Chapter 15 Jack
When Robyn eventually joins me and the guys in the kitchen, everyone goes silent, myself included—she looks incredible, even in something as simple as fitted light blue jeans and an oversized black knitted sweater that hangs off her shoulder.
I watch as she saunters over to the fridge, tugging it open and pulling a bottle of beer from the shelf just inside the door.
Twisting the cap off and tossing it onto the top of the kitchen counter, I glance as the boys watch her in awe while she tips the opening of the bottle to her lips and drinks. Her eyes flicking over each of them for a matter of seconds before her beautiful blue eyes finally settle on me.
Who knew watching a woman drink from a beer bottle would look so fucking sexy.
Plump, blush-coloured lips frame the glass opening and as she lowers the bottle—holding it against her chest so the neck of it sits between her huge breasts—they all look at her as though she’s the first woman they’ve seen in decades.
“You told them.” She runs her tongue against her top set of teeth, trying to mask the humour on her face, and I simply nod. “Alright.” Robyn faces them, leaning back against the edge of the kitchen counter. “Are there any questions any of you boys feel the need to ask?”
I watch her take another mouthful of beer and for a moment I think they’re just going to let it go, until Sam pipes up. “So—”
“Here we go,” I mutter.
“Wouldn’t you prefer someone a little more your own age than Optimus-past-his-Prime here?”
Robyn turns to face me, looking me up and down slowly as she bites her lip.
“I mean, to me he’s aging like a fine wine.
” She winks at me, then tilts her head to the side, looking right at Sam.
“Whereas, you…” She points the neck of her beer bottle in his direction. “You’re aging like a jug of milk.”
Pete, Danny, and I burst out laughing, mainly because everyone who knows us, knows Sam was always the pretty boy in our platoon. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her to back to my chest.
When I look at Sam, an expression I can’t place sails over his face before he looks back to Robyn. “Milk? Listen, little lady—”
“Little? Me?” Robyn makes a face. “Sweetheart, I think I’m even taller than you.”
Sam can’t hold his chuckle as his eyes find mine, and he points directly at Robyn. “You better silence that overgrown foetus of yours.” The grin on his face shows me he’s not the least bit pissed at her comebacks about his height and looks.
“Hey, it’s fine.” Robyn smiles, stepping forward and rubbing her hand comfortingly up and down his arm. “I’m sure soon enough you’ll be able to get on all the rides at the theme park.”
“I think I love her.” Pete swoons in Robyn’s direction, resting his chin on top of his fist, and she blows him a kiss.
Robyn faces me and winks. “I’m going to let you guys catch up while I film some content upstairs.” She backs away from me, taking her beer with her. “Let me know when you guys are—”
“Content?” they all question in unison and she smirks at me. Knowing she announced that utterly on purpose, I drop my head back and groan, because this is just another thing they’re going to hound me for.
“She does adult content in her spare time,” I answer for her. Slowly, all three of my best friends look at me with a more than surprised look on each of their faces.
“Yeah,” Robyn continues. “And he helped me with it, too.”
“Upstairs!” I bark playfully, stepping forward and pointing to the left of me with a light chuckle. Robyn joins in with my laughter, slowly backing out of the kitchen with a mischievous grin on her face.
“Adult content!?” Pete exclaims, finally registering my previous words.
Yeah, this is going to be one hell of a night.
The rest of the afternoon breezed by, filled with my friends asking me all kinds of questions about the whole Robyn situation, teasing me profusely, and of course making jokes about everything they possibly could.
I spent most of it rehashing the whole cheating fiasco with Jennifer, only to have Pete point out I was doing exactly the same thing.
Semantics.
At around five in the evening, Robyn finally came down from locking herself in the bedroom and joined the four of us in the living area for a while before leaving to prepare dinner.
It was weird having her entertain my friends, cooking, refreshing our drinks, and just joining in on the conversation when it called for her to.
None of this was supposed to happen, she wasn’t meant to be here, but now that she is, it feels… nice. Like she’s always been part of my space and this home, and honestly, having her here might be the first time these four walls have ever felt like such.
We told her stories of our time in the military together; Sam even forced me to tell my ‘hero story’ as he likes to call it.
Explaining the reason behind why I have the scars I do on my neck and chest—which came from saving him from an IED during a routine operation that I received a purple heart —wasn’t exactly how I saw this evening panning out.
But she seemed to enjoy it, and knowing she learned a little more about me made me feel… warm inside.
My time in the military isn’t something I talk about much, too many bad memories and self-deprecation, but when I’m around people who were there, who saw the same shit I did, it’s easier.
But nothing made me happier than watching her get along with three out of four of the most important people in my life. It’s odd, but I’m not mad about it.
Robyn’s dirty little laugh fills the room, her shoulders shaking with mirth as she, yet again, beats Danny in a game of cards, and I smile around the rim of my whisky glass as I focus on the scene before me.
“Don’t fuck me about, Robyn.” Danny points spiritedly at her, humour swirling in his eyes.
“I served a long time in the army, getting fucked about by professionals,” he exclaims further, snatching the cards from the table as she laughs harder, dropping her head back.
Her long red hair is piled up on top of her head in a messy bun, my loungewear adorning her body yet again.
I watch the way her tongue bounces inside her mouth, the way skin at the corner of her eyes wrinkles, and this is not the first time I’ve caught myself getting lost in her either.
Since that night on the couch all I seem to do is watch her, memorising all the features of her beautiful face, and knowing my enjoyment of her company won’t last forever.
I know it’s stupid. I know my thoughts and feelings over this girl are ludicrous because I’ve known her for seven years, but never like this.
She’s my stepdaughter, and maybe if I’d have been able to spend time with her as her stepdad things may have been different.
But we didn’t, and as bizarre as it is… I can’t help but be glad to have her now, instead of not at all.
There’s something about Robyn I’m unable to put my finger on.
A part of her that entices me to think certain way when I shouldn’t.
I’ve spent so long feeling like a part of the furniture with Jennifer—feeling unimportant and just someone for her to use to get ahead in…
whatever it is she’s interested in—that since being around Robyn my perspective on how things should be has changed drastically.
How has it been less than a week and I’m already this hooked on monkey phonics with her?
“It’s not my fault you have a terrible poker face, Danny,” Robyn chimes in, baring her teeth with a bright, striking smile, one that ever since I saw it, I’ve done everything I possibly can to keep it there.
And there’s a serious possibility I’ll miss seeing it.
“I know that look,” Sam rasps as he drops down next to me on the couch. I slide my eyes in his direction, knowing where this is going but choosing to play dumb because this isn’t a conversation I need or want to have.
Don’t say it.
Don’t ask.
“What look?”
You idiot.
“You know exactly what look I’m talking about.”
“Do I now?”
“It’s the same look you give Dita Von Teese whenever she’s on the TV screen.
” I bark out a laugh, taking a sip of my beer because he has no idea what he’s talking about.
“You’re in love with her,” he whispers, quietly enough that only I can hear.
I go to open my mouth, but he cuts me off before I’m able to mutter a single syllable of denial.
“And don’t tell me I’m wrong, or that I don’t know what I’m talking about. You’re better than that, Jack.”
I clear my throat and finish off my drink, placing the glass on the small table beside me, the clink gaining Robyn’s attention. “Do you want another?”
“I’m good.” I wink at her, watching the blush return to her cheeks before she turns her attention back to Danny and the fifth—or is it sixth—game of poker they’ve been playing this evening, this round having Pete join in.
“Whatever you think you’re seeing is nothing more than me waiting for the three of you to fuck off so I can finish what you all so inconveniently interrupted.”
“Hmmm.” Sam presses his lips together, nodding but not believing a single word coming out of my mouth.
There’s no way.
It’s impossible.
“Don’t make it weird.”
He huffs dryly, angling his head in my direction. “Weird? I’d say it’s way past weird, brother. But…” He thinks for a second but shakes his head and chooses not to say anything. Knowing full well how it frustrates me when he does it.
“Jesus Christ,” I grumble under my breath, nudging my elbow against his. “Just… say it for fuck’s sake.”
Slouching down further, Sam rests his head on the back of the couch and threads his fingers together over his broad chest. When he lulls his head to the side, giving me his full attention, I know he’s about to say something I’m not going to like.
“She’s young, and you’re almost twice her age. You think this is a good idea?”
There it is.
“I’m well aware of her age, and… no, it’s not a good idea. But it doesn’t matter.”
“Pray tell, why doesn’t it matter?” He raises his eyebrow.
I break the line of sight between me and the woman who has me completely enamoured to stare down at my best friend. “Because she’s leaving Monday.”
“She said that?”
“We agreed.”
“I see.” Sam gazes at Robyn, the corner of his mouth tipping up as she slams her hand down on the table.
“Domino, motherfucker!” Raising her arms in the air with excitement, Robyn curls her tongue over her top set of teeth and grins broadly, bringing a smile to my face once more.
“Wrong fucking game!” Danny shouts. “You’re cheating! I just can’t prove it!”
“It’s always the same with you when you lose.” Pete guffaws. “She’s just better at it than you are.”
“She’s beautiful,” Sam tells me.
Like I don’t already know.
“She is,” I agree, not willing to say anything more because I don’t trust myself.
The more I look at Robyn, the more I hate that she’s leaving Monday morning.
But I won’t ask her to stay, I can’t. I’m still married to her mother, and it would be absurd to ask her for anything more than the time we’ve had together.
I made it perfectly clear to her: I set the boundary, she agreed, and I need to respect that.
Sam stating she’s young isn’t new to me. It’s not like I haven’t had that thought running through my mind every single time I’ve been with her sexually. But hearing him say it… only makes me realise it more.
I don’t know when it happened or even how, but the way I feel about Robyn has changed drastically and asking her to stay, to wait for…
whatever it is I want from her isn’t fair, regardless of how I feel.
The time we have spent getting to know each other between sleeping and sex has been some of the most enjoyable moments I can remember having.
Robyn isn’t just the woman I’m sleeping with; she’s the woman that if I was twenty years younger, I would’ve snapped up and never let go.
But I’m not, and she still has her whole life ahead of her.
One I’m not going to ruin just because I’ve developed feelings for her.
Feelings I can’t fathom because this wasn’t supposed to happen.
It was only meant to be fun, except it turned into something far more for me and even though I’m a grown man… I don’t have the confidence to ask her for more because she deserves better than I could ever offer her.
“Penny for your thoughts, big guy?” Sam breaks my concentration.
I shake my head. “Just realising some shit, brother, and you’re right… she’s young.”
“Fuck…” He sighs. “Don’t listen to me, what the fuck do I know. I’m aging like milk, remember.” Both of us chuckle together. “If there’s one thing I can say about her, Robyn definitely has a mouth on her.”
I smirk devilishly. “That she does.”
“Yeah, no, I don’t want to hear about your sexcapades with her thank you very much.” He lifts his wrist and checks the time. “Think it’s time the three of us get out of here and leave you both to it.”
I glance at the clock above the fireplace, realising it’s a little after midnight. “Yeah.”
He grunts as he pushes to stand. “Come on, fuckers, let’s leave these two love birds to it.” Sam walks to Robyn and she stands, smiling as he holds his arms out for a friendly hug. I watch as his lips find her ear, his mouth moving, saying something I can’t quite hear.
She pulls back from him and smiles, offering him a gentle nod before hugging Pete, and finally Danny—even if he is glaring at her in relation to her kicking his ass at poker.
Robyn looks at me and smiles, but this time… something’s different with her. With us. “I’ll see you upstairs… Daddy.”
Closing my eyes, I hear her little giggle because she knows she’s going to regret ever saying that in front of them.
“You make her call you daddy?” Pete snorts with laughter as he walks over and fist bumps me. “I didn’t know you had it in you, pops.”
“Pete, shut the fuck up before I fold you into a pretzel,” I call over my shoulder as I walk towards the front door. Ready to spend what’s left of the day with my girl.