I shrugged. “She’ll get over it.”
Anna put her hands on her hips…her curvy, luscious hips. “Maybe you could talk to her.”
“She’s two and a half. She’s not gonna understand me.”
Anna’s arms folded across her chest, the alluring dress between them. “She understands more than you think. She’s a smart girl…she takes after Kiera.” Her voice grew wistful at saying her sister’s name. Anna talked to Kiera as often as she could, but she missed seeing her. Even I knew that. She was probably due for another girls’ weekend.
Not wanting to think about Kiera, or Kellan, or any of the others, I shook my head so hard my vision blurred. “Fine. I’ll talk to her.”
Grabbing my high-end duds, I dressed while Anna put her outfit back on the rack and resumed scanning her wardrobe. When I was done, I studied myself in the mirror. Damn, I was hot.
After giving myself double shooter guns in the mirror, I headed to the bedroom. Onnika was in a contraption that let her sit up, bounce, gnaw on things, and turn around. I wished they made the toy in adult size…and with room for two. I could have a lot of fun in something like that.
I looked to the closet, but Anna was still searching for something to make her look even more incredible than she already did; she’d be looking for a long time, if that was really her criteria. How do you beat perfection?
Kneeling in front of Onnika, I jiggled a toy near her face; the bell on it made a tinkling sound that she seemed to like. She cooed, laughed, and tried to wrap a grubby hand around it. Every day she looked more and more like her mother. She was going to be a knockout when she got older. Fuck. I was going to have to kick so many teenage assholes’ asses. A few adults too. My job with these girls would never be over.
I ran a finger over her forehead; her skin was so soft, it boggled my mind that anything could be that silky. It made me want to pick her up and hold her, which made me think, again, that maybe Anna had a point and we should sit this one out.
“Gibby picking on you, Onnie? You probably don’t even know what that means yet. Well, one day you’ll be old enough that you can take her. You take ’em all, Onnie. Don’t let anybody hold you back, not even family.” A stupid lump blocked my airway and I had to swallow. God, I’d been hanging around women too long.
Onnika smiled and laughed as I kissed her cheek. “You be good for Chelsey, okay?” I told her, standing up. She blew a raspberry at me. I had no idea if that meant Will do or Fuck you. Either way was fine with me.
Turning around, I made my way to the living room to find my eldest daughter. She was standing in the center of the room with Carl/Alfred, trying to get him to play horsey. Alfred was just standing there, looking dignified and aloof, and I instantly knew what Anna meant about him not being a good babysitter. Alfred would do anything we asked him to, but if it was a task he thought was below him, you’d know it by the perturbed twist of his lip and the disdainful way he only used his thumb and forefinger to pick things up.
Gibson was holding a jump rope out to him and saying, “Horsey!”
Alfred, trying to remain professional, told her, “I have no idea what you’re saying, Miss Hancock, but if you’d like to jump over your rope, I’ll gladly walk out to the patio with you.”
Undeterred, Gibson lifted the rope higher. “Ride, horsey.” Her tone of voice said something akin to Do what I said right now, damn it! My girl did not like being told no.
Slapping Alfred on the back, I said, “She wants a ride, A-Man,” then I plopped down on my hands and legs and let out a long neigh, complete with a snort and headshake. Gibson giggled at my display, then scrambled onto my back. I helped her loop the rope under my armpits and around my chest. The first time we’d played this game, I’d put the “rein” in my mouth. Big mistake.
Flicking the reins, Gibson shouted, “Yaw!”
I reared up a little, then obligingly took her for a stroll around the room. When we were finished, I plopped her onto the couch. She fell into hysterics and immediately asked for another turn. Squatting at the couch so we were eye to eye, I held up a finger. “In a minute. First, we need to have a chat, little lady. Why are you picking on Onnika?”
She only gave me a blank look, so I tried a different approach. “Do you like your sister?”
That got me a pout. “She’s mean.”
“Mean? How is she mean? All she does is sleep and shit. Errr, poop.” I looked around, but Alfred had left and Anna was still getting ready. Good.
Gibson only frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. I wasn’t sure if she was getting me or not, and I really didn’t know how to get a toddler to tell me what they were feeling, and I kind of didn’t want to. That whole emotional crap…it just made me uncomfortable. Anna should really be handling this.
“I’m sure she’s not trying to be mean, honey,” I reassured her. There. Parenting done for the night.
“She not share,” she stated, unmoved by my encouragement.
Gibson was usually the one stealing crap from Onnika, so I had no idea what she was talking about. “Share what? A toy? Bring it here and show me.”
I thought for sure she’d bring me her favorite doll or something, but she didn’t. She stuck her finger in my chest, and just like that…I got it. She was jealous. “Oh…well…” Damn it, I really wish Anna was the one doing this. “That’s not really Onnika’s fault, she’s just little and she needs more one-on-one care, but that doesn’t mean we care about you less. We don’t. You’re our firstborn, and Mommy and Daddy love you to Pluto and back, ’cause that’s the farthest planet…or moon, rock, whatever the hell they’re calling it now.”
Gibson tilted her head, and I knew I’d lost her. Touching my finger to her cheek, I made myself say, “We love you as much as we love Onnika, and you never need to worry about that. There is always enough to go around when it comes to family. Okay?”
She nodded and stretched her arms out for a hug. As I embraced her, I noticed Anna standing on the other side of the room, watching us in a tight blue dress that hugged her curves. She was smiling, so I figured I had done an okay job. Good. I did not want to have to be all mushy-gushy again anytime soon.
It took two hours to finish getting ready, prep Chelsey when she arrived with her kids, and say goodbye to Gibson, who suddenly didn’t want us to leave and was sobbing as we walked out the door. Anna looked worried in the car, so when Chelsey called me and let me know that Gibson was fine and she was braiding her hair, I relayed the message to her.
“That’s good,” she murmured, not looking relieved.
“Something up?” I asked, putting my hand on her knee. The smooth skin made mine tingle. Maybe we should skip out on this and go find a hotel. Have a little private party of our own.
“I was just…” She hesitated, then turned to me in the backseat with her. “Why do you never talk to me like that?”
Since I’d been picturing her spread out on a sea of white sheets, I needed a little help connecting the dots. “Like what?”
“Like the way you did with Gibson. I mean, I can’t even remember the last time you told me you loved me. It might have only been that one time, before we got married…”
I tried to think through our past conversations, but I couldn’t remember either, so I quickly gave up. It didn’t matter anyway. It was just a word. “You know I don’t like being all plain and predictable. It’s overused anyway.”
She thought about that, then shrugged. “Yeah, I know, but it would be nice to know what I meant to you every once in a while. Sex is really the only time you’re vocal about what you like.” She grinned in a cocky, playful half smile.
I ran my hand higher, to her thigh. Maybe we could just do it back here. Wouldn’t be the first time. “There’s a lot to praise during sex, especially sex with you.”
Her smile turned full and wicked, then she frowned. “Well, it would be nice to hear some ‘praise’ during the off times too.”
Shifting my focus to the road, I
considered my options. I spoke them while I thought. “Well, I’m not doing the I love you, you complete me crap like Kellan does. It’s nauseating. But…how about…whenever I say, ‘Baby, you’re the bee’s knees,’ you’ll know what I really mean.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Bee’s knees? Are you from the 1920s?”
Looking over at her, I wriggled my eyebrows. “Would you prefer something else? Tiger’s titties? Panda’s pussy? Beaver’s…beaver?”
Shaking her head, she laughed. “You’re absolutely ridiculous.”
Releasing her thigh, I grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “And you’re the gorilla’s grapes, sexy girl.”
By the time we got there, Anna seemed to be in a better mood, much more agreeable to the idea of spending the night out with me. Maybe I’d turned her on with my sweet speech. I should try that more often. They do say you catch more flies with honey. Or was it whiskey? Both were true, if you asked me.
The party was being held at a private residence of some guy in the industry who worked with everybody, so everybody showed up at his parties. From what Harold told me, several celebrities were going to be hanging around the shindig, and the more we mingled with them, the better.
Our driver stopped the car, then rushed around to Anna’s door and let us out. It made me smile that we were the only ones to arrive in a bright-ass yellow Hummer; I’d had my almost-tank driven down from Seattle. We could run over all these limos and sedans if we needed to.
I told the driver I’d text him when we were ready to leave, then I escorted Anna down a sidewalk covered with a red carpet. It was so Hollywood, I wanted to throw up a little, but I only rolled my eyes and cleaned the bottoms of my shoes as I walked. Hopefully I’d stepped in dog crap so I could add a little flavor to the cheesy roll of carpet.
When we got to the front door, a butler in a tuxedo was standing there. He had a tray of champagne in his hand, but as I reached to grab a couple, he pulled back and firmly stated, “Tickets, please.” Fuck…the tickets…They’d sent them in the mail, and Harold had warned me to grab them. They were printed on paper lined with gold foil…cheesier than the carpet. I had no idea where they were, probably in the garbage.
I was just about to tell the guy that Griffin Hancock didn’t need credentials to get into a party when Anna stuck her hand into her purse and pulled them out. She handed them to the butler with a charming smile that made me want to suck on her lip. He glanced down at them, then extended his tray of booze. “Help yourself, there’s more inside.”
I grabbed four, just because I could. As we were walking through the door, I handed Anna two of them. “Thanks, babe. I thought we were screwed. I’m glad you remember shit like that. I would lose my nutsack if it weren’t for you.”
Grabbing a fluted glass with each hand, Anna leaned up to kiss my cheek. “I know.” My girl didn’t meekly back away from a compliment when it was deserved. Yet another thing I dug about her.
Double-fisting it, we walked into the room packed with people. At least half of them I recognized from some TV show or movie. There were way more celebrities here than I’d anticipated, and I suddenly knew I was right where I belonged—with the stars.
Half a dozen drinks later, I was flying high and feeling no pain. Hollywood soirées were fucking awesome! Bring on the party! Cristal for everyone! Anna and I were dancing on the outside terrace, trying to get a picture of me grinding my ass against an actor from one of those crime shows, when Harold tapped me on the shoulder.
“Mr. Hancock, are you having a good time?” he asked. His tie was a colorful pattern of varying shades of purple squares. It was a party…what the fuck did he need a tie for? My shirt was wide open, so my gold pimp chain was exposed. Ah, yeah.
I engulfed him in a huge hug. “Arnold! How the fuck are you?” I screeched, loud enough for several partygoers to narrow their eyes at me.
“It’s Harold, remember?” he stated, carefully removing himself from my grasp.
Playfully punching him in the stomach, I snorted, “Yeah, I know. Just giving you shit.”
Harold gave me a smile that was clearly forced. “Yes, well, I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself. Remember to get as many photos with celebrities as you can. The more you’re associated with A-listers, the more you’ll be noticed.”
Anna raised her phone and I pointed at it. “No worries there. We’ve been all over this place.”
Harold’s smile turned genuine. “Great.” Looking around, he leaned in and motioned toward the house. “If we could go somewhere quieter, I have a proposition that I think you’ll find highly intriguing.”
Harold always thought all of his ideas were amazing, but I was buzzing something fierce, so I slapped him on the back. “Sure. Let’s go, bro.”
Grabbing Anna’s hand, I followed Harold as he turned and weaved his way through the crowd and back to the house. Glancing over my shoulder, I took in the panoramic view of the city below us. At night, and when I was a little drunk, L.A. was kind of beautiful.
When we got into the house, Harold moved us to an office that nobody was in. Well, I thought it was an office. Either that or it was a shrine to golfing. I picked up a club and practiced my putt while Harold shut the door.
“Thank you for coming to this. I’m sure the constant parties get wearing after a while.”
I scoffed at his comment. “Nah, I love this shit. Well, I loved getting fucked up with my girl, at least. The schmoozing part I could do without.” Harold had asked me to introduce myself to everyone, but all I’d really said was, “Hey, I’m in a show, you’re in a show…how about a selfie?”
Harold’s smile was sympathetic, like he understood. “Yes, that part can be a bit…tiresome. But anyway, the news I have for you will make all the mingling worth it.” Clasping his hands together, he looked between Anna and me with an expectant smile. Since I still didn’t know what the big deal was, I paused in my putt to make an irritated Get on with it gesture with my hand. “Well, as you know from past experience, the VMAs are soon approaching. I was able to get you an invitation and appearance on the red carpet. The real red carpet,” he said, jerking his thumb toward the front of the house.
“The Video Music Awards?” I asked, confused. “What does that have to do with our TV show?”
“Nothing,” he admitted. “But you’re an up-and-coming celebrity, and the show attracts all sorts of guests, not just the musical ones.”
My mind was reeling with alcohol, and his words were slow to process. All I knew was that he was telling me I was going to be on a televised awards show. Sounded like fun. Anna was quicker on the draw though, and she spotted something that I should have seen right away. “The D-Bags will be there.”
Her smile was so bright after she said it, I was sure passing planes would see it if we were still outdoors. My expression wasn’t quite so joyful. Letting go of the putter, I crossed my arms over my chest. “The D-Bags will be there,” I repeated, my eyes only on Harold. He had to have known that when he’d signed us on. I did not want to be anywhere those guys might be.
Before Harold could respond to my statement, Anna grabbed my elbow. “Griff, don’t be like that. Maybe this is a good thing, a way to mend the rift between everybody. I know you miss them, and they miss you too…”
That comment made me scowl. “Those fuckers don’t miss me, they don’t give a shit about me. They wrote me off. I’m not going anywhere they’re gonna be.”
“You don’t have to see them or make an appearance with them,” Harold interjected. “But it will add extra hype to the show if you’re at the same ceremony as the D-Bags. Everybody will be talking about it, and the more exposure the better.”
The fact that he’d planned this for the hype made me purse my lips. “And if we do meet up, and somebody gets slugged?”
Harold’s face broke into a one-sided grin. “The more exposure the better. You want to be a star, don’t you? And besides, this could help get you on the air faster.”
An irritated huff escaped my lips. I wanted to say yes to his statement and no to his request, but I couldn’t really do that. Anna didn’t voice her argument again, but she squeezed my arm, silently asking me to say yes. “Ugh, fine. You guys win. I’ll go to the stupid awards show.”
His smile widened and he patted my shoulder. “Great! Now, keep on pimping your show. Everyone in that room should know who you are and be excited that they know you.”
Puffing my chest out, I grabbed Anna’s hand. “Yeah, yeah they should.”
Harold opened the doors and left. I was about to follow him when Anna pulled on my hand, holding me back. “Babe…quick question.”
I looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“I’m a little drunk, so maybe I misunderstood, but…when he said the VMAs could get you on the air faster…what did he mean? Isn’t your show airing in September?”
Remembering that I’d purposely not mentioned that conversation with her, I stumbled for something to say that wouldn’t piss her off. She’d call me a liar again if she knew that I’d known about the show being pushed back for a while now. “Yeah…that was weird, huh? I’ll ask Harold about it next time I see him. Maybe he just meant they’d debut it in August or something.” Well, fuck. There went my personal goal to not lie to her again. I needed the out though, and this gave me time to prep her for the bad news.
Like the awesome wife she was, she completely bought the crap I was selling her…which made me feel like shit. I should fess up, but that would just worry her, and she’s having such a good time right now. I’ll do it later. “Oh, okay…well, should we get back out there? Make some waves?”
She said that with a giggle and a shimmy of her hips, and suddenly going back out to that party was the last thing I wanted to do. Holding Anna in place, I looked back at the office door. Harold had left it ajar, but it was closed enough for what I had in mind.
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