11. Jameson
jameson
. . .
All week I’ve been keeping my interactions with Sam close to my chest, private and dissecting each new interaction carefully.
The last thing I want to do is spook her into backing off and putting her walls back up.
I can tell she isn’t sure about what is happening, but she also isn’t pulling away; instead, I’m reeling her in closer.
She hasn't brought up the discussion she had with her friends yet, but I’m a patient man.
I’m also enjoying the hell out of time with both of my pretty girls.
We’ve had another dinner, breakfast and even a lunch together, the three of us, like it was always meant to be.
Today is Sam’s home game, and I’m still planning to bring Dylan.
The drive to Sam’s college campus is quick, just a ten-minute jaunt from the shop to there.
Parking outside of the arena, I get out of my truck the second I spot Sam walking down the sidewalk.
She has her bag over one shoulder, her stick in hand and she’s holding Dylan’s hand on her other side.
I’m in awe of her and her strength; she looks like a walking supermom, juggling everything.
I get out of my truck, ready to head over to her and help alleviate her load, when I see him walking toward them.
My body tenses, and my jaw clenches tightly.
Fucking ‘Gym Bro.’ The only guy to sneak past my defense in the past two years, and only because I believed he was just her gym partner. A mistake I’ll never make again.
I know for a fact that they haven’t hung out since the failed date. Still, he's standing way too close to what's mine. My feet eat up the distance between us, and thankfully, my little girl saves me from doing something that could potentially piss her mom off.
“Daddy!” Dylan squeals, her arms waving at me excitedly, and there’s a bright smile on her little face. My heart squeezes in my chest, filled to the brim with the love I have for that little girl. My own lips tip up in a smile as I approach them, some of the hardness from before sliding away.
Sam’s head snaps up in my direction and there’s a smile on her face as well. I feel smug, knowing both of my girls look happy to see me, something Gym Bro also happens to notice.
His face flattens out, the flirty smile from before falling off his mouth. “This is Dylan’s father?”
My body tenses at the way he says father, clinical, like all I did was supply half of the DNA to make my sweet little angel. Sam glances at him for a split second before her pretty blue eyes land back on me, and I see the way she assesses him, reading him the same way I did.
“Yes, this is Jameson, Dylan’s dad. We’re so excited he was finally able to move closer to us and open his own auto shop here. Jameson, this is Mac, my workout buddy.”
I want to chuckle at the way he flinches when she downgrades him to only her workout buddy. Not the guy she’s seeing or even a friend. Hiding my grin, I stick my hand out, offering it to him. “Nice to meet you, man.”
Mac is slower to reciprocate, but he does eventually shake my hand. My grip tightens, and his eyes flash to mine in a moment of panic. “Yeah, uh, nice to meet you.” He turns back to Sam, his cheeks ruddy. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow for a workout?”
I pick Dylan up and cradle her to my chest, my eyes narrowing on this dense beefcake. “Actually, we already have plans to work out together. Now that I’m here and was able to get a key card to use the facilities, Sam said she'll show me the ropes.”
Sam’s body grows rigid next to me, but she keeps her smile in place. “Yeah, I almost forgot we made that plan. Sorry, Mac. Looks like I’m not available tomorrow.”
“Or anytime in the near future,” I add, seeing the anger flash in his eyes.
“Right.” Mac backs up, his hand on his bag. “Guess I’ll see you around then.”
He turns to leave, and I don’t take my eyes off him until he’s far enough away.
“What was that?” Sam turns to me, her cheeks pink, her eyes flashing brightly with confusion, panic, and anger.
I need to defuse this situation. I’m fully aware my jealousy got the best of me in this moment, but no way was I letting him think he had a chance with her.
My shoulders shrug, and I try to laugh it off.
“Nothing. I really did get a key card to use the facility, so I figured you could show me around. We used to work out together before.”
Her mouth opens, closes and then opens again. It's adorable really. I love making her speechless while she’s trying to figure out my game. “How did you get a key card? Those are only issued to students.”
“I did some work on the director’s car. One of the parts was going to cost a mint to get shipped here when he needed it by. We cut a deal. I covered half the cost, and he gave me the key card access,” I explain.
“Just like that?” Sam questions, her fingertips caressing over Dylan’s cheeks, making her giggle in my arms.
“Yeah, pretty much. You even said it yourself the facility here is top notch. I’ve always been a runner and now that I have some more down time, I can get back to my normal workout routines.
” Sam keeps her gaze on Dylan, but I can practically hear the wheels turning in her head.
“You don’t have to show me around if you don’t want to, or work out with me. I know it’s been a long time.”
“No. I mean yes. No.” Sam huffs, and her arms wrap around her waist. The last thing I want is to make her uncomfortable.
My fingers grip the edge of her chin, and I tilt her head up, needing to feel her eyes on mine. “Sam, it was just an idea. I’m sorry I spoke before asking.”
She sighs, and I can physically see the tension leave her body.
Her arms drop to her sides, her shoulders relax and her hip pops to the side.
“I just got tongue-tied. Yes, it has been a while, but also no, I don’t mind showing you around.
If it works for us to do our workouts together then I’m open to that too, if you are. ”
“Well, I did ask you, so I’m open to it, babe.” I smirk, and she rolls her eyes before stepping out of my hold. At least now there is a smile on her face.
“I better get in there.” She points her thumb over her shoulder. “I’ll see you both at the game?”
“We wouldn’t miss it. Would we, little Pretty Girl?” I bounce Dylan in my arms, and she clutches her arms around my neck.
“Mommy going to score a goal,” she tells me happily, and I nod in agreement.
Sam shakes her head, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss Dylan's cheek. “I’ll try my hardest. Love you Dyl!”
She steps back, and I have to fight the urge to tell her we love her too. Instead, Dylan and I wave while Sam walks into the arena to get ready for the night. Once she disappears inside, I carry Dylan over to my truck and buckle her in.
“What are you hungry for, Dylan?”
Her eyes light up, and she gives me her crooked grin. “Pizza.”
“Mmm pizza sounds good. Should we see if uncle Bray wants to join us? He probably just got to town and is hungry too,” I ask, and she’s already nodding her head yes.
After sending a quick text and reading the instant reply, I drive us to Chu Chu’s to get some pizza.
The place is usually packed with students right before a game, but we’re early enough to beat the crowd.
There is one booth left when the hostess seats us.
Dylan settles into her booster seat, and I take out her crayons and one of her dolls from the bag.
Within five minutes of us sitting down, Braysen arrives and Dylan is ecstatic to see one of her bonus uncles.
“My favorite Dyl-pickle!” My oldest friend holds out his arms while Dylan is now standing in her booster seat in order to get to him.
“Unca BrayBray!” My little girl sing-songs happily, and my chest expands with pride and happiness to see how loved she is by our family and friends. Braysen picks up Dylan and tosses her in the air above his head two times. She’s laughing and smiling when he sits back down with her.
“Sup, Kane.” Braysen claps my shoulder. “What are you two up to?”
“Eat Pizza,” Dylan explains, and Braysen watches her with rapt attention. Only when she starts coloring again does he turn to me.
“Did you mention I would be here tonight to Sammy?” he asks, and I shake my head before taking a pull of soda from my straw. “Oh, f–, I mean dang.” He glances at Dylan, who is side-eyeing him hard. She may be two, but she knows words not to say.
“Don’t worry about it.” I wave him off. “Sam knows we’re friends and still hang out. Why wouldn’t you ever come here to see me?”
“I only visit to see Dylan, Kane. Let's be honest,” Braysen says dryly, and I chuckle. “So you scared the gym rat off?”
Jealousy flares in my chest again, just remembering how close he got to Sam earlier. I saw red when his eyes moved between both of my girls. “He never stood a chance.”
Braysen grunts. “She had a date with him.”
“One,” I reply quickly. “That won’t ever happen again.” I still don't even know how this one snuck by me. Even though he’d been just her workout buddy, I never should have let my guard down. Thankfully, I didn’t need to end it, and Sam took care of that on her own.
Braysen laughs and takes a drink from his glass, his gaze on me. “You know if she ever finds out, she’ll murder you, right?”
“There’s nothing to find out. Nothing that can be proven anyway.
” I lean back in the booth, my fingers gently running over Dylan’s pigtails.
My little girl is so engrossed in her drawing that she isn’t paying attention to hearing how her daddy has kept other men away from her mommy since she was fifteen years old.
Even before that if I’m being completely honest with myself.