Unlucky You

Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

Grand.

“Saniya…” I kissed her bare shoulder when I reached over her body to retrieve a condom. She moaned in the back of her throat, shoved an arm under her pillow, and pushed her knee higher, but didn’t fully wake. After I ripped open the condom and put it on, I lifted and covered her body with mine, burying my face in her neck while I slipped an arm under her waist and moved my hand between her legs. When I brushed my fingers over her pussy then eased them inside, she sighed in contentment and moved her leg higher to give me more access.

Slowly, I stroked her pussy to life and watched her face until I noticed her smile surface. “What time is it?”

“Five thirty.”

She groaned. “Why are you up?”

“I promised Raiden I would take him to school. I have about twenty minutes before I have to leave.”

“That’s not a lot of time.”

“Not a lot but enough.”

When my fingers were slick and coated, I slid my body to the side, hooked my arm under her thigh, and guided myself into Saniya nice and slow…

“This is nice.”

I kissed the nape of her neck while I fucked her at a good, steady pace. “What’s nice?”

“Morning sex.”

I smirked and moved, slowly at first, enjoying and savoring the feel of being inside her but then need took over and I thrust with a little more force. “Just morning sex or morning sex with me?”

I lifted my head and glanced at her face. Her lips curled into a smile. “Morning sex with you.”

“Good answer.”

In the past couple weeks, I had woken up to Saniya a handful of times. Some in her bed, others in mine. Not once did I feel out of place or uncomfortable with her body wrapped around mine. I liked the idea of having access to her like this. She made me happy and day by day I felt a little less guilty accepting that I deserved to be happy.

Soft gasps and sensual moans had me thrusting harder and faster, chasing my high and desperate to deliver hers. The depth of my plunges combined with the warmth of her clenching around me had my dick pulsing in a matter of minutes. I wasn’t going to fucking last.

The sound of her ragged breaths and my name whispered between them, and her stretching wide around my dick pulled my orgasm to the edge. I lifted her leg higher and drove into her with a trained focus until her body trembled through a climax. The feel of her unraveling sent me over the edge, following her release. After my body released and my mind cleared, I kissed her shoulder.

“Definitely morning sex with you .”

I eased out of Saniya and headed to the bathroom to dispose of the condom and clean up so I wouldn’t be late getting Raiden to school. When I made it back to the bedroom, she was on her side, arm shoved beneath the pillow her head was cradling comfortably.

With lazy hooded lids, she smiled slowly, watching as I dressed. If my reason for leaving was related to anything other than Raiden, I would have climbed right back in her bed and spent the morning enjoying her body wrapped around mine. The ease with which I settled into a routine with her wasn’t just about the sex. I felt comfortable being with Saniya. What I appreciated most was not once had I found myself comparing her to Aleah. They existed in separate spaces with Saniya fitting into a space that was solely hers. The ease of how we worked confirmed there was room in my life and heart for both. I would always love Aleah. She was the first woman to own my heart. She blessed me with a son who showed me love that I struggled to understand until I saw his smile and knew he was the best part of both of us. The lines between my past and future would forever be blurred but that didn’t mean I had to remain in a dark place.

Once I was dressed, I crossed the room and leaned over the bed, gliding my finger down the side of Saniya’s face over the curve of her jaw and down her shoulder before I hooked her chin and placed kisses to her swollen lips.

“I have to go.”

“Or you could stay.” She extended an arm and hooked her fingers into the waistband of my joggers. I groaned and wrapped my hand around her wrist, gently tugging it away.

“If I don’t leave now, I won’t have time to get him breakfast before I drop him off at school and I made him a promise.”

She smiled when I leaned down and pressed another kiss to her lips then backed away.

“I love that you’re committed to showing up for him.” Her voice was soft with admiration.

“I owe him for the time I missed. I want to give him back as much of that as I can.”

Saniya frowned slightly. “You have to stop putting unnecessary weight on your shoulders. You’re a great father and I would bet everything I own he doesn’t believe you owe him anything. He probably doesn’t even understand why you were gone or care beyond you being here now. Kids are forgiving in ways that adults can’t process. Raiden isn’t running a total or keeping count of time you feel you owe. He’s just loving you.”

Her words washed over me in a way that eased the stress I carried from things I was overthinking. She read my thoughts and fears about where I fit into my son's life. She wasn’t competing or jealous. She was finding her position in a world that already existed while claiming a space that wouldn’t disrupt the balance. Saniya wanted to add to our lives. I crossed the room and pressed my forehead to hers. “Thank you.”

When I pulled back, she smiled softly. “You’re welcome. Now go, so you won’t be late.”

Because she was willing to selflessly place his needs above hers, I would work my ass off to ensure Saniya and Raiden never felt inadequate in my life.

After I collected my bag and headed to the door, I paused. “If it’s cool with you, I was thinking maybe it’s time for you to meet him.”

Her eyes widened for a minute but she smiled slowly. “You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I like how this feels.”

“Me too.”

“Aight, dinner later. Let me work out the details and I’ll let you know when and where. Come lock up.”

As soon as I was in my car, I called Tali back. He’d texted after the race but didn’t call so I assumed it wasn’t an emergency.

“Damn, you just coming up for air. I’m glad my life wasn’t on the line.” I could tell he was dragging but also that I hadn’t awakened him.

“You know how to get my attention if it’s important.” I pulled up to the light, slouching lower in my seat. “And why the hell you up? This is early for you.”

“Doing a detailed back tattoo and she wanted to get started early.”

“What she getting?”

“Lotus flowers, chakras and shit down her spine. Full color and she wants most of it done today.”

I cringed at the thought. “That shit is going to be painful.”

“I tried to tell her. I wanted to do four visits. She wants to do it in two. Money is still the same so I don’t know what the rush is, but shit, if she’s down then I’ll get it done.”

I nodded and pulled away from the light. “What’s up though?”

“She’s a good look for you. Don’t fuck it up by getting in your own way.”

I laughed lightly. “You giving relationship advice?”

“I’m giving life advice. You’ve done your time, physically and emotionally. You’ve spent the past five years disconnected, punishing yourself for some shit you couldn’t control. That miserable ass space you’ve confined yourself to wasn’t going to change the past. Life keeps moving. I fucking missed you. Your mother and Raiden missed you. Saniya makes you happy so don’t fuck that up. Let it be what it is.”

From the outside looking in, Tali wanting me there last night was superficial as fuck. Racing Saniya’s ex was personal. If you fucked with me, you fucked with him. That was how we operated but it was deeper. We were close, raised more like brothers than cousins, so Tali saying he missed me landed in a way that only I would understand.

“I hear you,” was all I said and he exhaled a sigh.

“Do you? Because I’m not sure you do. Five fucking years. You refused my visits, didn’t call, no contact, Grand. I know it’s not the same so believe me when I say I’m not trying to compare what you dealt with to how things were on my end but I did that time too. I lost you when you went inside and that shit hurt. Everybody lost something. You more than anyone else but we all had to deal with how things played out.”

My expression was tight as hell because I never considered the situation from their perspective. I was selfish but being selfish was what I needed to survive. “I fucked that up.”

“Yeah you did.” His voice was lighter. “But I’m not holding a grudge and you don’t need to hold onto shit either. Like I said, she’s a good look for you. Let her make you happy or I’ll let her make me happy. I saw the way she was checking for me after I embarrassed ol’ boy…”

“Don’t ruin a good moment, muthafucker.”

He laughed. “You know I’m fucking with you.”

“And you know I will square the fuck up if I need to.”

“Aight, aight. Chill. Let me head out so I’m not late. I’ll holler at you.”

I didn’t have a lot of people in my life but the ones who showed up for me were solid and the newest addition to that list had me feeling like I could breathe.

When I rounded the passenger side of my car, Raiden grinned so damn big, I couldn’t control my own smile. Something as simple as grabbing breakfast and bringing him to school had Raiden happy as fuck.

“Don’t forget your book bag,” I reminded him seconds before he climbed out. He nodded, reaching for it and standing next to me while I adjusted his hoodie and matching joggers. When I pulled up this morning, he took one look at my fit and decided he wanted to match my fly so I found something similar in his closet.

Navy hoodie and joggers along with a pair of Nikes. He pouted about not being able to wear his Yeezy slides but the school had a policy about them wearing slides of any kind because of recess.

“Daddy, I can’t wait for you to meet my teacher. I told her that you were coming.” He slipped his hand in mine after I slipped my arm through his backpack. He walked beside me, rambling about different things in his classroom he planned to show me and how he told all his friends that his dad was home and coming to visit the school. My fucking heart melted at how excited he was.

“Good morning, Raiden. Mr. Sinclair.” The guy who tried to stop me from picking up Raiden in the car pickup line a little over a month ago moved away from drop-off line and cut off our path. “I’ll take him from here.”

“Nah, we’re good. He wants me to see his classroom and meet his teacher.”

“Unfortunately…”

I paused and grunted, glaring at him and ol’ boy flinched and rolled his shoulders back. I had to remember where I was; other students and parents in view. As much as I wanted to check this muthafucker so he would find something safe to do with his time and stop fucking with my peace, I refused embarrass my son. I edged close and spoke directly but clearly.

“If you’re about to tell me some shit about school rules or policy, don’t waste your fucking breath. I’m really trying my best not to embarrass the fuck out of you out of respect for my son, but for some reason, you like tipping the scales between my peace and your wellbeing. How about you don’t so this doesn’t get any worse than it already is.”

He reared his head back and his eyes darted around before landing on me. “As I explained before, we have policies in place to protect the safety of all students, not just your son. I can’t…”

“Mr. Jensen. Is there a problem?”

The soft but stern voice that sounded close by had me glaring in her direction. The woman wore a concerned look with one hand clasping the other wrist in front of her body so her posture was relaxed. She was in a navy pantsuit and heels which meant she was likely admin and not a teacher. Most of them were in casual clothes, slacks, school polos, or t-shirts.

“Uhh, no, I was just explaining to Mr. Sinclair that we don’t allow parents in the building during morning drop-off and that he could schedule an appointment to view Raiden’s class and meet his teacher.”

Her eyes lowered to Raiden who was still clutching my hand at my side. “You’re Grand Sinclair.”

I frowned and nodded while Raiden confirmed in a cheerful voice. “My daddy.”

She smiled and extended a hand. It threw me for a minute but I accepted and we shook before she dropped her arms to her sides. “Your mother stopped in a few months ago to let us know you would be added to Raiden’s approved guardian list. She explained that we would see more of you. It’s a pleasure to formally meet you.”

“Thank you.”

She turned to ol’ boy. “I’ll take them inside with me.”

Her compliance pissed him off and I laughed arrogantly at how he mugged the fuck out of me when she lowered to address Raiden. “You’re Kindergarten, right? Mrs. Gleason.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She turned her attention to me. “Perfect. She’s already in her classroom and I’m sure she won’t mind a quick tour and introduction. We’ll have to keep it short but if you would like a one on one conference, you can call and get on her schedule. How’s that sound?”

“I appreciate that.”

She smiled and nodded, heading to the doors. Being polite, I raced around her to open it before she got a chance to. We walked through the hallway to Raiden’s class where he tugged me from place to place, showing me his desk, his open locker where he kept his coat and book bag, and artwork that was on display. I was also introduced to his teacher. She was welcoming and raved about what an amazing kid he was. She addressed me in a way that respected that I was his father. They saw a caring parent, not a man who did five years in prison.

I thanked them both and said goodbye, while Raiden put his book bag away and prepared for his day. The principal walked me back to the front of the school so I could leave but stopped me right before I dipped out.

“As much as your priority is to your son and you advocate for his safety and happiness, mine as well as my staff’s priority is to Raiden and every other student who attends classes here. You’re getting acclimated to our rules which is why I extended the consideration today. Please understand it’s imperative that you follow the rules here. Can you give me your word that you will at least try to be more accommodating to my staff?” Her words were firm but her approach was drastically different than ol’ boy’s.

“I respect that and yeah, I’ll follow the rules. Thank you for letting me break protocol.”

“You’re welcome. Dedicated parents are our allies. Have a great day, Mr. Sinclair.”

“You too.”

I spent most of the day assembling and installing the custom cabinets our current customer was paying for. Walt was teaching me more and more with each job. He had been doing carpentry and woodwork for the past twenty-six years, so there wasn’t much he couldn’t do. However age had slowed him down over the years, which meant the money had slowed down. Having me back on his team was a solution to the problem. As much as I fought against it, he pushed to make sure I learned as much as possible. I stopped fighting the process and could pretty much do just as much as he could now.

“You’re moving slow, old man.” I grinned over my shoulder while sliding the shelving into the overhead cabinets I’d just finished installing to be sure they fit. Walt hand cut everything so I wasn’t necessarily worried but he had someone coming to professionally stain them in the next couple days.

“Quality work takes time,” he muttered and I grinned, knowing his pacing didn’t have shit to do with quality and was more about the muscle ache he complained about for the past couple days. He pulled something but was too damn stubborn to take it easy or see a doctor.

“You trying to say I’m not doing quality work?” I turned and yanked the work gloves from my hands and shoved them into the pockets of my jeans. Today was woodwork installation and cleaning so I bypassed the coveralls.

Walt finished aligning and installing the last row of screws then turned to me with a cocky grin. “You’re as good as I taught you to be.”

I threw my head back and laughed. “And since you don’t want me outshining you, I’m gonna guess I’m a few levels behind you.”

“Your words not mine.” He glanced at the wall of cabinets I’d spent the day installing. “If you’re about done, we can clean up in here and head back to the office. I want to go over the jobs for next week.”

“Yeah I’m done. I just want to double check to make sure they’re secure and then I’ll get this stuff cleaned up.”

He finished what he was doing and I lugged the dolly we used to bring the wood in along with the toolboxes to the van and got everything loaded. I followed him back to the office he kept in a small business park in town which wasn’t far from my mother’s house.

We spent half an hour going over the upcoming jobs which would require a lot more independence on my part to get them completed on time. Walt had been hinting around to it over the past couple weeks, saying that me taking lead on some of the smaller jobs would help him bring in more business. I had no objections because more business meant steady income. Since I’d gotten approved to move into a two-bedroom as soon as one became available, steady income was a must.

“I have one last thing I want to discuss with you.” Walt opened his desk drawer and removed a stack of papers which he placed on the surface and pushed across to me.

“What’s this?”

“Take a look.”

I lifted the papers, scanned the first one and thumbed through the rest, frowning hard when I realized what I was looking at. “I can’t afford ownership in your company, Walt.”

He grunted and leaned back, rocking slowly in his computer chair. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not selling. I’m giving it to you. All you have to do is sign.”

“Nah, I’m good. I work, you pay me. That’s our deal and that’s good enough. I don’t want you giving me shit.”

I tossed the papers on the desk and lifted from the chair. “We done here?”

“Grand Alton Sinclair. Sit down.”

Alton…

I almost fucking laughed at the use of my full name. That was all my mother’s doing. Walt paid me in cash and the only paperwork I filled out with him had Grand Sinclair.

“I don’t want a fucking handout.”

“It’s not a handout. It’s an investment.”

“For who?”

“For both of us. You’re investing in your time helping me continue to burn the business. I’m investing my money in assuring that the business I’ve worked my ass off building over the past twenty-six years doesn’t end with me.”

“You have family; give it to one of them.”

I didn’t really know if he had family. He mentioned once he didn’t have kids but I wasn’t sure about nieces or nephews. He never discussed personal shit, well outside of mine.

“None that I trust enough to leave this to. I’m sixty-eight years old ,son. I’ve only got a few more years doing this before I’m not physically able, or hell, before I decide I don’t want to do this shit anymore. And before you tell me to sell it, that’s the goal. That forty percent is just what I said it is. An investment. The other sixty I’ll sell to you when I’m ready to walk away. Then it will be all yours. We can negotiate a reasonable price you can afford.”

I just stared at him for a minute and he stood, digging a ten out of his pocket. “You have change for this? While you’re thinking of all the ways to tell me no, I’m going to grab something out the vending machine.”

I removed cash from my pocket, counting out five ones and a five which I extended to him. He yanked one of the singles, folded it with the ten, and shoved it back in his pocket before pointing to the papers.

“You don’t want a handout, fine. You just paid me. One dollar for forty percent.”

“Walt, that’s not how this works.” I frowned.

“Who says it doesn’t? My company, my price. I’m charging one dollar. Take those with you and think on it. If you want to work tomorrow, then I suggest you sign them.”

He rounded his desk with a scowl set in place when he proceeded to leave the office.

“If I don’t sign these you’re firing me?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Consider it a temporary leave to work through that damn stubbornness and deal with your ego. Don’t think you can really afford that right now but the choice is yours.”

“Muthafucker…” I muttered, lifting the papers and following Walt out the office. When we reached the glass door, he let me out first, then followed, turning a key in the lock. “I’ll see you in the morning and you’re welcome.”

I grinned, lifting my chin in admiration. “Thanks, Walt. I appreciate this.” I held up the papers, heading to my car, but the moment was disrupted by a voice I hadn’t heard in years. One I wouldn’t care if I ever heard again.

“Do you know he’s a felon who killed two people?” The muscles in my jaw clenched when I turned to see Aleah’s father heading in our direction. I also didn’t miss that he said killed two people. He still blamed me like I was the one who put that shit in her drink. I already blamed myself enough. Didn’t need him doing it too.

“Who are you?” Walt was by my side in a matter of seconds.

“I’m the man whose life he destroyed when he got my daughter pregnant with his bastard then murdered her.”

My fists clenched at my side and I felt myself about to move until Walt held up his arm, grabbing ahold of mine.

“You should leave.”

“You should be more selective about who you hire. He tarnishes your ability to have a reputable company.”

“How the fuck do you know where I work?”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t? She lost her life; you don’t get to have one,” he sneered, then addressed Walt. “He’s a felon. What would your customers think about who you allow in their businesses and homes?”

“They’d think we do a damned good job of delivering the quality they expect and pay for.”

Aleah’s father smiled smugly. “I have a lot of pull in this city. A few calls from me can complicate your ability to function and bring in new customers.”

“Are you threatening to slander a reputable business because of a personal vendetta?”

“I’m saying that I will do whatever’s necessary to ensure this piece of shit doesn’t have a life since he took my Aleah from us. Take it how you want, but believe me, I will make you regret hiring him.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“You are what’s wrong with me. I lost her because of you .”

“You lost her because she wasn’t what you wanted her to be. You lost her before that night ever happened. You turned your back on her, denied our son, and proved you didn’t give a damn about Aleah.” I got right in his face and it took every ounce of control I had not to smash my fist into it. “You want to blame me, fine. You want to punish me, do that shit, but you fuck with him, you’ll be the one with regrets.”

Walt was beside me again. He forcefully pushed me back so there was space between us.

“I don’t think felons are allowed to make those types of threats. Your actions will be taken a lot more seriously.”

He smiled smugly and turned to Walt. “You might want to think about what I’ve said.”

“You might want to think about what an old man like me is and isn’t willing to lose.”

He walked away, got in his car, and pulled away. I pushed the paperwork I was holding into Walt’s chest which he looked down at when I spoke. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

He grunted and stepped back, refusing to take it. “I don’t give a shit about what you think. I’ll see you in the morning, Grand. Sign the gotdamn paperwork.”