A Little Bit of Truth (Little Bits) (9 page)

“Awesome!”

“Yep, go get ready.”
I watch her run towards her room before vanishing from sight. “She’s grown.”

“She’s forever growing,” Loryn smiles fondly.

“How are you getting on as a step Momma?” I follow her into the kitchen. She shrugs, “Amelia is a great kid, we get on really well.”

“That she is,” I share her smile. “Where’s Lucas?”

“James took him to his hospital appointment so Maya could kidnap me for this centerpiece viewing. I swear I’m going to hit her over the head with something heavy one of these days. Talk about Bridezilla at her worst.”

I laugh so hard I choke, “Well, she didn’t plan her first wedding. Fortunately my friends know not to bother me with that shit. Not including the cake tasting. The cake tasting is definitely my thing.”

“So you get all the fun stuff and you still get to be a Maid of Honor?” she scoffs with humor. “Unfair.”

“I have to plan her entire bachelorette party, on an island I know nothing about,” Loryn’s face drops at my words, “Shit babe. Do you need help?”

I shake my head, “Nah. I’ll just throw the sort of party I’d want… Maya and I have similar tastes.”

“Let me guess, strippers and cocktails?”

My grin is wicked, “Half naked waiters, fireworks, alcohol, and games with strippers… you name it, it’ll probably have it.”

“Petting zoo?”

I laugh at her weak attempt to prove me wrong, “Babe there will be things to pet but not the fluffy cute things you’re thinking of.” With a wink I slide off the bar stool and meet a ready and waiting Amelia in the hall. Leaving a gaping Loryn in the kitchen.

She quickly catches up and whispers, “Lucas will kill me if he thinks I’ve been dancing with strippers.”

“You’re forgetting one thing,” I add in a low voice so Amelia doesn’t hear. “Guess who’s helping Lucas throw the bachelor party for James?”

“Jacob?”

I laugh once, “Hell yeah. The parties are the only part of this wedding I’m looking forward to.” With a wink and an air kiss to Loryn, I take Amelia’s hand and pull her into the hall.

“Where are we going?” Amelia asks as she skips beside me and into the elevator.

“Pancakes and then to watch that movie about the snail.”

“Turbo?”

I flick her nose, “That’s the one kid.” She wraps her tiny fingers around mine and sways on the spot as we wait for the elevator to reach the ground. “How’s school?”

“I got married.”

I feign shock, “You did?”

“Yup.” The doors open, we step out.

“Who’s the lucky guy?”

She smiles up at me, her sparkling greens brimming with excitement, “His name is Josh.”

“Can he drive?” I say sternly. “Because if he can’t drive there’s no way I’m letting you marry him.”

She nods, her eyes round and serious, “He can ride his bike without training wheels.”

It takes everything I have not to laugh out loud. My teeth sink into my lower lip. “Well then, I guess he has my approval.”

“Daddy said I’m too young to have a boyfriend.”

“Well baby, you are only five.”

She looks thoughtful for a moment, “But five is bigger than four.”

“It certainly is.”

“And Josh is five too.”

“That’s great,” I strap her into the back on her booster seat. “Do you love him?”

She shrugs, “Nah. I’m testing the waters.” This time I do laugh, I laugh so hard my head hits the steering wheel and my stomach aches. After calming myself I look at her smiling face and add, “Good for you kid.”

I messed up. I totally fucking messed up.

“Oh my,” the woman behind the counter states in shock at the sight of me. “How can I help you Mr. Stone?”

“I want the best apology imaginable sent to this address,” and then I add. “Confidentially.”

“Of course… what did you do?” I frown at her question, she quickly stammers. “So I know what I’m working with.”

Shit. That’s a good question. “I let down a friend without calling.” That will have to do.

“Do you have a budget?”

I quirk a brow at her, is she serious? She flushes and mumbles that she’ll get right on it.

I’ve really fucking messed up. She hasn’t called, which probably means she’s pissed. I’ve never dealt with a pissed Marie.

Damn it
.

Why did I have to have t
hat extra whiskey yesterday?

Me
plus whiskey and blondes with great tits just do not mix. Hence the reason Marie and I ended up in bed together, against our better judgment. She’s the image of my dreams and I might have just messed that up big time.

The movie was okay, not really my thing. I’m more into horrors but the kid enjoyed it. So much so, she’s now zooming around my apartment with a Turbo the Snail stuffed toy that I treated her to.

I laugh at her diving over the couch, knowing that if Lucas was here now he’d be in full on panic parent mode.
When I was little, my parents used to let me do whatever the hell I wanted as long as it wasn’t overly dangerous. I forever fell from trees and grazed my knees. Look at me now though, I’d like to think I’m a strong person.

“Somebody’
s at the door,” Amelia stops her speeding and stares at the hallway.

“Stay there,” I say, wondering who it could be. Probably Jacob. Either that or Loryn has come to hide out in my apartment to get away from
Bridezilla. I snigger at the thought and pull the door open.

Holy fucking
flower arrangements. I blink in shock at the humongous bouquet of mixed colored flowers. There’s somebody holding it but it’s so wide, legs are all I can see of said person.

“Delivery for a Miss Marie,” Miss Marie? Suddenly the man is barging past and placing the flowers on the table. He shoves a clipboard into my hand, I sign it and just like that… he’
s gone. Okay then.

“Pretty flowers,” Amelia climbs onto a chair and leans in to sniff them. They do smell good. They must have cost a fortune. “I like the purple and silver ribbons.”

“Don’t touch them,” I’m going to take some pictures. Because the photographer in me can’t resist capturing something so beautiful forever.

Once that’s done I reach for the tiny envelope containing a folded note. I open it and read:

To Miss Marie,

I’m sorry.

Yours Truly

Mr. Jacob

“They’re from Jacob,” I say to Amelia and pull a pink flower from the arrangement. “He wants me to give you this.” Even though he never mentioned Amelia, because he didn’t know I’d have her, otherwise he probably would have sent her, her own flowers. 

She grins like her entire year has been made, “I love it. It’s my favorite color you know?”

“It is?” I feign shock like I do a lot with the kid. “I didn’t know that.”

“I love Jacob,” she sighs like… well like a girl in love.

I ruffle her hair with my hand, “What happened to Josh?”

“Testing the waters,” she grumbles before picking up Turbo and zooming again.

I use this moment of privacy to pick up my phone and call the idiot. The idiot being Jacob.

I pace back and forth in my hotel room, my phone clutched tightly in my hand. Maybe I went a little bit overboard, if it was the other way around and Marie ditched me, I wouldn’t be all that bothered. We aren’t going steady, we’re not exclusive. It was still a shitty thing that I did though, I should have texted her.

“Hello?” I answer as soon as my phone rings.

“Hey,” her soft voice touches my ear, I find myself smiling. “Did you kill my cat?”

I frown, “You don’t have a cat.”

“These flowers scream, I’m sorry I just killed your cat.”

Chuckle. “They’re supposed to scream, I’m sorry I let you down last night.”

“Oh, so my cat’s okay?” she makes a noise that sounds a lot like, phew.

“You don’t have a cat.”

She only laughs, “What happened?”

“I umm… got a little sidetracked…”

She laughs louder, “You mean you got laid.”

Fuck.

“I’m pissed.”

Uh-oh.

“I was really looking forward to Indian food,” she says with humor in her tone and I sigh with relief.

“Are you mad at me?” I must sound like a whiney child.

She sounds genuinely puzzled when she asks, “Why would I be mad?”

Something inside of me snaps, like stretching an elastic band too far. It’s painful, I’m unsure as to why. She’s not mad, she’s not even bothered in the slightest, which is great. Yet part of me wants her to be, how messed up is that?

“I don’t know,” I admit. “So… tonight then?”

“Not tonight, I umm… I actually have Amelia for the day and tonight.”

Okay. “I don’t mind, I can bring her some…”

“Not tonight Jacob,” she cuts me off a little sharply, shocking the hell out of me. “Thanks for the flowers.”

“No…” she hangs up before I can finish my sentence. “Problem.” I bite my lower lip. That was the weirdest conversation I’ve ever had. She didn’t sound pissed, but why’d she reject my offer to come to hers? I’m probably looking too much into it.
Yeah, Marie would tell me if she was pissed off. She’s probably just tired.

It’s not like I fucked somebody else. Maybe I should have told her that, but would it make a difference? She doesn’t care what I do any more than I care what she does. We owe each other no explanations, those were her terms not mine.

Sure that Heidi was hot, but she wasn’t my type. The reason I got sidetracked was because of her, we had a few drinks, I genuinely thought I was gonna get laid. Then it hit midnight and she asked me the one question that I’ve been asked so many times, “My place or yours?”

To which I apologized, paid the bill and left her sitting in whatever bar it was we were in. I’d had a shit day and I just needed to unwind. I didn’t want to look needy by showing up too early at Marie’s so I went to the bar with Heidi and lost track of time. She made me laugh but not once during our encounter did I feel relaxed. By the time I realized Marie’s was where I wanted to be it was already midnight and I w
as already drunk. So I went back to my hotel and crashed, only to wake up feeling hung-over and guilty.

I should tell her… just in case. I’ll tell her tomorrow.

James is calling.

“Hello?”

“You coming to watch the game?”

Bad mood gone. “Be there in ten.”

When I arrive at James’ a beer is thrust in my hands and I’m pushed into the living area. Lucas is sat on the couch with his leg stretched out. I sit on the other side of the L shaped sofa and rest my feet on the coffee table.

“Where’s Maya?”

James looks up from the game, “She’s with Loryn, looking at centerpieces or something along those lines.” He notices my puzzled expression. “For the wedding.”

“Oh.”

Lucas laughs, “Yeah, Marie doesn’t deal with that shit.”

“So that’s why Marie has Amelia,” I explain to myself and Lucas nods, “Yeah, she begged us not to make her go. So Loryn called Marie.”

“Amelia is staying at Marie’s right?”

Lucas shrugs, “Dunno. I haven’t spoken to Loryn yet.”

“Okay… so where’s Evelyn?” I look at her play mat which is empty.

James points to the hall, “She’s having a nap.”

Good, I haven’t seen the kid properly in about a month. I’m a terrible godfather.

We sit, shout, cheer and laugh over the game while eating a shit load of snacks and drinking beer. Evelyn wakes up after half an hour, I eagerly grab her and plonk her on my lap. She’s determined to stand and beat me over the head with her pudgy little fists. It’s all good fun.

My goddaughter, Evelyn, is stunning, she’s the replica of her mother, with thick dark hair, shocking violet eyes and mischievous smile. She’s also devious and intellig
ent and hates being smothered with affection for too long. So after ten minutes of play time on my knee she squeals in baby language to be put down. I do so and laugh when she crawls straight to the television and starts pulling all of the DVD cases from the shelves beneath it.

“Evelyn,” James groans and
pulls her away. He drops her by her toys, she stares at him for a moment and waits until he sits back down before going straight back to the DVDs. “Evelyn, babe. Give Daddy a break.” He moves her again, I look at Lucas who just laughs.

“Off,” Evelyn shouts when her dad has to move her for the fourth time. She puckers her lips and blows a raspberry at him before reaching for the DVDs again.

“Evelyn, enough,” he snaps softly and her lower lip trembles. His face instantly softens, “Okay baby. Here.” And then he proceeds to carry over a few cases, sits on the floor, plonks Evelyn between his legs and hands her the cases to destroy.

“You’re spoiling her,” Lucas warns with laughter in his voice.

James just shrugs and smiles down at the love of his life, she then smacks him on the chest with a DVD case and continues with this happily for the next twenty minutes before launching said DVD cases at her uncle and crawling over to her toys. Funny kid.

The door opens right as the game finishes just over an hour later, I don’t think any of us watched it though. Between laughing over crap that doesn’t matter and laughing over Evelyn the mini bull, we didn’t get chance to watch the game. It’s been fun though.

“Hey,” Maya calls as she walks in with a skip in her step. Loryn follows after her, with Amelia close behind. The little blonde girl runs straight to my waiting arms.

“Thank you for my flower,” she grins and I guess Marie must have given her one and said it’s from me.

“No problem princess,” I say and look at the hall. “Where is Marie?”

Loryn eyes me oddly, “I just picked Amelia up from her place, so I’m assuming she’s still there.”

“So Marie isn’t having Amelia for the night?” she lied to me. Why would she do that? Unless… she’s angry. Fuck.

“Not that I’m aware of,” Loryn laughs as Maya dives onto the ground and starts playing with Evelyn, making the chubby baby giggle and squeal. “Why?”

“I must have misheard her,” I pick up my phone.

Jacob
:
What are you doing?

Marie
:
Watching TV with the kid.

My mouth drops open at her lie. She doesn’t know I’m here. Bitch! Lying to my face like that. Maybe this is payback for last night. Yeah, it’s her letting me down to get one over.

Even though we hadn’t made plans.

Why doesn’t she want to see me?

Jacob
:
I want to see you.

Marie
:
Sorry stud but I’m busy. Check in tomorrow?

Busy doing what? She doesn’t have Amelia. I laugh a little at the web she’s spun and pull Amelia onto my lap, she eagerly gives me permission to take a picture of us both together.

I send the picture with…
Does Amelia have a twin I’m unaware of?

I converse with the others while I wait, and wait, and wait… no response. Sigh.

Strange Thoughts

Maybe I should have found out where Jacob was before lying to him. Or maybe I should have just told him the truth in the first place. Shit. I feel a mixture of embarrassment and shame and guilt. My thumb hovers over my phone waiting for orders from my brain… no orders come and still no message gets sent.

With a sigh I throw my phone onto the couch and finish my dinner. It goes down tasting of ash. That’s how shit I feel for deceiving my friend. Maybe he won’t want to talk to me again? Nah, he’ll forgive me.

Just as I’m about to start doing the dishes there’s a banging at the door. I freeze, knowing who it is before answering it.

When I pull it open Jacob pushes past me and crosses his arms over his chest, “Where’s this Amelia lookalike then?”

“Let me explain…”

“No need, if you didn’t want to see me you could’ve just said,” he frowns a little. “I’m sorry for letting you down and pissing you off. I got side tracked.”

“But…”

“I’m here to make it up to you, I don’t like the fact you’re avoiding me.”

“Jake…”

“So,” he grabs my hand and pulls me into the room. “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have ditched you.”

I laugh, “Too right… but…”

“I don’t like you being mad at me,” And suddenly I’m on my back on the couch with him lying above me.

“I’m not…”

He interrupts me again, I feel like stamping on his foot. “Don’t lie to me again.” Now he’s serious,
I frown. “That was a bitch thing to do. We agreed no games.” My mouth drops open. “Those were your rules not mine but I happen to appreciate this certain rule.” My jaw is now completely slack. “Don’t fucking keep things that are about me, from me, if you’re pissed, then tell me.”

“Do you think…?”

“You also made it known that exclusivity wasn’t an issue,” he glares at me even more. He’s got this all wrong. “You said we didn’t have to explain shit to each other. We’re free agents.”

“I know what I said Jacob.” I
s all I manage to say before he continues.

“If… while I’m fucking you, you want me to only fuck you then just ask. I have no issues with that,” he smiles smugly and then exhales a deep breath. “Are we agreed?”

I blink in shock. “You think…?” And then I laugh. “You think I’m jealous? Or upset because you got laid last night?”

His smug smile falls, “
Well…?”

I laugh again
and push at his chest, he slips back onto his knees. I pull myself up and cross my legs, “Dude… I’m not angry at you in the slightest. The reason I told you not to come is because…” Gah. I’m ashamed to admit it. “I umm… I’m too sore for sex and I didn’t want to reject your advances while you were here. I mean, I’ve never been too sore for sex but you’re just… wow. You don’t stop, so I was going to soak in the bath again and hopefully feel better tomorrow.”

“You lied because you don’t want sex?” he looks a little confused. This is understandable. “Oh.”

With a small shrug followed by a pat on his cheek, I sit on the couch and yawn before stretching my limbs. “Sorry for lying Jacob.”

“Yeah,” he chuckles and sits beside me. “If you ever don’t want sex and I do, just say… I’d never force you.”

“I know. It’s just… hell, I don’t know. You turn me on, even when I’m sore, I’d still probably do it,” I admit. “Can we just forget about this whole thing? It’s kind of embarrassing.”

He lies beside me and pulls me into his chest with a content smile on his face, “If it makes yo
u feel better my dick is killing me. I think on our next night together, we should calm down a little bit.”

“Fuck that, it was totally worth how I feel right now,” I snigger and press my forehead against his neck.

We lay in silence for a few moments before Jacob breaks it with, “You were right.”

“About what?”

“Those flowers do scream, sorry I killed your cat.”

I laugh, and it’s loud. Because they really do.

She’s not angry at me, she’s just sore and I can see why. A
fter climbing into bed I watch her rub lotion on the inside of her thighs, they’re all red and irritated. Part of me feels guilty, the sick part of me loves that she walks around with a constant reminder of me between her legs.

“Next time I’ll just fuck you like a dog,” I say and laugh when the lotion bottle flies at my head. “Then you won’t get all of that chafing
between your thighs.”

“Asshole.”

“I could put it there too,” I wag my eyebrows at her and duck again when another bottle of some type of lotion flies at my head.