Part 3 (2/2)

I shook my head and turned out of the parking lot. ”It's nice out. I'd hardly say it's cold.” I could tell she was p.i.s.sed about having to wait so long, and frankly, so was I.

”Whatever. I'm all sweaty, and it's cold. What happened to Dad anyway?” she asked.

”I don't know.”

I watched from the corner of my eye as she nodded and looked out the window. ”Coach is letting me play first base. I did really well,” she said proudly.

I smiled at her and held up my hand for a high five. ”Way to go, Skylar! I can't wait to watch you play. I'll be there on Thursday for practice.”

”Cool,” she said, smiling.

We talked more about the team on the ride home. I was so proud of my daughter and her enthusiasm. She worked hard and loved it so much. I was proud of all my girls. They had a confidence and zest that I never had as a girl. I was glad they never let things get in the way of what they wanted.

When we pulled up to the house, Royal's truck was in the driveway. It irritated me more that he was there than it would've if he hadn't been. It was proof he had completely forgotten about picking up Skylar, and I was furious.

We walked in the house and found him at the kitchen counter, obviously waiting for me to come home and fix his dinner. He smiled widely when he saw us and greeted Skylar. ”Hey, pretty girl. How was practice?” he asked her.

”It was good. I'm on first, at least for now.”

”Nice. You worked hard for it. So, he's starting you?” he asked.

”Yup,” Skylar said with a small smirk. ”I'm all smelly. I'm going upstairs to take a shower. I'll be down in a bit.” She walked over and gave him a big kiss on the cheek, causing Royal's smile to grow even wider. He swatted her b.u.t.t as she walked away and turned back to face me.”

”What's for dinner?” His smile was wide and sloppy, and I could tell by his rose-tinged cheeks he was drunk, or at least tipsy.

”Whatever I put on your plate, that's what,” I snapped. I threw my keys and purse on the counter and tugged my coat off angrily, throwing it down on the stool.

I grabbed a potholder and yanked the oven open to take the dish out, fuming with anger. I tried staying composed so I wouldn't just go off on him, but despite my greater attempts, I couldn't take it. I could feel him staring at the back of my head and had an earnest desire to sling the pan of lasagna at his stupid head.

Instead, I placed it on top of the stove and slammed the oven closed. Without looking at him, I asked, ”Where have you been?”

”The Tavern. I told you that. The play-off game was on. Why? What the h.e.l.l is your problem?”

The tone of his voice loosened the grip I had on my temper and I threw the potholder down and spun around to face him. ”How much did you drink? Did you forget something tonight? Your daughter was stranded at school for a half hour! I can't believe you drove home like that.”

He scrubbed his hands over his face and groaned, obviously clued in to his mistake. ”f.u.c.k. I forgot. I got caught up talking and...” he trailed off before jumping off the stool. ”You'll never guess who I ran into tonight,” he said excitedly.

”Who?” I asked, completely disinterested and still highly p.i.s.sed off.

”Lana. You remember Lana Adams?”

His dumb a.s.s face, and even stupider smile flipped something inside me I didn't even know existed.

”Are you seriously asking me that? Your ex-girlfriend? This has you, what? Excited? Excited enough you forget to pick up your daughter?”

My face went flame red-hot, my nostrils flared, and my hair stood on end.

What an a.s.shole.

”That was a long time ago, Jenna. Jesus, are you seriously holding a grudge after all this time? She seemed excited to see you again.”

”I bet she is,” I snorted. ”I wouldn't let that b.i.t.c.h in my house if she was the key holder of heaven's gate.”

I turned my back on him and rummaged through the drawer for utensils. I grabbed some plates from the cupboard and sat them down next to the pan of lasagna, turning just in time to watch him run his hands through his hair and sigh.

”What?” I snapped.

He gave me a condescending smile and walked over to me, grabbing my shoulders and leaning down so he was eye-level. ”She's totally changed. I know she was kind of harsh back then, but she's different. She's more like the old Lana I knew, not the nasty girl you remember.”

The urge to knee his b.a.l.l.s was strong-so strong that I pushed away quickly and moved so I could walk around him. ”I'm going to get the kids for dinner. We'll talk about this later.”

So many emotions whirled around in my head. My hate for Lana was so intense, it felt like I was sixteen again, back at the beach with her evil eyes boring into me. She was nothing but a two-bit wh.o.r.e: an angry, vindictive b.i.t.c.h. Royal always stuck up for her, which made me hate her even more.

Dinner that night was awkward. I couldn't even look at Royal without glaring, so I concentrated on the food on my plate, pus.h.i.+ng it around but unable to eat. He talked to the kids about school and sports, but I think they felt the underlying tension as well. When he finally got around to apologizing to Skylar, I lost my appet.i.te all together.

”Sorry, for making you wait, Sky. I ran into an old friend at the bar. I lost track of time,” Royal said suddenly, giving Skylar an apologetic smile.

”It's okay. Coach stayed, so it wasn't that bad.”

She was letting him off the hook too easily, but that's the way she was.

I wasn't as forgiving. I was so upset with him and my mind itched with questions. Why hadn't he called to tell me he was running late? Why didn't he answer the phone? Most of all, why was he so happy to see Lana after all she'd put us through?

I put them in the back of my mind, but I couldn't let them go.

Once dinner was over, Royal helped the girls with their homework, and I cleaned up and did the dishes. I didn't realize I was slamming things around until Royal came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I dropped my head and leaned back against his chest. I didn't want to be upset. I didn't want to fight with him. We were at such a crucial point in our relations.h.i.+p-a point where things couldn't get any worse.

”You still mad at me?” he whispered in my ear, pulling my earlobe between his teeth and biting softly.

I groaned at the sensations that rushed through me. It felt good. He felt good, but I was still p.i.s.sed off. ”I don't trust her.”

I felt his warm breath wash over my neck as he sighed. ”It shouldn't matter, Jenna. You trust me, right?” he asked, squeezing me a little tighter with both arms.

I did trust him. I trusted him to take care of me and the kids and not to do stupid things like hang out with his ex-girlfriend. I trusted him to follow through with his responsibilities and pick up his children when he was supposed to.

”I don't care if I sound like a b.i.t.c.h. I don't want her around. At all. You're a married man, Royal. You're a father, and you have no business hanging out with some woman.”

He pulled back and chuckled. I turned to glare at him and watched as his eyes darkened. He leaned against the center island and crossed his arms over his chest.

”So, it's all right for you to go out to lunch with Glenn, but I can't talk to someone I've known practically my whole life?”

I was stunned. He was so stupid, and I just couldn't handle it anymore. ”Seriously, we're going there? Your brother? He's family, Royal. I don't see why this is an issue. I asked you to stay away from her. Why can't you just agree?”

”Because, Jenna. I don't take orders,” he snapped. ”I'm tired. I'm going to bed.”

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