“This I know,” I informed as I stood from his meager attempt to bury me in the sand. “You also need to eat. Which one do you really want to do?” my voice playfully strained as I tossed him in the air.
He giggled, but didn’t let out his usual squeal or request for an encore. My little man was done. I looked up for Zoey and found Jenna instead, looking suspect. She waved anxiously, and just beyond her, I could see Zoey hiking up towards the villa in that sexy ass swimsuit. I carried Jordan over to where Jenna stood, trying to erase my lewd thoughts.
“Where’s Zoey going?”
“She said she needs to lie down.” She then turned to Jordan. “Does someone need a nap? Mommy said you do. You wanna come nap in your Dad’s villa?”
Jordan nodded miserably. He didn’t care where he slept; he’d be out before we made it to our villa. On our way there, I thought of Zoey and wondered about her abrupt departure. I wondered if it was my temper about this whole damn trip. I was fucking over it. I’d even wished I’d just taken the two of them somewhere private and alone. Being here complicated her perspective of me. It had already been tainted and for too long.
“I think I’m ready,” Jenna whispered, although she didn’t need to. JR was knocked the hell out. He could sleep through a storm, so she didn’t need to whisper. I wrinkled my forehead in response.
“You know. For us. I’m ready now. I hope we can get some time alone tonight.”
Then it hit me. Jenna was ready to end her celibacy streak, probably because she’d laid eyes on Zoey. When she and Jordan came into the restaurant last night, and Zo wore that sexy ass beach dress with the sides out, holding the hand of my child, I was ready to toss her over my shoulder and fuck the shit out of her on the beach. But that wouldn’t have been wise in front of my son. I remember my wood springing to life at first sight of her. I had to get my thoughts in order. All night, I tried to hide my gawking of her; even Jordan caught me a few times.
I should have known being in Zoey’s presence would push Jenna’s insecurities to the surface. I’d always known about her low self-esteem; she’d been completely honest about it from the early days of our “friendship.” Most people weren’t aware of it because Jenna had put herself in positions of authority, especially as a part-time college professor in addition to being an attorney. She once confessed that Erika, like her rather young, firm and attractive female students, did not have the academic achievements or ambition to intimidate her. When I’d told her about Zoey’s Princeton roots and Wharton success, she didn’t speak with the same air. Not that Jenna was pretentious or superficial like Erika, but everyone had their Achilles’ heel. And a low self-esteem was Jenna’s.