Chapter 16
Sixteen
Sean
Hannah grinds her perfectly round ass against my dick and my eyes fly open. My fucking God; I’m not gonna survive this shit. Digging my fingertips into her hip, I hold her still against me and growl in her ear, “Quit grinding your ass against my dick unless you want me to give it to you.”
Does she stop? Fuck no. She wiggles against me again.
“Hannah,” I warn.
“Mmm.”
“Please stop. I’m barely hanging on by a thread here, mi amor.”
“Sorry,” she rasps, her voice thick with sleep as she shifts to put a little space between us. “What time is it?”
The sheets rustle as I turn to look at my phone. “Eleven.”
“Eleven?!” She jerks up in bed. “Damn it! I forgot to set my alarm.”
My arm wraps around her, and I pull her back down, burying my nose into her neck. “It’s Saturday. Fifteen more minutes.”
“I have to take Carter and River lunch,” she protests, trying to get up, but I squeeze her tighter.
“And we will.”
“I don’t know when taking them lunch became a joint effort.”
“Everything became a joint effort the second you let me put my dick inside you again. Now, be a good fucking girl and let me hold you for a few more minutes.”
I’m not the cuddling type. Maybe it’s the fear of never having her like this again, or maybe I’ve become a sappy fucking bastard, but having her in my arms makes me want to stay right here in this moment and never leave this bed.
She traces the tattoos on my forearm, but then her hand stills and falls away as if she realizes what she’s doing.
Well, fuck, that was short lived; I guess old habits die hard.
Silence settles back over us, and I feel myself drift back to sleep.
“What the fucking fuck, Sean!?” My eyes fly open at the shrill of Hannah’s screaming voice.
Uh-oh. She’s really mad.
She sits up, looking at her phone with the most comical expression, and I have to bury my face into my pillow, so she won’t see me laughing.
After she fell asleep last night, I tossed her clothes in the dryer.
What did I do after that? Well, a social media notification popped up on her phone and lit up the room.
The fucker caught my attention . . . umm .
. . I may or may not have had a grand idea to fuck with her shit.
And by fuck with her shit, I mean, I changed her social media status to in a relationship . . . with me of course.
“I see your shoulders shaking, Sean! This isn’t fucking funny! How the hell did you get into my phone? I changed my password.”
“My dad was in the CIA. He taught me a few things,” I say, peeking up at her.
Her brows pinch together in confusion as she tilts her head to the side. “Really?”
“No.” I bark out another laugh and catch the pillow she sends flying at my face.
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I’m changing my relationship status back to single.”
“You do that and see what happens.”
Mad or not, I’ve never seen anyone more fucking beautiful. I can’t help but stare at her, sitting cross legged on my bed with my shirt bunched up over her thighs, and her hair falling into a wild curly mess down her back. Her fingers hover over the single status.
“You click that, not only will the fans eat you alive but so will the media,” I warn her, hoping she’ll leave it alone.
“Let them.”
Okay, I have to admit, this take no shit side of her is kinda hot at times. My phone vibrates next to the lamp on my nightstand, but I ignore it and wait for her next move.
Come on Rebel, leave it be.
The vibration stops and starts all over again, so I roll over to grab my phone in case it’s something important.
When I do, Hannah must see it as a great opportunity to leave my bed because when I turn back over, she’s halfway out of my room.
Aiden’s name scrolls across the screen, because of course it does.
I tap the green button to answer the call. “This better be important, man.”
“I need you, Mac. God, I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”
The panic in his voice has me snapping up in bed. “Are you okay?”
“No. I’m really not. I’m kinda freaking out right now. Can you come over?”
“I’m leaving now,” I say, hopping out of bed in search for something to wear. “Care to tell me what’s going on?”
“I think it’s better if I show you in person.” Bottles clanking against one another come across the line and his voice softens, “You . . . uh . . . you want something to drink, sweetheart?”
Oh, shit . . . what the hell did he get himself into?
I shouldn’t be surprised that the little rebel took off while I was getting dressed. It’s become her M.O. to run away. I knew she was mad but fuck, I didn’t think she was that mad.
“Hi, you’ve reached the voicemail box of Hannah Jenkins—”
Hanging up, I dial her again. If I get her voicemail one more time, I’m turning this truck around—
“What the hell do you want, Sean?”
“Where are you?”
“Where am I? Hmmm. Here . . . There . . . Everywhere—”
“Don’t play with me, mi amor. I’m being pulled in two different directions right now and it’s making me a little testy.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Something’s going on with Aiden. I’m headed to his house now,” I say, turning on my blinker and making a right onto his street.
“Okay. I’ll meet you there.”
“No. Don’t,” I rush out. Fuck. If he wanted her there, he would’ve called her, and the fact that he didn’t has me a little concerned. “I think this might be a guy problem. Listen, will you hold off from going to the hospital until I finish up here? I don’t want you going alone.”
“I’m not breakable.”
Pulling up to Aiden’s house, I cut the engine and sit in the driveway with my head resting back against the seat. How do I say this without making her feel some type of way?
“I know you’re not breakable, but—”
“Sean, I’ve got this. Go take care of him and text me what’s going on. Okay?”
“Yeah,” I say as she ends the call.
Just as I make it up the steps, Aiden’s door swings open. He stands in the doorway, his eyes wide with panic, while he runs his fingers through his hair.
“Thank fu—I mean . . .” He looks back towards the living room and winces, then his head swivels back my way. “Thank God you’re here.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, trailing behind him through the foyer. The second I step into his living room, my jaw nearly hits the floor. “What the fu— I mean what in the world is this?”
“What does it look like?”
“It looks like you!” I hiss, my eyes volleying between the two of them. “A very small female version of you.”
I may have the features and temperament of my Latina mother, but I have the height and build of my white father.
I’m not a small man by no means, and to a child who doesn’t know me, I’m sure I look intimidating as hell.
I soften my expression and as soon as I reach her, I squat down to greet the little girl staring back at me with the same brown eyes as Aiden’s.
“Hi, sweetheart. I’m Sean, but some people call me Mac. What’s your name?”
“Jaiden,” she says in a sweet little voice as she fiddles with the end of her light blue dress. “But mommy nicknamed me Jade.”
I glance at Aiden, taking note of his namesake, then focus back on her. “Jade. That’s such a pretty name. Where’s mommy now?”
“In heaven. Granny says mommy’s a angel a’cause she died.”
Oh, fucking hell. What do you say to a little girl who lost her mom and was . . . I assume dropped off with a man she doesn’t even know?
“My abuela’s an angel too . . . but I bet your mommy is the most beautiful angel.”
“She is. With really big wings and . . . and . . . and she watches over me all the time.”
Way to break my fucking heart, kid.
I need to steer us away from this conversation, and I also need to talk to Aiden without little ears listening. There’s no denying she’s his. Anyone with eyes and half a fucking brain would agree, but he still needs a DNA test and a good fucking lawyer.
“You know, I was wondering, do you like princesses?”
“I’m a princess.”
“Oh, wow,” I gasp, raising my brows and holding a hand to my chest. “You’re a real princess?”
“Uh-huh.” She nods, cracking a toothy smile.
“Woah. Well, your royal highness, shall we turn on a Disney movie for you? Who’s your most favorite princess?”
“Rapunzel . . .” She giggles, tilting her head to the side. “Someone drawed on your arm.”
This is one of the reasons I fucking love kids. They don’t have a filter for shit. Chuckling lightly, I look down at my arm as if I’m just now noticing my tattoos. “They did, didn’t they?”
“Can I draw on your other one?”
“You’d do that for me? I bet your pictures are much prettier.”
“You’re nice.”
“I think you’re nice, too, princess. What do you say we turn on Tangled for you so the grown-ups can talk, and then after that, you can draw a pretty picture on my arm?” I wink.
With a squeal, she bounces up and down in her seat, her long brown ponytail swishing side to side. I stand and turn to Aiden. “Get her settled, then meet me in the dining room.”
While I wait for him at the table, a hunched over elderly woman, shuffles into the kitchen. Her house shoes scuff, and her walker drags along the tiled floor with each step she takes.
Scuff. Drag. Skitter. Clank.
Scuff. Drag. Skitter. Clank.
She looks as though she’s seen much better days and is barely getting around.
Aiden rounds the corner, but I keep my eyes on the old woman. “Is that Jade’s grandmother?” I point in her direction.
“Great-great grandmother. Granny’s pushing ninety.
Been raising Jade on her own since Janelle passed.
A fall sent her to the hospital. There was nobody to take care of Jade.
Dammit man, Jade even had to stay in the hospital with her.
” He drags a hand down his face and when he looks at me, the gravity of the situation registers behind his eyes.
“I feel like I’m drinking from a firehose. ”
“Oh, fu . . . fudge.”
“That’s not even the worst of it. Child protective services came snooping around, questioning if she was fit to take care of a child because of it.
They really gave her no choice other than to find me.
It was either that or place Jade into state care.
Long story short, they’re both staying here until Jade’s settled. ”
He sighs, wearing the weight of the day on his slumped shoulders. Sinking into a chair at the table, he scratches the back of his neck.
“I know what everyone’s gonna think. That either I’m a deadbeat dad or that she’s not mine. She’s my daughter, Mac. It’s not even a question. And I swear to God, if I had known about her, I would’ve been there.”
“I know that, Aiden. No one’s going to think she’s not yours. That’s very clear. And no one is going to think you’re a deadbeat dad either.”
“I feel like the biggest piece of shiii—junk to walk the earth right now.” He peers through the open doorway, checking on the little old woman. “You need help?”
“No. I’m okay.”
She slowly makes her way into the dining room and places her hand on the table, propping her weight in an attempt to sit down.
I stand to help, but Aiden rushes over, hooking his hand under her arm to assist her onto the chair.
Those few steps took the wind out of her.
Where the hell is the rest of their family?
Did she travel here alone? Jesus Christ.
Under normal circumstances, I might be suspicious, but it’s clear by the state she’s in that she’s operating on desperation. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to help guide Aiden to take the necessary precautions to protect himself.
“Hi, I’m Aiden’s friend, Sean.”
“I’m Maggie. Nice to meet you,” she says, still winded.
“You too,” I tell her, then address them both. “Pre-season starts next week. We need to come up with a solid plan for Jade. Maggie, I assume, you’re going to need some help around here?”
“I’m a little slow gettin’ around but I think I can manage. I’m just worried about Jade . . . and Aiden, of course. I’m sorry again. I feel like I’m imposin’.”
“You’re not imposing, Granny,” he rushes out. “I think it’s the least I can do since you’ve been handling my responsibility for the past few years.”
“Aiden, you’re going to need a paternity test.”
“She’s fu . . . she’s mine. I know she is,” he snaps, his eyes piercing me with a glare.
“I already told you I’m not doubting that, but you’re not on her birth certificate, and until that’s cleared up you have no legal rights to her.
Here,” I fish my phone out of my pocket and tap the screen.
“I’m sending you the contact information for my attorney.
He’s not family law but I’m sure he can refer you to a colleague. ”
“Aiden, he’s right. We need to make sure everything’s in place for her before I leave this earth.
Lord knows, I’m not gettin’ any younger.
” Maggie shakes her head in disgust. “This is just a damn mess. I wish she would’ve told ya.
I tried to get her to. Told her it was the right thing to do, but ya know how hardheaded that girl was.
Janelle knew you were goin’ places and didn’t want to tie ya down .
. . thought she’d be ruinin’ your future.
That’s what she said every time I brought it up.
I bet she’s just turnin’ over in her grave that we’re here right now, but that little girl in there needs her daddy, and quite frankly, I’m too old for this shit. ”
“If I had any lingering doubts at all about your intentions, Maggie, you just squashed them. I don’t agree with what Janelle did; it’s messed up, but I do believe she meant well.”
If my calculations are correct, he either got her pregnant during his senior year in high school or soon after graduation. Speaking of school . . .
“How old is Jade?”
“I’m five,” she says, popping up beside me. I look between her and Aiden.
Goddamn they look so much alike it’s scary. “So, that means you should be in Kindergarten?”
“Yep. Seany, can I draw on your arm now?” Jade asks, batting her lashes at me with pleading eyes.
And just like that, the topic of school is forgotten, and I’m out of my seat looking for a Sharpie.
I’m fucking done for. And I have a feeling this little princess is going to have the entire team wrapped around her tiny finger.