Page 77 of Just Wait

“Yeah.” I nod as my jaw slides from side to side. “She got remarried—has two kids that I’ve never met. She calls three or four times a year. Just enough to assuage the guilt that she abandoned me with an alcoholic.”

Kincaid’s jaw tightens, and he shakes his head. “If that was me, I’d tell her to go fuck herself.”

“It’s something I’ve considered on more than one occasion,” I say, forcing a laugh. “But she’s always the victim. Have you ever met someone like that? I’m not allowed to talk about how miserable things were without her because she immediately one-ups me by repeatedly drilling into my head all the awful things my father did to her.”

“Okay, but that was the man she chose to have a child with. You’re the innocent one in all of that.” He drops his wand, abandoning the game to circle around the table to stand by me. “I’m going to reiterate my earlier statement. Next time she calls, you should tell her to fuck off.”

That’s easy to imagine.

I’ve daydreamed about doing exactly that many times.

In reality, I don’t have all that much family, and some part of me is still that little girl who really wanted to be able to count on her mom. Despite knowing she’ll never be that person, the thought of burning that bridge is scary.

My dad won’t make it much longer. Once he’s gone, I won’t have any family outside of aunts, uncles, and cousins that I barely know.

“What should we play next?” I ask to change the subject. “You bought way too many tokens.”

“Well, we better get to it.” He wraps his hand in mine, reaching around me to grab the bucket. “Lead the way, sweetheart.”

My silly heart races.

Something about Kincaid’s energy screams that he has a big dick, and he knows how to use it.

“Okay,” Kincaid says as the limo comes to a stop in front of the VIP entrance to the club. “I’m going to head out first. Don’t move to slide out until I’m blocking you. The paparazzi will do anything they can to get pictures up the bottom of your dress.”

“I’ll come out with you,” Riser says. “That way we can block them from straight ahead and the side the door won’t cover.”

“They are pretty despicable about trying to get inappropriate photos,” Parish says, shaking his head.

The door opens and Kincaid slides out, followed by Riser. They were both on the right bench, while Mal and I are on the back seat this time.

“If we’re ever not with you, keep your knees together. That way, they’ll just get pictures of your thighs instead of your pussy,” Malcolm says, patting my shoulder as I prepare to move toward the door. “It’ll be fine. K and Riser will cover you.”

He’s very sweet, but I’m not sure he understands how dresses and skirts work. Or maybe female anatomy. Even if I do my best, it’s not easy to swivel both legs out of the vehicle at once.

That could be a personal problem, though.

I’ve seen celebrities and members of the royal family who managed it with no trouble. Unfortunately for me, I’ve never received any etiquette training.

The noise is unreal.

I never knew it was possible to hear the clicks of their cameras. They yell, asking questions and saying things to try to get a reaction.

Kincaid’s hand appears in front of me, but I think it would be easier if I could hold on to the doorframe. I still place my hand in his. He stays close until my legs are outside the vehicle and steps back to give me space to stand.

“See, nothing to it,” Kincaid says, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Do you want me to try to block your face as we walk in?”

“No, I’m good.” I shake my head, glancing between him and Riser. “Let’s do this.”

Kincaid’s face breaks out into a dangerous grin that makes my lady bits stand up and take notice.

“Yeah, we’re ready to get out of here,” Tennyson says from inside the limo. “Just as soon as you fuckers get out of our way.”

I laugh as Kincaid slides his hand around my lower back, pulling me into his chest.

Riser steps back, and Kincaid spins around, standing at my side. His hand on my lower back is centering as the crowd of paparazzi comes into view. The label security guys wait on either side of the carpeted walkway.

There are roped barriers, holding back the press, but they push and shove, trying to get closer.