We laugh, waking Tallulah slightly. The little girl rolls over and mumbles before returning to sleep. Once she’s quiet again, Bebe reaches for the remote and changes the channel to a Family Guy rerun. I turn my chair around and watch the show with her.
Hanging out with Bebe is comfortable. Since the front desk is a dead zone, I remain with her until the end of the episode. While she crawls into bed, I leave her to sleep while I finish up my shift.
Soon, Ford calls me again. This time, I pretend I don’t speak English. He growls then hangs up on me. Giggling at his anger, I’m certain the punishment will be worth it.
20
Ford
Shiny New Toy
Pax hates playing pool. He pretends he doesn’t, but I know the pissy look in his bright blue eyes. Breaker doesn’t know the look and keeps thinking Pax is really into the game. I watch them both and feel like an old man surrounded by young stupid people.
“Bam!” Breaker yells, pointing at my brother. “I kicked your ass, man.”
“I’m kicking your ass for real,” Pax growls.
“Don’t cry, bitch. Everyone loses sometimes. You just do it more often than most.”
Pax takes a step towards Breaker who laughs wildly. Frowning at my club brother, I feel sorry for his fucking kids. The guy is nuts after a single beer.
Pax wants to get Breaker’s annoying focus off him, so he does what anyone would in his position.
“Ford is hooked on Lucky’s bastard daughter. Might be in love. It’s pretty gross.”
Breaker turns to me and laughs. “Ford is whipped. Finally! I wonder how long it’ll be before I can beat you at arm wrestling?”
“How the fuck are you going to beat me? You’re married with kids, making you beyond whipped.”
“I’ve adapted to having baggage. It’s new for you. Yeah, it’ll distract you and I’ll win.”
“He has a point,” Pax says, giving me a mocking open-mouth grin.
Ignoring their taunting, I take my shot. The ball makes contact and hits the second ball perfectly, yet doesn’t roll into the hole.
“Baggage will throw off a man’s game,” Breaker says, bouncing around like a stupid kid.
“Are you on smack?” I mutter. “What the fuck are you jumping around for?”
“Just thinking about your young pussy. Tell me about Lucky’s kid. I couldn’t go to the barbecue, so I didn’t check her out. I bet she’s sweet. Does she taste good, Ford?”
Before realizing I’m moving, I have Breaker pinned against the wall. He’s startled by my attack while Pax laughs hysterically.
“Cool it, man,” Breaker says in a small voice. “It’s me. I was just playing.”
“You need to watch your fucking mouth or I’ll sew it shut then tear you a new one. Got it, asshole?”
“Yeah, I didn’t mean nothing about it. I got an old lady, remember?”
Even stepping back and giving him a nod, I want to smash his face in. Pax brushes up behind me.
“What brand of baby carriage should I get you, brother?” he whispers, still laughing.
“Shut up, Pax.”
“You get possessive fast,” he says, stepping back. “It’s a pretty look on you.”
I take a swipe at him, but he ducks and walks to the bar. After I glance back at a still startled Breaker, I follow my brother and order myself a beer.
“You need to chill.”
“Shay is like Darby,” I mutter, angry at myself for going off on Breaker. “Even if she’s no one’s old lady, she deserves to be treated with fucking respect.”
“That’s cool. I like when you go all knight and shining armor. It warms my fucking heart.”
Taking a swipe at him again, I only manage to slap his shoulder before he ducks and runs across the bar. Pax is like a fucking kid on Christmas whenever he sees a chance to mess with me. Of course, I don’t blame him. When he’s in a pouty mood, I love shitting on him too.
While I waste time until I can pick up Shay, Pax grows more obnoxious. He becomes very interested in how I call every hour to check on her.
“Is she a fragile flower?” he whispers in my ear. “A child without a papa?”
By the time Shay pretends she doesn’t speak English and hangs up on me, I’m ready to pound Pax’s face. He yawns and leans his head against my shoulder.
“Will you still love me when Shay owns your heart and expects valentines and other shit?”
I frown at him, ready to punch him in the face. Yet despite being tired as hell, Pax remains at the bar with me. Instead of pounding him, I laugh at his expression. Now he’s frowning.
“You’re jealous of a girl I banged for a single night. What an insecure little douche.”
“Tonight will be two in a row, turd. For you, that’s commitment with a capital C. Soon, I’ll be tripping over rattles and shit.”
“Don’t be stupid,” I say, patting him on the back. “Once she’s popping out kids, we won’t be living with you anymore.”
Pax’s glare makes me laugh harder. “You’re not capable of loving some chick.”
“Not a problem,” I say, trying not to laugh at his expression. “I like Shay. I’m also sick of fucking lame chicks like Maggie or worse going to bed alone. Let me enjoy my new toy, will ya?”