Page 84 of Time Served in New York
I wove through the other dancers and made my way around the table full of our friends without saying a word. I heard their laughter and cheers behind us and couldn’t help but smile. Every one of my brothers was envious of my position right now and wished like hell they could do the same thing, but it wasn’t my fault they didn’t have the balls to take what they wanted.
Because that was exactly what I was doing. I was going to take Jenn upstairs and keep her safe while I showed her exactly how much I loved her. And then, when she was relaxed and satisfied laying safely in bed beside me, I might be able to breathe again.
Until the next time she scared me to death. And knowing her and that group of women, I had no doubt that would happen again and again.
???
BUG
“How’d she do?”
Hammer looked up at Maylee and smiled. “She was fine all evening.”
“Did she eat? Was she upset?”
“Oh, she wasn’t upset at all. Just her normal funny self.”
Maylee sighed with obvious relief as she sat next to Hammer and rested her hand on Boo’s back. “Do you think she’ll remember what happened today?”
“I’d bet today was more traumatic for you than it was for her. She probably doesn’t remember a thing about this afternoon,” Hammer reassured her. “We played together and then I got her and Jared to watch a movie with me and have a snack before bedtime.”
“So she ate dinner and then a snack?”
“Are you afraid she’s gonna go on a hunger strike or something?” Hammer asked.
“No, but when she’s sick or upset, she won’t eat.”
“Well, she ate plenty tonight. I promise.” Hammer watched Maylee study our daughter, relaxed in sleep, with her mouth open and a spot of drool on Hammer’s t-shirt. “We had pizza for dinner, then popcorn, gummy worms, and some ice cream while we watched the movie.”
“Oh,” Maylee said with wide eyes. “That’s . . . good.”
“She loved it. So did Jared. There’s some leftover pizza in the fridge, but we plowed through the rest.”
“I’m sure. What did you watch?”
“Friday.”
“Today’s Saturday.”
“No, we watchedFriday.”
“Today? Huh?”
“It’s an old movie, babe,” I explained with a laugh as I shook my head. Hammer’s movie choices weren’t really appropriate for toddlers, but hopefully, what Hammer said was true, and Boo wouldn’t remember anything about this day.
“Oh. I guess I missed that one. Where’s Jared?”
“He’s asleep in the bedroom. I carried him in there so she wouldn’t wake him up while we watched the second movie.”
“What was next?The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?” I asked with a pointed look.
“God no. If I was going to start her on anything, it would be theFriday the 13thfranchise. What kind of man do you take me for? Jeez,” Hammer said with disgust. “We watchedGremlins.”
“The little furry animals?”
Hammer nodded in response to Maylee’s question and then asked, “Can you get her off of me? I’ve been afraid to move because I didn’t want to disturb her, but I’ve gotta piss so bad that my eyeballs are floating.”
Maylee laughed softly and reached out to take Boo. “I’m going to put her in our bed. She can sleep with us tonight.”
