Chapter Nine
Caden
Why in the hell is that jackwagon here?
Or specifically, why the hell was he with my sister?
“You okay?” Jack asks quietly as we approach the line at the concession stand.
“Fine,” I grumble, nodding to a few people I know as they pass.
“Obviously,” my friend states sarcastically.
We’re quiet as we wait our turn to reach the counter, and the moment we do, I look down at Christian. “Whatcha want, little man?”
“Nachos!”
“I’d like nachos and eight hot dogs, please,” I say to the high school girl manning the concession stand.
“Eight?” she asks with a look of surprise.
“Yep.” I pull cash from my wallet and place it on the counter.
“Hungry?” Jack asks, unable to hide his grin.
“Yes,” I reply, my teeth grinding.
My food is placed in front of me, and I quickly hand Christian his nachos. “Twenty-six dollars, please.”
I hand over the money and start making a pile of hot dogs in my arms. “I’ll get some,” Jack states, grabbing the last three dogs off the counter.
We start to head back to the bleachers, Christian happily munching on chips and cheese, Jack leans closer. “You better get it under control before we get back there.”
I pause and take a deep breath. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
“Well, he is Joshua’s dad,” he counters.
“Yeah, but…sit somewhere else. Did they arrive together?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“That’s something you’d have to ask your sister,” he mumbles, slipping behind me so someone can pass on the walkway between the bleachers and the court.
I exhale again. “Yeah, I know. It just pisses me off. They’re supposedly getting a divorce—finally!—and now here he is. I’m tired of seeing my sister cry, man.”
Jack grabs my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “I know. I can’t imagine watching that, but at the end of the day, your sister’s a big girl and has to make her own decisions. If she wants to take back the cheating asshole again, that’s her choice.”
I close my eyes and try to calm my racing heart. When I open my eyes, I nod. “I hate it.”
“Me too, and she’s not even my sister,” Jack replies. “All I’m saying is don’t drive a wedge between you and Scar because of whatever’s happening with Warner. I’d hate for it to affect your relationship with Joshua too.”
I get what he’s saying, and I know he’s right. Doesn’t mean I like it.
We watch as Christian makes it up to our seats, and Gram helps him hold his nachos, which he politely shares with her. “What’s going on with you and Adrienne?”
My gaze returns to my oldest friend. “Nothing.”
He snorts a laugh. “Is it going to be a problem, her working for us? We just decided to hire her, and then the next day, you went home with her.”
“That was a one-time thing,” I counter.
Liar.
You most definitely don’t want it to be a one-time thing.
He narrows his eyes at me. “I’ve always stayed out of your business, Caden. What you do in your personal time is your decision to make, but she works for us now. Don’t let the lines blur.”
I swallow hard, my stomach churning with uneasiness. Why? Because I want to blur the lines. I had an amazing time with an incredible woman early this morning, and frankly, I wouldn’t mind a repeat. Or two. I know that’s all it’ll ever be, and I appreciate that fact. She’s not husband hunting. She’s just looking for sex, which is why this arrangement works so well for us. I have no idea if this was a one-time thing or if it’ll happen again, but as long as the rules don’t change, I don’t see it interfering with her new position at the office.
“I got it,” I tell him, pushing past him and heading up the steps to return to our seats.
Slipping past Gram and Christian, I plop down in my seat and watch as the players return to the court to start their warmups at the end of halftime.
“Hungry?” There’s humor in Adrienne’s question.
I look down, realizing I’m still holding five hot dogs. “Starving,” I reply, turning my attention to Adrienne. There’s a look of mischief mixed with humor dancing in her eyes. “Late night. Lots of exertion.”
Scarlet groans, plugging her ears. “Stop talking,” she groans.
I risk a glance at Adrienne, who’s fighting a smile. My sister doesn’t know she’s sitting next to the woman I happened to be exerting all my energy with, and I’m not going to tell her. What I do in private is just that. Private.
“Here, I brought them for everyone,” I announce, handing my sister a foil-wrapped hot dog.
Stevie holds up her hand. “No thank you. We ate lunch before we came.”
“I’m taking one,” Jack says, setting two of his three down on the bleachers beside me.
“You ordered eight hot dogs?” Scarlet asks, holding out her hand for one.
“I’m a growing boy,” I counter, handing over the frank.
“Me too!” Christian hollers, dipping another chip in cheese. Holding out my knuckles, he taps it and makes an explosion with his hand.
I hand him a hot dog, even though I’m certain he won’t eat it, and then pass one to Gram. “Thank you,” Gram says, then helps Christian unwrap his and set it on the bleachers between them.
Holding out a hot dog, I wave it toward Adrienne. “Weiner?”
Stevie snorts.
Adrienne’s plump lips tick up in a smile. “Thank you.” Her fingers brush against mine as she takes the snack.
We start watching as the third quarter begins, and I quickly devour two hot dogs while watching the game. Gianna comes down to where we’re sitting and plops down in front of Adrienne. “Will you braid my hair?” she asks.
“You got it, sister,” Adrienne replies, moving up a row so Gianna can sit in front of her. She starts working her fingers through Gianna’s curly hair before reaching into her backpack and pulling out a thick-tooth comb, as well as some fancy ponytail holders. I watch the game, but my eyes keep returning to watch Adrienne work Gianna’s hair.
“Adrienne braids the best because she has curly hair too,” Gianna tells me, kicking her feet casually.
“Us curly haired girls gotta stick together,” Adrienne states, twisting her fingers and entwining the strands into the intricate braid.
“Wanna hot dog?” I ask, handing it over to Jack’s daughter.
“Sure. Does it have ketchup and relish? I only like them with ketchup and relish. No mustard. It makes me gag.” She pulls open the foil and makes a face. “It’s plain.”
“They were all plain,” I inform her, holding the eighth and final hot dog. Holding it up to Adrienne, I ask, “Want the last one?”
“No thanks. I’ve had enough wiener for today.” She flashes me a knowing smile, and if I weren’t sitting beside my bestest little buddy and my gram, I’d pitch a tent in my pants.
Holding out the final dog, I offer it to Stevie, Jack, Scarlet, and Gram, who all decline. “Wanna second one?” I ask Christian, who’s only taken one single bite from his first one but put a huge dent in his nachos.
“Can’t, Uncle Caden. I fullded.” He rubs his belly and pushes it out.
“Hot dogs put hair on your chest.”
He makes a face. “Like Daddy? He’s got tons of hair! It’s black and tickles my cheeks when he hugs me in the pool.”
My lips curl up. “Daddy ate lots of hot dogs when he was little.”
Christian seems to consider that. “Maybe I’ll just have a couple. Then I’ll have hair and muscles like you.”
Grinning from ear to ear, I rub his hair. “Well, we don’t want to overdo it with the hot dogs, so just finish the one you’ve got.”
“’Kay!”
I turn, realizing there’s no one else to eat the hot dog. My eyes settle on the dipshit just over Jack’s shoulder. “Here,” I say, throwing the wrapped hot dog at my sister’s cheating hopefully-soon-to-be ex-husband. “Don’t choke, dickwad.”
“Dickwad!”
Of course Christian yells it.
Gasps are heard around me, mostly from my best friend and his girlfriend, and maybe the older biddies nearby. Adrienne chokes on a chuckle, and Gram just shakes her head, while fighting a smile.
“Christian, remember what I said about repeating the stuff you hear from Uncle Caden?” Jack chastises.
His son nods. “Yep. You said he’s got a potty mouth.”
“He does, and we don’t repeat everything we hear him say,” Jack states.
A slap raps across the back of my skull. “Nice one, dickwad,” Stevie mutters so little ears can’t hear.
I lean back, my eyes trailing the ball on the court. “It was the nicest I could come up with.”
She gently knees me in the middle of my back.
“Butt in his gut!” Adrienne hollers. “Box out!”
“You know basketball, Adrienne?” Gianna asks.
“I do. Used to play in high school. My nickname was Ice, because I was cold as ice on the court. I currently hold the single season three-point record, as well as the four-year career record at my high school.”
“Cool,” Gianna sings. “I might try basketball in junior high. Dad, do you think I could try basketball?”
Jack smiles at his daughter. “If you want, sure.”
My attention turns back to the court, as Joshua shoots a three-pointer and sinks it. “Great shot!” I holler, clapping for my nephew.
“I like her. You should bring her to the wedding.”
I turn to face Gram, who’s watching me intently with a knowing grin. “Excuse me?” Dread fills my gut.
“The beautiful girl behind us. She would look great on your arm and she’s spicy. I like that.” Since Gram doesn’t know how to talk quietly, everyone around us hears.
“You’re going to the wedding?” Scarlet asks, the surprise very evident in her voice.
I take a deep breath and shake my head. “Apparently,” I mumble.
“Why?” my sister asks, clearly needing an explanation. Not that I blame her. My sister was hurt and upset when the news broke my pregnant fiancée had cheated, and the baby wasn’t mine. Scarlet and Dawn were friends on top of it, which made the betrayal that much more difficult for her.
“Because I asked him to,” Gram announces. “I want all of my grandkids to be there with me.”
“But Gram, surely there’s another way to get everyone together, like breakfast the next day or something?” she offers.
“That won’t work. They’re leaving on their honeymoon bright and early. And Caden has already agreed,” Gram boasts, offering me a small smile, all while my head is filled with dread and my heart is trying to claw out of my chest. Like I told Gram, I’m over her and what happened, but that doesn’t mean I want to hang out and pretend to be happy for them.
I turn back and flash my sister my best smile. “It’ll be fine. They’ll probably be more uncomfortable than I will be,” I insist with a shrug. I can feel Adrienne’s questioning eyes on me, but I keep mine locked on Scarlet.
“If you say so,” she mutters. “The only reason I’m going is because Gram asked.”
“And we’ll all have a great time together,” Gram maintains. “The misfits corner!” Then, she turns to Adrienne, and, before I can stop her, asks, “Do you have plans Saturday night? My grandson needs a date.”
“Gram!” I holler, finally letting my eyes settle on Adrienne. “Please forgive her. I’d like to say her filter is just broken in her old age, but she’s always been like this. I’ve been told that’s where I get it from.”
Adrienne smiles and wraps the braid in a ponytail holder, securing it into place. “I have no plans Saturday night,” she confirms to Gram, cutting me out of the conversation.
“Excellent. You are just what we need. I don’t want my grandson to look like a single loser.” Turning to me, she pats my arm tenderly and adds, “Not that you’re a loser, honey.”
“Thanks,” I grumble, making everyone chuckle.
“She’s so much prettier than any of my church friends’ granddaughters I was going to ask.”
I glance back to Adrienne. “She is.”
“Then it’s settled. You bring Adrienne as your date.”
I exhale slowly. “We’ll talk about it.”
Gram whips around and pins Adrienne with a look. “He can be a little shy sometimes.”
Adrienne chews on the inside of her lip to keep from laughing, while Jack snorts. “Shy. Right.”
“I’m going to use the little girls’ room, so I’ll leave you to ask her out.” Gram stands up, and all of us around her do the same.
“I’ll go too, Gram,” Scarlet states, escorting her down the bleachers.
After they’re gone, Jack leans over my shoulder. “You’re going to your ex-fiancée’s wedding?”
“Apparently,” I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest as I watch a little more of the game.
“Do you want me to tell you all the reasons why this is a bad idea?”
“No need. I already know them,” I insist.
“And yet, you’re still going.”
It’s not a question, but a statement, and one I’ve thought to myself a dozen times since I spoke to Gram on the phone. Of course, this is the first time I’m actually considering bringing a date. Before, I was just appeasing her, but now that she’s aired our dirty laundry in front of half the fans in the G section of the bleachers, I find myself contemplating inviting Adrienne to go with me.
“This is absurd,” Jack maintains.
“I don’t think I’ve heard this story,” Stevie chimes in, her voice hesitant.
I lean back, resting against the bleacher between her and Adrienne. “I’m sure Jack will give you the colorful version when you get home.”
My oldest friend snorts. “Colorful. That’s definitely the version I know.”
We watch a little more of the game before Gianna asks, “Uncle Caden, do you like my hair?”
I spin toward her. “I love it,” I inform her proudly. “You are the most beautiful girl in the world.”
She grins widely, showing off slightly crooked teeth her dad will have to fix with braces soon. “Thanks, Adrienne.” Turning to her dad and Stevie, she adds, “I’m gonna run back up and sit with my friends and show them my hair. Bye!”
“Ten going on seventeen,” Stevie says with a chuckle.
As Gram and Scarlet return and the game winds down, I’m able to push all thoughts of the upcoming wedding out of my head and just enjoy the game. I’m happy to spend all my free time watching Joshua play b-ball and love it even more when family and friends join me. I stand up and clap, happy to see Joshua’s team come away with the win.
“Go, Joshua!” my little buddy hollers, throwing his arms in the air to celebrate the victory. “Shake and bake, Uncle Caden!” he adds, holding out his fist for a bump.
“Shake and bake, buddy,” I say as we both make our fists explode.
“You ready to head home, Christian?” Jack asks, standing up and stretching before waving to Gianna that it’s time to go.
“Nope, I’m staying with Uncle Caden.” Christian crosses his arms over his chest, standing his ground.
Jack just stares back at his son, his eyebrows drawn up into his hairline.
Smiling, I reach down and pick him up. “Dad and Stevie say you gotta head back with them now, but we’ll get something planned for a boys’ weekend soon. We can eat pizza, belch, and have a Die Hard marathon.”
“Yes! Die Hard !”
“No Die Hard ,” Jack interjects.
“Party pooper,” I tease.
“Yeah, party pooper,” Christian repeats.
Jack just shakes his head and reaches for his son. “Thanks, man,” he mutters, earning a big grin from me.
“That’s what I’m here for.”
“I’m going to head out too. I want to take a little nap before I go play Bingo at the community center,” Gram announces.
I get up and help her down the stairs, preparing to walk her out to her car while I wait for the next game Joshua plays. We all walk out together, leaving the douchebag behind to watch our seats. When we hit the sidewalk, I spot Gram’s Lincoln Town Car parked in one of the handicap spots in front.
“Thanks for coming, Gram,” Scarlet says, kissing our grandma on the cheek before helping her slide into the front seat of the car.
“I wouldn’t miss it. See you Saturday, love,” she replies, turning her attention to Jack, Stevie, Gianna, and Christian. “Good to see you all. Come over to Gram’s house soon. We’ll have pizza.”
“I love pizza!” Christian hollers with excitement.
“Then it’s a date,” Gram informs him. To Adrienne, she adds, “It was wonderful to meet you, dear. I hope to see you Saturday at the wedding.”
Adrienne clears her throat. “Lovely to meet you too.” She doesn’t say anything about the possibility of seeing her at the wedding.
“Drive safely,” I tell her, crouching beside her open door after she takes a seat and fires up her car.
She reaches over and places her hand against my cheek. “Bring her. I mean it.”
Unable to hide my smile, I reply, “I’ll think about it.” Leaning in, I press a kiss to her cheek and add, “See you soon, Gram.”
“Love you, my boy.”
She slowly backs out and drives off, so I turn my attention to Jack, Stevie, and the kids. We say our goodbyes, while Scarlet returns to the gym.
“So, you need a fake girlfriend to make your ex jealous, huh?” Adrienne asks when we’re the only two left.
“Well, not quite like that, no.”
“So, you don’t want me to go with you?”
“Do you want to go?”
“I like dancing,” she says, stepping forward and invading my personal space. “Vertical and horizontal.”
My dick reacts instantly. “Hmm, I do enjoy both vertical and horizontal dancing myself.”
“Then it’s a date,” she insists, grinning from ear to ear.
“Which part? The vertical or the horizontal?”
She shrugs and takes a step back. “Well, I am available Saturday night, and I just might be available later for the other.”
Blood is swooshing through my veins. “The tournament should be done by seven.”
She starts walking backward. “See you later, cowboy.”
“You bet your ass you will, sugar.”
I watch the sway of her hips as she turns and heads to her car, leaving me standing there with a hard-on and an eagerness for later. I’ve got a few more hours of basketball left to enjoy and then I’ll stop by Adrienne’s.
Basketball and sex.
Two of my favorite things.
No better way to spend a Sunday night.