Chapter 9 #2
I push back from the stove releasing her.
“And that is okay too. I’m still gonna be here.
For now, you’ve worked all day, I’ve worked all day.
I’m hungry and I have a town over there to cruise through with Justice.
I think you need to decompress. Let’s order dinner.
After we eat, I’ll head home. Nothing more than two adults needing to fuel their bodies while entertaining the coolest kid on the block. ”
She gives me a half-hearted smile. “We’re neighbors, Dean not just two adults needing sustenance.”
I can’t stop the smile, “how about friends? Can we be friends, Jo?”
“I don’t know, Dean. You seem to know a lot about me, and I know very little about you.” She counters and she isn’t wrong.
“Not much to know, but anything you ask I promise I will give you the honest answer.”
“Friends?” It comes out as a question rather than a statement. I’m not sure if she’s asking me genuinely wanting a reply or she’s asking herself if we can be friends.
I shrug, “Gotta start somewhere. Not gonna lie though, I want more. In time, we can see where that goes.”
“Friends don’t kiss the way you kiss me,” she challenges and damn, it makes my dick hard, and I want to kiss her again.
I smirk, “I like compromise, friend. We can be friends but ones that really like to know each other close like.”
She shakes her head, “I think that complicates friendships.”
Shrugging, I reply, “Can’t help myself, Jo. You’re one gorgeous woman and the way you kiss, well, I’m not wanting to give that up if I don’t have to.”
She bites her bottom lip as she seems to calm down. “Are you always so blunt?”
“Not really into head trips and don’t like miscommunication. Say what I mean up front, saves some trouble for everyone later.”
With a nod, she mutters, “Justice likes ham and bacon on his pizza.”
I don’t know where this leaves our friendship and kissing, but she didn’t shut me down, so I will take the door opening even if it’s only a crack.
“And you?”
“I eat anything.”
Before she can change her mind, I pick up my phone and order pizza for us and set up delivery.
I return back to Justice dropping to the living room floor and picking out a car for me to cruise his town following him with his new bike.
As much as I want to pay attention to Jo, I don’t.
She needs an opportunity to decompress, and I want to be present with Justice.
However, it isn’t long before she sits on the couch in front of us, curling up with a tablet in hand.
Justice gazes up at her and furrows his brows before taking his attention back to me. “Mom likes to read,” he sort of whispers.
“Is that so?” I whisper back.
He nods dramatically. “They make me do baggy books for reading at school. I have to pick a book in my reading color from the little library, put it in my baggy for home. Then I have to come home and read for twenty minutes to mom, and she has to sign a paper.”
“Reading is good, Justice,” I explain. “It’s how we can learn more.”
“The puppy going on a walk in all these stories isn’t real fun and we don’t have a dog,” he mutters with a serious look, and I fight back my laugh.
I hated reading and school as a kid. As an adult, though, I can see where there are actually things from school I use in life, like reading.
“Okay, you got me there, but some books are ones we can learn things from.”
Satisfied he goes back to playing. When the doorbell rings, I hop up to get the pizza while I hear Josie tell Justice to wash his hands. After tipping the pizza delivery man, I carry the boxes inside setting them out on her island as Justice wiggles in his chair.
“I want the biggest slice, Mama,” he exclaims in excitement.
She brings out paper plates and quickly pulls out his slice. As she does, I open three more boxes so she can decide what she would like.
“Are you hungry, Dean?” She mutters looking at the spread. “This is a lot of food. I usually just get one pizza for me and Justice. That covers dinner and lunch the next day.”
I laugh, “I like a variety,” I explain grabbing two pieces of each, some chicken wings, and cheese sticks. One thing about me, I won’t miss a meal.
“How do you eat all this and stay so fit?”
I smile, “oh you like my abs?” I joke lifting my shirt for her to see my six pack.
She laughs and I swear my fucking heart misses a beat. Her laughter is a damn melody. Justice lifts his shirt looking at his stomach.
“What are abs, Dean?” He asks me and I smile.
Kids are sponges and absorb everything around them.
“Stomach muscles,” I explain lifting a chicken wing to my mouth and taking a bite as I bring my plate to the table, snagging the seat beside Justice.
“Mom says milk gives me muscles. I don’t like it much, except in cereal. If it gives me abs, I guess I can drink it more.”
Josie joins us with her plate, and I can’t help but get lost in her beauty. “It’s important to listen to your momma, Justice. They tend to know all the things that help us grow into strong men,” I explain while keeping my eyes to Josie.
She’s a good mom. It makes me think back to my sister Dawn. She was an amazing mom. I swear there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her kids. There isn’t a day I don’t miss them. If only I could go back and be an hour earlier. Their story might have a different ending.
I have learned, the hard way, life is never going to go according to plan. Fate is a cruel bitch sometimes. The reaper tends to call out to the ones we love the most, taking the good souls from this earth long before the fucking bastards like me.
If I could trade places with my sister then or now, I would without a second thought.
“This is the best pizza night, ever,” Justice mutters with a mouth full of cheese.
I give a smile trying to get my head back in this moment and not drowning in my past.
What’s done is done and it made me the man I am today.
This man here and now, he’s not going to fuck around where Josie or Justice pay the price. Brett can give it everything he’s got. I’ve faced his type before. He won’t intimidate me.
But he should be scared.
I’ve killed before and I’ll kill again. I won’t lose sleep over it either.