Hustle and Heart

by Alison Mello

  Jesse comes in carrying a pot holder and a pan of mac and cheese.

  “Do you like to cook?” I ask him.

  “I don’t mind it. I prefer to grill, but with this weather there was no way I was going to grill today.” He points to the window where we can see it’s torrentially down pouring.

  “I don’t blame you.”

  “I’ll make you something different if you don’t want what the kids are having.”

  I narrow my eyes. “Are you having what the kids are having?”

  He chuckles. “If you are.”

  “I guess we’re having what the kids are having.”

  “Grammy doesn’t like us to eat this.” Grace takes some noodles for herself.

  “Oh no?” I question.

  She shakes her head. “She says this is full of crap and we shouldn't eat crap.”

  I burst into laughter. “Well, I can’t argue with that.”

  “Grace, don’t talk like that. Now go get the boys.”

  She looks down at the heap of noodles, sighs, and runs off to call the boys for dinner while Jesse gets the nuggets from the oven. When he gets back, we all take a seat. “Grace is right, though. I treat them to stuff like this while Mom is out because she doesn’t like them eating it. So to answer your question, I am fully capable of cooking. My mom made sure of that, but she cooks healthy stuff for us so often I don’t have to do it.”

  “That’s cool. I mean, it’s important that they eat healthy but they need to be able to be kids once in a while.”

  Jason and Gabe help themselves to nuggets and noodles while Grace is already stuffing food in her mouth. “This is good,” Gabe says through a mouthful.

  Jesse gives him a dirty look, and he instantly stops. “She wanted to cook for us tonight, but I told her I had it under control.”

  “I bet she gave you crap about it too.”

  He chuckles. “You better believe it. She saw the nuggets in the freezer and knew.”

  “That’s pretty funny.”

  He shakes his head. “God knows I love the woman and she definitely helps me stay in shape, but sometimes I just want to have the greasiest bacon cheeseburger I can find.”

  “Now you’re talking, Dad,” Gabe adds.

  “You hush, boy. I respect what your grandmother does for us.” He winks at Gabe, taking the sting out of his reprimand. He is so good with his kids. He has raised them to have manners but lets them know he has a softer side too.

  “Me too, Dad,” Gabe quickly replies so he doesn’t get into trouble.

  I wink at Jason, who continues to quietly eat.

  When we’re all done, Jesse instructs the kids to clear the table. Jason looks at me with a questioning look. I give him a gentle nod to let him know I expect him to help. All three kids clear the table, and Jesse fills me in that we’re playing Uno tonight if that’s okay with Jason.

  “That will be fine.”

  My phone rings, and I grab it from my back pocket. “Hello, Brian. What’s up?”

  “So you’re at Jesse’s tonight, huh?”

  “How is that any of your business?” I ask, trying to figure out where he’s going with this. I’m trying to sound confident, but I know I’m failing. My hands are even trembling slightly.

  “Does my son think I’m stupid? I easily discovered that Gabe is Jesse’s kid.” I sigh and head into the other room because I can see I’m making Jason nervous.

  “And your point is?”

  “My point is that he is my kid, damn it.” I can’t believe he is pulling this jealousy shit now. I mean, I know he and Jesse have history but seriously. Then it dawns on me. He never left me in high school because he knew I would end up with Jesse, and he didn’t want that. He couldn’t handle me dating his best friend.

  “Well, maybe you should come around more often and he would know that. You’re the one full of excuses.”

  “I’ll be at his practice next Friday night to pick him up. He is spending the weekend with me.”

  “He is incredibly busy next weekend. You will have to bring him to the middle school for weigh-in on Saturday and he has a party that follows.”

  “That’s fine. I am his father. I can handle it.”

  “Sounds like a plan then.” I’m about to cut the call, but instead I stop myself. “Oh and, Brian?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Have a good week.” I cut the call and meet everyone in the kitchen to clean the dishes and load them into the dishwasher. It only takes a few minutes to get everything done and when we do Jesse announces, “Who’s ready for some Uno?” The kids all cheer, and Jesse grabs the cards.

  Playing the game only manages to take about an hour, but Gabe and Jason are already bored so we tell them they can head upstairs to play in Gabe’s room. Grace has yawned about five times during the game. Jesse convinces her to have a sleepover in her bed with all her stuffed animals. He sets her up with a movie and tells her to relax. It’s not that late yet, but she’s clearly tired.

  When he gets back downstairs he slumps down on the loveseat next to me and sighs. “Thank god, she’s settled. She was up really early this morning and wouldn’t go back to sleep.”

  “Does she always get up early?”

  He nods. “Most of the time she does, but usually she relaxes in her bed with cartoons. Today she was really excited that you guys were coming over. She said she couldn’t sleep anymore.” He yawns. “Is everything okay with Brian?”

  I snuggle into his side. “Yeah, he’s pissed because he discovered we’re here. Jason only told him he was sleeping at his friend Gabe’s house. He didn’t tell him you were Gabe’s father.”

  Jesse shrugs his shoulder and grabs the remote and turns on the TV. “He’ll get over it. How do you feel about a movie, because as much as I would like to drag you off to my bed, the boys are wide awake and not going to sleep any time soon.”

  I laugh. “Jason is often up later than I am on the weekend, but we have a deal that he goes to bed by ten and he can’t give me a hard time getting up in the morning.”

  “That’s good. I do the same with Gabe, but he only has until nine-thirty.”

  He stops at Shawshank Redemption. “Does this work? I love this movie.”

  “Sure.” I don’t have the heart to tell him that Brian and I used to watch this movie all the time. Right now, I’m content snuggling with him on the couch. He kisses me on the head, and we sit quietly watching the movie.

  I’m lying on my side with my head in my hand watching Karen sleep beside me. She looks peaceful, and it makes me so happy. Her beautiful long brown hair is spread out in a halo around her, and a small smile plays are her full, luscious lips. “How long have you been watching me?” she asks, making me laugh.

  “Just a few minutes.”

  “Are the kids up?”

  “Yeah, my mom has them downstairs.” I lean in and press a kiss to her lips. She opens to me and our tongues collide. I can’t help the moan that escapes me. I love kissing this woman. Her hand glides through my beard and around to my neck, holding me close. I kiss my way up her jaw to her ear. “I love the way you taste,” I whisper in her ear before scraping my teeth along her earlobe. She whimpers and grinds her hips against my already erect cock. She runs her fingers down my back until she reaches my ass. She squeezes it again, grinding against me.

  I need to feel her or I’m going to do something I haven’t done in years. My lips crash down on hers, but I quickly pull away, staring into her eyes as I wait for permission. She bites her lip and gives me a gentle nod. I roll over, open my nightstand drawer, and pull out a condom. I slip her panties down her long, lean legs. I want so badly to be buried deep inside of her, but I need to taste her first. Starting at her ankle, I kiss my way up the inside of her leg until I get to her beautiful sex. I can smell her arousal, and it’s so intoxicating. I can’t wait to devour her. I part her folds with my tongue and suck her clit into my mouth. She whimpers, trying to keep quiet, but she’s struggling as I roll my to
ngue over her hard, little nub. I slip two fingers deep inside of her. She’s so tight, my cock is aching to be buried inside her. I curl my fingers as I lick and suck on her. I need her to explode for me. Her pussy clenches down on my fingers, and her legs begin to shake as she growls into the pillow. I love the sound of my name coming from her lips as she comes undone. Even if it is muffled by my pillow.

  I lap up every drop of her essence, then grab the condom and roll it over my aching cock. After feeling her tighten around my fingers, my cock throbs for the same feeling. “You are the best breakfast in the world. Now that I’ve had you, I don’t think I’ll ever get my fill of you.” She giggles. I press my lips to hers as I gently press my cock to her opening. She’s so tight I have to go slow. It’s hard to believe anyone would give this up. Her eyes start to close. “Am I hurting you?”

  “No, you feel amazing,” she whispers. I thrust my hips forward, slowly and gently until she grinds her hips, meeting my thrusts. “Jesse, give me more.”

  I kiss and nip at her neck as I roll my hips. “Anything for you, beautiful.” I grab her behind the knees to change the angle and give her what she needs. Her eyes start to close again, but I need to see her now. I’m getting close, but I need to see her come undone first. “Keep ‘em open, beautiful.” Her eyes open, and with a smile on her face she stares into mine. I continue the rhythm I’ve set until I feel her tighten around me, pulling me in for more. Her legs are shaking and she’s biting her lip. “Yes, beautiful.” I seat myself deep inside of her, let go of my release, and bury my face in her neck, inhaling her delicious scent.

  We sit like that for a moment, just enjoying each other’s embrace. “We should probably get up,” she says, breaking the silence.

  “You’re probably right.” I chuckle. “It’s been so long since I’ve enjoyed a moment like this that I don’t want it to end.” I lay beside her. “Why don’t you help yourself to my shower, and I’ll head down to check on Mom and the kids.”

  “Okay.” She rolls out of bed wearing nothing but a nightshirt that barely covers her ass. The sight is so delicious it causes my dick to stir, but I talk him down. “Jesse. This shower is insane.”

  I follow behind her. “I know, right?” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “I designed it myself.” I fumble with the knobs to show her the different settings.

  She gives me a dirty grin and says, “Next time we play in here.”

  I burst into laughter. “I look forward to it.” I tap her on the ass. “Get going.”

  I toss the condom, brush my teeth, and slip on some lounge pants and a tank top.

  When I get downstairs, Mom’s in the kitchen cooking, but the kids are all outside. “Good morning, Mom.” I[18][19] kiss her on the cheek.

  “Good, morning, Jesse.” She dries her hands. “Where’s Karen?”

  “In the shower. She’ll be down in a few. Have the kids eaten?”

  She winks. “Yes, this is for us.” She points to the eggs. “I sent the kids outside and told them to play nice.” I look out the sliding glass door to see the kids playing soccer. They look like they’re having a blast. Gabe plays soccer, and from the looks of it Jason does too. He has some good footwork. Then I realize Karen said he played baseball this year. Soccer is typically a spring and fall sport. I wonder if he gave it up. I don’t realize how long I’ve been staring out the window until two hands slip around my waist.

  “He used to love soccer.” She sounds mournful.

  “What happened? He looks like he has skills.” I look down at Karen with concern.

  “Honestly?” She lets out a slow, steady breath. “It was something that he started as a kid with Brian. After Brian stopped participating in his sports, he no longer cared to play. It’s almost like it’s painful for him.”

  “That’s too bad. He looks like he enjoys it.”

  “He does, and he’s good at it.”

  “Come on, you two, breakfast is ready,” Mom says.

  We walk into the dining room to find a table full of food. My eyes go wide. “Mom, you’re only cooking for the three of us.”

  She shrugs. “I’m sure you can take some for work this week.”

  “I can.” I adore my mom and am so lucky I have her. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you, Josephine. This all looks really good.” Karen looks shocked by the selection of food on the table, but she’ll get used to it. My mom has always been that way. She could feed the Army and would always have leftovers. She’s made eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, toast and grilled peppers and onions, which she does for me because she knows I love veggies with my scrambled eggs, but no one else likes them that way. That is until Karen came along. I note she’s put the peppers on her eggs too, and it makes me smile.

  “Grits?” Mom offers Karen.

  “No thank you. I’m not a fan of them.” Mom looks at her like she has ten heads.

  My mom shakes her head but puts the bowl down. I think she’s disappointed because she’s the only one who enjoys them and was probably hoping to have someone else to make them for. I like them, but the way Mom makes them, they are really bad for you and I try to eat healthy. “Looks like you’re still the only one who will be eating them. Sorry, Mom.”

  She chuckles but digs into her breakfast. “Y’all don’t know what you’re missing.”

  The remainder of breakfast is eaten in silence. I’m trying to figure out what we should do today, and nothing is coming to mind. It’s hard to plan when neither of us have a vehicle big enough to really hold the five of us since Grace is still in a booster seat. She’s so tiny I think she’ll be in it until she’s twelve.

  “What’s wrong?” Karen pulls me from my thoughts and that’s when I realize I was so lost in my mind that Mom has already started clearing the table.

  “I was just trying to figure out what we should do today.”

  “That’s what had you looking so lost?”

  “Well, that and the realization that we don’t have a car big enough for all of us to go out in. Grace needs her booster seat still.”

  “I had an awesome SUV that we all could have fit in, but Brian wanted it so he took that and left me his car. He said he was doing me a favor because the car is paid off and the SUV isn’t.” I shrug. “It didn’t really bother me, but now I wish I had kept it.”

  “No big deal. We’ll figure something out. You don’t need anything else to fight with him over.”

  Her phone rings. “Speaking of him. I wonder what he wants.”

  “Hey, Brian.” She sighs. “You know, Brian. Just once it would be nice if the first thing out of your mouth wasn’t a demand.” She walks over to the slider to continue her conversation. “Not gonna happen. What happened to you had this. You said you’re a father and you can handle it.” I can see she’s getting mad. “I know you don’t see him much, but why should I have to pick him up from you; not to mention, how much are you going to see him from Friday night to Saturday?” Her jaw drops. “No!” she shouts. “You are not making him miss practice. You want to see him, try showing up to a practice or, better yet, support him at a game.” I wish I could hear what he is saying, but instead of listening, I go to the kitchen to help my mom clean up.

  “I take it from the conversation she’s talking to Brian.”

  “Yup.”

  She shakes her head. “His mama is flipping in her grave.”

  “I know. I can’t believe he treats her that way.”

  “I can’t either,” Karen says, coming into the room.

  “I’m sorry, Karen. We shouldn’t have been talking like that.”

  She waves her off. “It’s fine. He’s an ass, and I know it. He thinks he can just call me making demands and we’re all supposed to bend for him.

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That Jason had a commitment for next weekend and if he wants to see him he needs to be able to bring him to his commitments.”

  I laugh. “I bet that went over well.”

  “He told me he has no
time for that shit.” I laugh. “He’s not happy. He tried to tell me he was going to miss practice on Friday and that I needed to pick him up for weigh-in on Saturday, but I told him that wasn’t happening. He said that was fine and he’d bring him to weigh-in, and he asked for the address…” Her words trail, and she suddenly looks unsure of herself.

  “What is it, beautiful?”

  “I sort of threw your name out. I told him he was riding with you and that it was a league rule.”

  “Did he realize who you were referring to?”

  “Oh yeah. I’m sorry. I really shouldn’t have done that, but he was making me mad. I’m so tired of him trying to rule our lives.”

  “You don’t need to apologize. I’m glad he knows. He screwed up, and I’ll be sure to thank him the next time I see him.” I press my lips to hers. “How did you two leave it?”

  “I told him the practice schedule and that I’d send him the game schedule as soon as I had it.” She pauses. “I told him if he shows up Friday night then I know he’s picking Jason up for the weekend and that he’ll have him at the school for weigh-in.”

  “Do you really think he’ll show up to a practice?”

  “I doubt it, but this is Brian we’re discussing so who knows.”

  Grace comes running through the door. “Daddy.” She’s crying hysterically.

  “What’s wrong, princess?”

  “I fell, and it hurts.” She continues to sob.

  “Oh no. What hurts?” Karen asks her as I pick her up and place her on the counter. Her hands are covered in dirt, and her knees are filthy. She definitely scraped her knees.

  “My knees and hands burn,” she cries.

  “Well, we need to get you cleaned up and it will all be better,” Karen encourages.

  I peel off her sneakers and socks. “Do you know what Grammy would do if I skinned my knee as a kid?” I ask Grace. She shakes her head, and her tears are already disappearing. “She would wash the pain away in the sink. I’m going to get your soap. You set the water to a good temp with Karen.”

  “Okay,” she says with a pout.

  Karen scoops her legs into the sink and turns on the faucet while I hurry upstairs to get her soap. When I get back, Karen is squirting her knees down and Grace is giggling in the sink. The dirt is already disappearing down the drain.