“Because she wanted in, she was diggin’ in, she’s a bitch and, she doesn’t get what she wants, she’s more of a bitch so I’ve learned to let her blow it out, get it over with and then move on.”
Rocky nodded then she clipped, “Fine, but this is my house and I’m not staying up here.”
“Roc,” Layne started, buttoning his jeans, “seriously, honey, trust me on this. Stay up here.”
“No,” Rocky returned, standing at the side of the bed not moving and not getting dressed.
Fuck. Now Rocky was digging in.
He loved her, he was happy as all hell to have her back but in that moment, with his ex-wife heading to the apartment and Rocky dug in in front of him, Layne allowed himself half a second to reflect on what life would be like with an adult Giselle-type woman, shy, quiet and sweet, a woman who got worried when he got pissed.
Then he realized that would probably bore him stiff.
Then he gave in.
“Right, then give me my tee,” Layne ordered.
“No,” Rocky repeated and Layne stared at her.
“Sweetcheeks, give me my tee.”
“No, Layne, it’s not even seven o’clock, it’s Sunday and for weeks you’ve been busting your ass for her and half of the ‘burg. Vera told me about her so I know what this is. She doesn’t get to come here and throw a tantrum when you’ve been putting your ass on the line for half the ‘burg and, I’ll repeat, for her. But, since she’s come here to throw a tantrum, obviously she’s got a point to make so I’ve got a point to make too and that point will be made by her walking into my house, early on a Sunday morning, pulling my man from my bed and she’ll see me wearing his tee.”
Shit, she was staking her claim, staking it with Gabby, of all fucking people.
He’d forgotten this about her. Soft, sweet, cute, funny, loving, touchy, hot in bed but she was also a Merrick. You didn’t cross a Merrick.
Layne moved close and put his hands to her neck. “Baby, listen to me, she is no threat,” he said softly.
“I know that and now she’s going to know it too,” Rocky returned.
Her eyes were bright and hard, flashing, she was pissed.
Seeing that, Layne instantly thought this whole thing was funny instead of a pain in the ass. He thought this mainly because Rocky was cute pissed but also because Gabby could be a bitch but he reckoned she was about to meet her match and, he had to admit, his ex had busted his balls for so long, he was looking forward to the show.
He swallowed his laughter, successfully fought back a smile, let her go and turned from her to pick up the dirty t-shirt he wore yesterday.
He was straightening when the doorbell went and the tee was yanked from his hand.
His eyes went to Roc. “Sweetcheeks –”
“Nope,” she snapped, turned on her foot and marched out of the room still carrying his tee.
Apparently her point would be made further by Gabby being confronted with a bare-chested Layne.
Layne followed her, eyes to his feet, allowing himself a smile until he hit the stairs and he wiped his expression blank.
He hit the bottom step as Rocky, no longer carrying his tee, which had mysteriously disappeared because Layne couldn’t see it anywhere, opened the door.
Gabby didn’t hesitate even a second before she fired the opening shot. “You didn’t have time to put on clothes?” she snapped, cottoning right on to Rocky’s play.
“It’s Sunday,” Rocky shot back, stepping aside for Gabby to enter. “After you leave, Layne and I are going straight back to bed. I’m not wasting my time getting dressed only for Layne to undress me again.”
Jesus. Below the belt straight off the bat. He knew it but this knowledge was fortified by Gabby’s face getting red at the same time it twisted.
“Well, don’t let me put you out, you can go right back to bed,” Gabby returned, not moving into the apartment. “Anyway, I’d rather you not be here while Tanner and I talk about our sons.”
Direct hit and Rocky’s eyes narrowed when it connected.
“I’m afraid you can’t tell me what to do in my house. You want a private conversation, you act like a normal human being, call Layne at a decent hour, set up a time to meet over coffee and talk like civil people. You want a drama, right here and right now, you’re going to have to act it out with an audience.”
“Suit yourself,” Gabby muttered and her eyes went to Layne who was standing, watching and keeping his mouth shut.
“Get in the apartment,” Rocky demanded when Gabby opened her mouth to address Layne and Gabby’s eyes sliced back to her.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Gabby snapped.
“You are not going to throw your tantrum outside my apartment. Come inside,” Rocky returned.
“I’m not stepping foot in your house,” Gabby retorted.
“You have two seconds to come inside, you don’t, you’ll find the door shut in your face, I’ll call security and they’ll remove you from the premises,” Rocky warned.
“Good,” Gabby hissed, leaning forward. “I’ll tell Jas and Tripp that you had me removed by security and they might not like Saint Rocky so goddamned much anymore.”
“They might not, then again, they might wonder why you’re on my doorstep before seven o’clock forcing a confrontation,” Rocky shot back and Layne’s mouth twitched because his boys loved their mother but they also knew her, Gabby knew that therefore Rocky had Gabby there.
“You think this is funny?” Gabby squealed, taking five quick steps into the house and Rocky closed the door behind her. He’d been looking at Roc, he missed Gabrielle’s eyes coming to him.
“Yep,” Layne replied.
“This is not funny,” Gabby’s voice was rising, indicating she was going to lose what little hold she had on her control and that was never pretty.