Rent Me By The Hour (16 page)

“
Are you guys ready?” I pull my purse over my shoulder.

Jordan and Jocelyn jump up and each of them grab Jeremiah’s hand and pull him up. Jeremiah pretends he can’t stand up and my kids try harder. When they managed to get him off the couch they cheer like they’ve accomplished something marvelous.

“
Are we going in my truck?”

“
I was hoping we go in mine.” Jeremiah demands.

“
Your truck doesn’t look child-proof.”

“
What do you mean it doesn’t look child-proof? Its proof able for everything possible.”

“
That’s not what I meant. Your car is too expensive for my kids to be acting like kids in.”

“
I’m pretty sure my truck will manage. If not, then I can take it to get washed and cleaned.”

“
Are you sure?”

“
Yes.” He pulls my hands and crosses his pinky with mine to follow him outside.

My kids tried to get in the car, but it was too high. Jeremiah had to carry the kids inside.

“
Wow mom. Can we get a car like this?” Jordan marvels the inside of Jeremiah’s car.

“
Baby we already have a car. We don’t need another one.” I cannot afford to pay this much on a car. Buying something like this will bankrupt me.

Jeremiah turned on each of their entertainment system to keep them entertained. My kids lean back on the very soft and comfortable seats. They slip on their headphones and now they’re in lala land. I just lost them. Jeremiah came around the passenger side and helps me into his truck. He pinches my butt and I flinch. After I get in, he comes close, and kisses me on my cheek.

Chapter 8

Just like I thought, Jeremiah did not let me pay for our movie tickets and the snacks. He asked my kids himself what they wanted to get and bought everything they picked. I’m going to let him slide for now, but this can’t continue. He can’t buy everything my kids want. I’m not used to this. For others paying for me and my kids. The seating arrangements were pretty confusing because Jordan and Jocelyn bickered on who was going to sit next to him. The simplest solution was to let Jeremiah sit between them which he didn’t mind at all. I sit on the other side of Jocelyn. Since the movie is in 3-D, Jocelyn jumped every time the dinosaurs were coming our way. She rotated holding mine and Jeremiah’s hand and sometimes she held both. I wonder if Jeremiah has any kids because he really knows how to deal with mine it’s like he’s a natural at being a dad.

By the time the movie was over, it was pretty late. I hate taking my kids out this late, but somehow I felt comfortable and safe with Jeremiah around. I thought we were headed back home, but he asks my kids something I wish he hadn’t.

He pauses their entertainment system, “Do you guys want ice cream?”

They’re kids. Of course they want ice cream. I’m just afraid my kids will ruin his expensive leather seats. He drives to Baskin Robbins and I can already see the inside of his car after my kids get their ice creams. This isn’t going to be pretty.

I turn to face Jordan, “Jordan you’re going fishing with Uncle Matt, Uncle Rick, and Patrick tomorrow. They’ll be by around six to pick you and the boat up.”

“Really?” The thrilled tone in his voice resonates in SUV. “Can Jeremiah come with us? Mom can he come?”

“Baby he probably has to work tomorrow.”

“I do have to work for a couple of hours in the morning. How about the four of us go next Saturday?”

“Really?” Jordan’s high pitched excitement directs towards me. “Can we mom?”

“Sound like a plan.” I wink at Jordan.

“Mommy what am I doing tomorrow?” Jocelyn looks down with her pouted lips crossing her arms.

“Well I was thinking you and I go have a spa date. We can get our manicures and pedicures done. Then during lunch time we’ll go eat with Aunt Victoria, Aunt Cynthia, and Stephanie. Then afterwards, you’re going with Aunt Cynthia and Stephanie because you’re going to spend a night at their house.”

“Mommy if I spend a night with Stephanie and Jordan spends a night with Patrick, aren’t you going to be lonely?”

“Of course not baby. I have all our wonderful pets to keep me company.”

“Are you going to miss us?”

“I always miss you two when you guys aren’t with me.”

Jocelyn satisfied with my answer, questions Jeremiah, “Are we there yet?”

“We’re almost there.” Jeremiah answers.

I bid for us to eat the ice cream inside the ice cream shop. I wouldn’t want my kids to accidentally spill any on Jeremiah’s plush black leather seats. Even though Jeremiah claimed it was okay, I counterclaimed him and won. Plus it was nice to be able to face everyone so we all can talk. Well the three of them talk. They seem to always leave me out of the conversations. People passing by stare and admire his truck. Like they’ve never seen one before. This probably is true. Shit I never have seen one before. His truck is one of a kind. I can see it now. Monday when I pick up Jocelyn from school, Martha will ask me who’s the handsome man driving that lavish truck. I will officially become the topic of discussion.

When we got home, Jeremiah comes inside for a little while. Mufasa and Mulan smell him then ran outside. My kids run upstairs change in their pajamas and hurries back to the living room where Jeremiah casually sits on our couch like he lives there. Jordan shows him the same card tricks from earlier, and then I demand he get some rest since he will be waking up at five in the morning.

“Yeah I should be going.” Jeremiah stands up.

The disappointment in my kids’ faces at the thought of Jeremiah leaving.

“I’ll be back. I promise.” Jeremiah rattles his fingers over Jordan and Jocelyn’s hair.

Ok my kids are happy again. The four of us head upstairs. Jeremiah watches me as I tuck my kids in bed, “You are great with your kids. I see how they adore you.”

“I try my best.”

“I know you do.”

After tucking my babies in, Jeremiah and I go downstairs. I sit on the sectional and he sits next to me. My kids really had fun being around him and I appreciate how sincere and fantastic he was with my kids. Watching him wants me to jump on top of him and I can sense he feels the same, but we restrain ourselves because my kids are still all new to this. Me having a man around. Shit, I’m still new to it too. I respect that about him. He doesn’t cross the boundaries. “I should be heading back.” He stands up from the couch straightening his pants. I can notice the bulge just below his waist line.

“Back to Houston?”

“Yes. I have a couple of meetings tomorrow.”

“Oh ok.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I already know what that means. I’ll never call you again. “Ok.” What else could I say? As much as I wish he would call me back I know he wouldn’t. This is too much for him to handle and I don’t blame him. I walk him outside to his Knight.

He locks his fingers with mine, “I had fun today and thank you for letting me spend time with you and your kids.”

“Thank you for doing it.”

“I hope we can do that more often.”

These mind games are killing me. Why not just get in your car and drive off. Don’t tell you you’re going to call me and that you wish you can spend more time with me and my kids. That’s just screwing with my head and I’m not prepared for the distraction. He gives me a peck on my lips and as I sighed with my mouth open, he slips his sweet tongue in. He pins me against his truck as we exchange our longing desires. I grab him by his shirt pulling him closer against me.

He pauses, “I should go. I’ll call you later.” He jumps in his truck and my heart aches at knowing I might never see him again. I should have known it would come down to this. I shouldn’t be surprise for what’s going to happen next. Watching the backlights of his SUV leave my driveway brought frustration inside me. Why did I allow this to happen? Why did I let my kids spend time with him just for him to turn his back on us and never come back? But what if he really does want to spend time with us? Why am I letting these doubts get the best of me?

Mufasa and Mulan enter the house with me; I lock the door, change into my pajamas, and lay in my bed thinking about Jeremiah. As I’m dozing off, my cellphone rings.

Looking at who it is, I delightedly answer, “Did you already miss me?”

“Yes I did. I wish I didn’t have these meetings tomorrow so I can be with you instead. My meetings should be done around noon so after you have lunch with your daughter and friends can I come by your house?”

“Really?”

“Yes. Why do you sound surprise?”

“I just figured you had something better else to do then to spend it with me.”

“Sweetheart, that’s all I want to be able to do. If I didn’t have to run my business and you allowed me to, I would spend part of my time with you in our private time and with you and your kids for family time.”

Family time? That had a nice ring to it. It would be nice if he continued to spend time with me and my kids. My kids would love that. Here I am worrying I will never hear from him again. He really does want to be around.

“So I’ll meet you at my house tomorrow then.”

“Sounds like a plan. Good night sweetheart.”

“Good night Jeremiah.”

“Sweet dreams. And I hope some of your dreams include me.”

Quietly smiling inside, “Sweet dreams to you too. But if you do come by tomorrow then I wouldn’t have to dream of you.”

We tell each other to hang up but we refuse to do it when the other one doesn’t want to hang up. We’re both thirty years old but we’re acting like high school kids. I finally clicked the red button on my phone because I have to wake up early to help Jordan get ready to go fishing. I stock up the fridge in my boat with food such as: bread, cheese, mayonnaise, lunchmeat, chips, fruits, water, sodas, Gatorade, and crackers.

Since Jordan and Jocelyn will be spending a night with their cousins I pack each of them a backpack. I check my business phone one more time before sticking it inside my sock drawer. I curl in my bed and for the first time in a long time I’m not getting my pillow soaked. Whenever I sleep alone in my room, I start thinking of Max and it leads me to tears.

My alarm started buzzing and I look dazed and confused. Me not being a morning person, I do my mummy walk into Jordan’s room. He was already up; he’s brushing his teeth and dressed.

“I’m ready mom.” With a big smile on his face.

“Yes. I see.” I’m still trying to get my eyes used to the light.

He marches downstairs to the kitchen and fixes himself a bowl of cereal. While I’m making a pot of coffee, my phone rings again. It’s probably Matt telling me they’re on their way. I answer without checking who it is.

Goosebumps cover my body when I hear Jeremiah’s raspy voice through the other end, “Good morning sweetheart.”

“Good morning. You’re up early.”

“So are you.”

“I have to get Jordan ready for his fishing escapade.”
“Tell him I said hi, to have fun, and be ready for next Saturday, because we’re going to catch the biggest fish.”