avery. I hope our kids are kind like him.”
“Our kids?” I almost choke on my water. “Are you saying you want kids?”
She slowly sets down her fork. “Well, yeah. Don’t you?”
“I want whatever you want.” I know she hates when I respond like this, but it’s the truth. From the moment she became my wife, making her happy has been my main focus. I’m not about to get bent out of shape over the little things. From experience, I know that makes for an unhappy marriage.
“I’m not saying I want them right away, but I do want them.”
“I’m ready when you are, but there’s no reason to rush. We haven’t even gotten into our groove yet.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t quite meet her eyes. I’m about to ask her about but the slamming front door interrupts me.
I’m on my feet, ready to fend off an intruder, when Calla storms into the kitchen. “You’re cutting me off?” she yells.
I close my eyes, letting out a slow exhale. Now is not the time for this. “I told you last night that you need to learn some responsibility. You can have your allowance as soon as you turn in a monthly budget to me.”
Calla turns her glare on Zoe. “This is because of you,” she screams, rushing toward the table.
I step in front of her, stopping her by gripping her upper arms. “No.” I keep my voice firm. “This is because of you. I’ve spoiled you long enough. I’m not even asking you to get a job. You just have to show me how you plan to spend the money I’m giving you before I put it in your account.”
“You never cared how I spent my allowance before.” Her accusatory gaze hasn’t strayed from Zoe, who wisely stays silent.
“Honey, I want you to be able to take care of yourself when you graduate. I’ve failed you by not teaching you how to budget earlier.” What I don’t say is I’ve seen how she’s becoming just like her money hungry mother, and I want better for her. Gretchen couldn’t save a dime if her life depended on it. She took half my money in the divorce, and if she hadn’t gotten remarried to a neurosurgeon, she’d have nothing left by now. Not to mention, I still paid for one of her credit cards up until last week.
“Daddy,” she whines in a tone that usually works on me.
“Calla, all you need to do is show me a monthly budget. I’ll even help you with it, if you want. Until then, I’m not adding any money to your account.” I cross my arms, letting her know this is my final decision.
She flares her nostrils, glaring at me. “I’ll find another way to make money, then.”
“Because god forbid you make a budget,” I snap. “I love you, honey, but right now, I’m not liking the person you’ve become.”
Calla and Zoe gasp at the same time.
“Fuck you,” Calla screams, turning on her heels to leave.
I hook her by the arm, pulling her into a hug. “Don’t storm out like this. We don’t ever leave mad.” After the countless accidents I’ve had on motorcycles, I know life can change instantly. “I love you.”
She doesn’t say it back, but at least she relaxes into my hug.
“Why don’t you come for dinner this weekend, and we can work on a budget for you then?” I ask, hoping she’ll agree.
“I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I ask.”
By the time Calla leaves, I think she’s calm. At some point during our argument, Zoe snuck out of the kitchen, and I find her upstairs in the bed, reading her Kindle.
She looks up with a worried expression. “Is everything okay?”
I shrug. “I think so.”
“I don’t want to come between you and your daughter. I’d never be able to live with myself.”
I take her Kindle and set it on the nightstand, kissing her. “Calla is a headstrong young woman. She’s also extremely spoiled. By tomorrow, she won’t be angry anymore.”
“She hates me.” The hurt in Zoe’s voice is unmistakable.
“She’s lashing out at you because you’re an easy target for her. Things won’t always be so strained between you two.”
“I don’t know. It seems like her mind is made up about me.”
I kiss her. “I don’t want to talk about Calla.” I know I shouldn’t use sex to make her forget how upset she is over the situation with my daughter, but so far it’s the one fail-safe way I’ve learned how to make her forget her worries.
Zoe grins, knowing exactly where I’m going with this. “What do you want to do?”
I reach between her legs, rubbing circles over her clit beneath her jeans. “I want to worship my wife.”
She relaxes into my touch. “What are you waiting for?”
Soon the only thing on my mind is my wife and how good she feels wrapped around me. Everything will fall into place. We just have to be patient.