Lay It Down: Bastards MC Series Boxed Set (28 page)

“Ben-amin!”

He laughed at my silly nickname, leaning in to hug me.

“We missed you, Mommy!”

I squatted, pulling them both into me. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. I hope you had fun this summer, because you can’t leave me again until you’re thirty-two!”

They giggled, and I let go, knowing they’d want to see Sam. Lily immediately started telling me all about our rooms, the pool, and how she’d seen Lilo this morning. Her excitement was contagious, and for the first time, I let the fact that I was in Disney World sink in. I’d been so ecstatic about seeing the kids that I hadn’t thought about the fact that we were in the House of Mouse. Suddenly, I felt like a little kid visiting the World for the first time.

My dad grabbed me as soon as I stood up, wrapping his arms around me in the comforting way that only a dad can do. He shook Matty’s hand, stealing him away to talk about fishing… I only heard bits of the conversation, but they were laughing. Mom, on the other hand, looked as cold and reserved as always, offering me a quick kiss on my cheek. I was so happy that even she couldn’t bring me down.

**********

Splashing and the sounds of children’s laughter floated to the chair where I was sprawled out, having the sun dry my skin. I moved the brim of the giant floppy hat Matty had bought me, glanced out into the pool, and smiled. Matty was currently under attack from all three kids and was trying his best to fend them off. He picked up Sam, tossing him through the air, and Lily screeched, jumping on his arm. I chuckled at them.

“What were you thinking?”

I tore my eyes away from my loves and glanced questioningly at my mom. She looked fabulous for a woman in her mid-fifties, blue swimsuit clinging to a body that she’d taken expert care of over the years. Her hair was graying and was the only thing that made her look like a sweet, loving grandmother. It was funny how her attitude didn’t match that image at all.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, young lady! Coming here with
him
while your husband stays home. I’m sure the kids would have loved to see their father.”

I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t know we were coming, Mom. Matty surprised me.”

“Hmm.” She turned back to the water, and I saw her glare at Matty. “I’m just glad your father and I have been down here so we didn’t have to watch our only daughter ruin her marriage and make an ass out of herself by having an affair. Do you know how foolish you look—throwing yourself at a man like him? No one in their right mind would believe he'd be interested in you!”

Ignoring the veiled insult, I arched a brow. “So you’ve talked to Will.”

She only pursed her lips in answer.

“I hate to break it to you, Ma, but your precious son-in-law isn’t the saint he claims to be. Next time you talk to him, ask him who cheated on who.”

“Oh, for god’s sake, Josephine, grow up! Men have affairs all the time!" She swept her arm dramatically. "Do you honestly think your father had been faithful to me?”

I gaped at her.

She only smiled snidely in return. “It’s different for men; they need to—”

“Stop right there!” I interrupted. “You honestly expect me to believe that Daddy cheated on you and you stayed?”

“Well, of course I did! He was nothing when I met him. I didn’t put in all the hours of encouraging him and helping him get where he was to leave over a few silly affairs.”

A few…?
I looked away, unable to believe this woman with the crazy ideas shared my DNA.

“Will felt ignored and did what any man would do.” She clucked in annoyance. “I did not raise you to behave so selfishly. You need to end this stupidity while you still can!” Her voice was low and icy.

It never failed. Five minutes alone with my mom, and I felt as though I was twelve years old again. I was sure if we’d had this conversation a few weeks ago, I’d be berating myself right now. But that was before Matty. I turned my head to find him leaning against the edge of the pool, laughing with Ben. I smiled. He looked up, as if sensing me staring, and his eyes lit up as he blew me a kiss.

“Think what you want, Mom, but this is really none of your business.”

**********

“Joes?” Matty stopped suddenly, staring out into the water.

After a busy few days of park hopping with the kids, he’d somehow convinced my parents to keep all three kids after a luau dinner show at Ohana’s. We’d taken advantage of the privacy and were walking hand in hand down the moonlit beach next to the Seven Seas Lagoon.

“Matty?” I sighed back, looking at the lights of the Magic Kingdom in the distance and listening to the water lap the shoreline. I was completely content.

He squeezed my hand gently. “I’m having a really good time.”

I smiled. I was too. Disney World with three kids wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be, and while we’d kept them beyond busy, they’d all been amazing.

“I want this all the time.”

I turned to him. "The beach and balmy temps? Yeah, the Caribbean does sound nice."

He looked at me, chuckling. “You. I want the three of you all the time. I love you. I love them.” He shrugged, wetting his bottom lip. “I want you to move in with me when we get home.”

I was speechless. We’d never talked about our future. I sighed, searching his eyes. I did want to spend the rest of my life with him, and at some point, we’d have to tell the kids that Will and I weren’t together. It wasn’t as if they could come stay at the hotel with me.

I couldn’t keep the smile from my face as I nodded. “Okay.”

Matty whooped, jumping in the air like a little kid, and I laughed. He beamed back. “Do you have any idea how happy you make me?”

If it was half as happy as he made me, then I made him delirious.

Cutting our walk short, we ran back to the hotel, excited to be alone again. As quietly as we could, so we didn’t wake up the family in our adjoining room, we spent the night showing each other just how much we each loved the other.

**********

I’d said my good-byes to my kids at the hotel. We thought it would be too hard to bring everyone to the airport, and since they had another few days at Disney, my mom distracted them by taking them to Animal Kingdom. Dad, on the other hand, had insisted on coming with us. He and Matty had joked and made small talk the entire ride. I tried to enjoy them, but I hated leaving my babies. When we got to the security entrance, I thanked my dad for making the weekend fun. He just laughed and wrapped his arms around me.

“I’m gonna miss you, kid!” My dad’s arms held me tight, his lips skimming my forehead. Pulling back slightly, he looked at me as though he wouldn’t see me again for months. “You look happier than you have in years!”

I smiled, not sure what to say.

He dropped his voice almost to a whisper. “I’ve always liked Matt, you know that. But I have a whole new respect for him now that he’s got my little girl smiling again. Don’t listen to your mom. Will wasn’t good enough for you fifteen years ago, and he still doesn’t come close.” He moved so we were eye to eye. “You find out what makes you happy, and you hold onto it. Your mom can go to hell!”

“Oh, Daddy!” Tears stung my eyes. “Take care of my kids, okay?”

He nodded, turning to Matty. “I’m trusting you to take care of my little girl.”

Matty took the comment very seriously, promising to do just that.

I turned and waved as I followed Matty and Sam through baggage check. Watching the father and son in front of me, I realized that I couldn’t wait until my kids were home and the five of us were together again.

26

“You seriously flew to Florida and spent the weekend with my kids and didn’t bother giving me a heads-up?” Will was leaning against his car, one ankle propped over the other in a causal manner that contradicted the anger I could see bubbling below the surface.

To a passerby, we were two professionals having a conversation in a hotel parking lot. To me, we were a couple on the verge of a major blowout.

I’d gotten out of work a little early to move my stuff out of the hotel and into Matty’s house, and thankfully, I had just brought another load to my car when Will pulled in. I leaned against my own car that was parked next to his, trying to ignore my sweaty palms, happy that he hadn’t found me in the room. The idea of being alone with him in a small space was terrifying.

I met his eyes, ignoring the vein in his forehead, and nodded. “Just for a few days.”

His nostrils flared. “You really don't see a problem with that?”

I knew that I couldn’t move any farther away from him, but the urge to back up was strong.
Don’t show him any fear, don’t show him you’re afraid!
I repeated to myself over and over. Being terrified was such a new reaction to having him near that it made it worse. Lifting my head, hoping he couldn’t see how scared I was, I replied as evenly as I could. “No. Sooner or later, we have to tell the kids. I think they’ll realize something’s off when they come home and we’re living with Matty.”

“The fuck you are.” He was seething. “My kids are not living with him.”

I glared. “We are. I’m taking them at least half the time.” I shook my head angrily. “I told you, I’m not discussing this. Your lawyer can call mine.”

We’d talked about it on the phone this morning, when I’d told him I was moving into Matty’s. I’d wanted to be courteous, to give him a heads-up. It had turned into a screaming match though, and I’d hung up. Apparently nothing I’d said sunk in.

Will stepped toward me. “And I told you that you can get this shit out of your system until the kids come back, and then you are moving home. Don’t defy me, Jo, or I swear to god I’ll—”

My mouth fell open, fear forgotten as I interrupted. “Or you’ll what, William? Is that a threat?” I shook my head, amazed. “Defy you? Do you think it’s 1952?” I laughed once, appalled. “Are you high? Is that what’s going on? Obviously something has scrambled your fucking brain if you think you can tell me what to do!”

He inhaled sharply. “You’re my wife!” He was growling. “And since you’ve been acting like an immature little twit and making decisions that will put both you and my children in danger, I’ve come to the conclusion that you aren’t fit to make any on your own.” His eyes flared at me, daring me to argue. “When you come back to your senses and start acting like the responsible adult you’re supposed to be, then you can lecture me on how I talk to you!”

“Fuck. You.” I stepped closer to him, my resentment for this man that I’d once loved building with every breath. “I’ll use small words to make sure you understand them.” I gave him a bitchy smile. “You cannot tell me what to do. I am leaving you and taking my children with me. You are not going to use them to control me, and you are not going to ruin their childhood by being a vicious and spiteful asshole. Keep up your crazy talk and anger issues, and you will be lucky to see them on Christmas and birthdays.” I turned to walk away, stopping to add, “We’re done. If you want to talk to me, call my lawyer.”

I’d been so proud of myself for standing up to him, for pushing back, that I didn’t see his expression change until it was too late. It was like watching a switch flip inside him, and I instantly knew what people meant when they said they saw someone lose their mind. I didn’t have time to react before his hands wrapped around my shoulders and he shoved me backward against his car. My teeth slammed down, and iron filled my mouth as I bit my tongue.

Will’s face was in front of mine, eyes on fire. “You fucking ungrateful bitch! You will never take my kids away from me!”

He was screaming, and I could barely hear him over the pounding of my heart and the harshness of my breath. He continued to scream, but all I saw was Cris shaking in rage and attacking Carlos at the club, screaming about her friend that he’d hurt. I was not the girl who let anyone treat her like this. I was not the victim. This was not my life. Fuck him!

The blood was pooling with saliva around my tongue. The taste was a bitter reminder that this was all too real. I didn’t think, just lifted my foot and kicked him in the shin then brought the high heel down on his foot. The action got his attention and he took one step back, then my palm connected with his face. He inhaled, eyes wide, backing away from me.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? You don’t put your hands on me!” I yelled, not caring who was watching.

He stood, a look of shock on his face as he met my eyes. He shook his head, looking away. “Jo… I… what the hell
is
wrong with me?”

I raised an eyebrow back. I didn’t know.

“Those are my kids, Joey.” His voice held a note of devastation. “I can’t lose them too!”

I was pissed. How dare he treat me like that? But the horrified look on his face had my heart sinking. I’d never seen Will look so scared. I wanted to pull him into my arms and comfort him.