Page 82 of Mr. Infuriating (Mister #1)

Gabe

My daughter’s voice had a hint of awe in it as we approached Gretchen’s drive.

“Ooh, look at that car!”

I’d rather smash its tail lights.

“Dad! You missed Gretchen’s house!” Britt cried as I drove on by.

“What?” I feigned looking around in confusion. “I did?”

Yet, I kept on driving.

“Yeah. It was back there where the cool car was parked.”

“Huh. The car must have confused me; all these houses look alike.”

I mean, they kind of had at first, but after visiting a few times the differences were obvious. Still, it was the best I could come up with on the fly.

I don’t know why I’d kept going when I saw the red car in her driveway, because I wanted to know who the fuck the owner was and why he—or she—seemed to be at Gretchen’s house all the time.

Then it hit me, maybe Laura got a new car .

Oh my god. That was it! Laura got a new car!

Jesus, I was being a little bitch over nothing. And worse, Derrick had been right.

At the end of the street, I turned right to circle around the block. This time when we pulled up, the Jag was gone.

“I wonder whose car that was,” Brayden asked as I put the truck in park where the Jag had been three minutes ago.

“Probably her friend, Laura’s. ”

The kids didn’t wait for me as I got my toolbox from the truck bed and continued up the walk to her house.

They were already inside, with Jake draped around Britt’s middle, when I entered.

But the second the little guy saw me, he squealed, “Bandit!” and went limp so Brittany had no choice but to put him down.

Once on his feet, he ran toward me with his arms wide, and I set my toolbox down and scooped him up in one fell swoop.

He wrapped his little hands around my neck as he chastised, “Where been?”

“I’ve been working, buddy! How’ve you been?”

He jabbered animatedly, of which I understood about two words, but I thought my response of, “Oh my! Really?” was appropriate, because he nodded and continued.

My reply of, “Wow!” seemed to satisfy him.

I noticed Brayden unpacking his backpack at her dining room table and Britt declared, “It wasn’t her friend’s car. It was Jake’s dad’s.”

When the little man heard “Jake’s dad,” he tightened his hold on my neck and put his head on my shoulder. I gave him a squeeze in return even as I felt my blood pressure spike.

What the fuck had that asshole been doing here? He gave up his right to spend time with Gretchen and Jake.

I looked over at Gretchen with raised eyebrows.

“Oh yeah?”

Her shoulders lifted. “He wants to spend time with Jake.”

What a bunch of bullshit.

I had to consciously will my face not to convey what I was thinking.

Instead, I replied. “Huh. I hope that works out. ”

But I’d bet my mortgage it wouldn’t. And why the hell was she allowing it?

It seemed like there was more to the story.

“I do, too,” she said softly.

Then it hit me, and I blurted out, “Are you getting back together with him?”

Her gaze snapped to mine, and she forcefully replied, “No!” then dialed it back. “He just stopped in to talk about a schedule for him to spend time with Jake.”

Yeah, sure . A schedule, my ass .

I wanted to shake her. She was worried Jake would be confused about me ? What about that loser?

“Hey, bud, go get your toolbox so you can help me in the kitchen.”

Jake’s eyes got big, and a grin spread across his face. I set him down, and he tore down the hall toward the stairs.

I looked over at Brittany and said, “Can you help him?”

She knew something was up, but did as I asked, then I grabbed Gretchen’s elbow and pulled her into the kitchen.

“Are you seriously considering letting this guy back in your life?”

“He’s Jake’s dad. Jake needs his father.”

What could I say to that? I had no right to an opinion. Yet, I voiced mine anyway.

“This is a mistake, Gretchen.”

“I appreciate your concern. But we’re not your problem to worry about.”

She was right, of course. It didn’t mean I liked it. In fact, I fucking hated it.

*** *

Gretchen

“You feeling better?” I asked Brayden as I sat kitty-corner from him at my dining room table.

“Yeah, but now I have a ton of homework to catch up on, and I’ve got to get ready for finals next week.”

“Well, fortunately, we’re meeting tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday. We’ll get you caught up and ready for finals.”

“How are you with World History and Geography?”

“I’m certified to teach it…”

He pulled out a folder and said, “Can we start with that?”

~~

As I helped Brayden finish his Renaissance worksheet, he quietly said, “So, you and my dad.”

Shit.

I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I went with the obvious.

“Your dad is a great man.”

“Does that mean you’re…?”

I set my pencil down and looked him in the eye.

“Your dad and I are at different stages in life. His chicks will be flying the coop before he knows it, while one of mine just hatched, with hopefully more on the way.”

Keeping with my analogy, he replied with a grin, “I think my dad would be a great rooster for your chicks.”

Me, too.

Of course I couldn’t share that with him.

“You know I adore you, but this isn’t a conversation we should be having. ”

“I just see how much he cares about you. We want him to be happy, you know? He was happy when you and Jake were staying with him.”

This kid was going to make me break down crying.

“He was a very gracious host.”

“Don’t you think—”

I cut him off by handing him a practice test for a World History quiz I knew he had on Friday. One of the perks of tutoring at the school on Tuesdays.

With a smirk, I said, “You’ve got fifteen minutes,” as I stood up and set the timer on my watch.

I debated whether to go into the kitchen. Things between Gabe and I were tense. Although I wasn’t sure why he cared about Troy seeing Jake.

The sound of my son’s giggles compelled me to see what was going on.

I walked in just as Jake slapped Gabe’s shoulder and said, “Oh, Bandit,” while wearing a big grin.

Britt had a pair of safety goggles on top of her head, and a drill on the counter nearby, while she concentrated on the level she had lined against the wall.

I loved that Gabe didn’t care about gender roles and was teaching his daughter how to do his job. All while making my child laugh.

I wanted to blame him for hurting me, but I couldn’t. He’d never lied to me. I bore the responsibility for letting my heart get involved when I’d told him I wouldn’t.

But now my kid’s heart was involved, too.

It was painfully obvious Jake needed his dad.

God, I hoped Troy stepped up .

“Whatcha guys doing?”

Gabe’s smile fell when he saw me.

Ouch.

Britt answered, “Dad’s teaching me how to put trim up, and Jake is helping.”

Jake proudly patted his chest and proclaimed, “I help, Mama!”

“That’s great. Are you doing a good job, baby?”

Gabe answered on my son’s behalf.

“Of course he is! When he’s not laughing!”

He then grabbed Jake’s sides and tickled him, causing my son to shriek in delight.

I both loved and hated watching the three of them interact. Their rapport was bittersweet.

It hurt knowing after this week, this was all going to end.

Damn, I wished things could have turned out differently between Gabe and me.

Maybe in another life.

Even though the timer on my watch hadn’t gone off yet, I looked at it and murmured, “I better get back to Brayden.”

He nodded his head with a sad smile, but otherwise, didn’t say a word as I made a hasty retreat back to the dining room.

I hated how things were now between us, but sadly, I knew that was going to be our new normal.