Page 19 of Animal's Reformation
“Just found out. What the fuck? Does Dad know she’s whoring around?”
Jada’s arms dropped to her sides and she stepped back. “Don’t be so crude.”
“I chose words that describe things accurately.Whoringwasmebeing polite.” He cracked his knuckles. “So what about Dad?”
His sister shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I think he does, or at least suspects it. I mean, she leaves here in short dresses and so much perfume that I can smell it for hours. I guess Dad and Mom have an agreement.”
“That’s a crock of shit. She’s fuckin’ cuckolding him. I can’t believe he’d stand for that bullshit.”
“Maybe he’s okay with it because he knows Mom still needs what he can’t give her. When they’re together, they laugh, talk, and joke around with each other. Not everything’s black and white all the time.”
“This is for me, and I’m gonna talk to her about it.”
“We eating or what? Lucy and I are starving.” Their dad’s booming voice was muffled through the shut door.
“Coming,” Jada said as she opened it, then glanced over at Animal. “Are you going to eat with us?”
“Yeah.” He stomped across the room.
“Please don’t let your anger spill out during dinner. Lucy and Dad aren’t responsible for what Mom does, so don’t take it out on them.” Jada walked out into the hallway.
“No worries,” he answered, but inside a raging volcano was ready to explode. When he got home, he’d go down to the basement and do a round with the punching bag, but for now, he’d have to forget what he’d just learned and focus on having a nice time with his family. Animal would look into the shit site, then have a long, overdue talk with his mother about respect and loyalty. His dad and Jada may be okay with what was going on, but Animal wasn’t. Not. At. All.
“Can you pass the sour cream, Son?” A voice sliced through Animal’s angered haze.
He looked up and stared at the container for a second before registering what his dad wanted. Lucy giggled and as Animal glanced over at her twinkling eyes, all the fury swirling inside him subsided. He winked at her then picked up the sour cream and handed it to his father.
“How do you like the chili?” Animal asked his daughter.
She stuffed a piece of cornbread in her mouth and nodded enthusiastically. Her long, thick braids swayed with the motion.
He laughed and reached over to pat her shoulder, and surprisingly, she didn’t jerk away.
“Jada’s a damn good cook,” he said, throwing a half-crooked smile at his sister. “I talked to Jax, and he and Paisley are gonna come over tomorrow for sure.”
“What time?” Lucy asked.
“Around noon. He’s gonna bring lunch—enchiladas. I know you like those.” Animal buttered a piece of cornbread.
Lucy nodded again, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “I do.”
“Paisley’s a sweetheart,” Jada said as she scooped more chili into Animal’s bowl. “Want some more, Dad?”
The older man shook his head. “I’m good, thanks.”
As they ate and chatted a sense of peace that Animal hadn’t felt since Emerald had dropped Lucy in his lap descended on him. If only he could freeze this moment with his daughter, everything would be all right, but he knew it wouldn’t last. Deciding to enjoy the first real father-daughter bonding they’d had, he picked up his fork and dug into the steaming bowl of chili, his gaze fixed on his sweet little girl.
