by M. C. Cerny
With a heavy sigh she flips her phone over and slides it toward me. What I find is troubling and unexpected. It’s a text message from some asshole named Allen demanding to see her and come to the house.
“Who is he?”
“That is my ex-husband who doesn’t understand what divorce constitutes.”
I’m not sure how I feel about that. I know about him. Obviously, she has a child with him. I don’t like it, but I can’t do anything about it, only how I chose to handle it. I slide the phone back to her. “Okay.”
“What do you mean, okay?”
“Well, what do you want to do about it?” I ask. It changes everything if she’s harboring some long lost love for him.
“I want him to go away, but two years hasn’t resonated with him and my boss Natalie has been helping me with court motions when I needed them.”
“Well then, just that. Okay.” I’ll support her in any way that I can and let her take the lead on this although I hate everything about it.
Diana wrinkles her forehead. “Meaning what?”
“We all have a past, Diana. Clearly yours is a bottom feeding loser who won’t leave you alone. I don’t like it, but it has nothing to do with this.”
“This?” Her head tilts and she licks her lips.
I clarify what I mean in no uncertain negotiable terms. “Us.”
She wrings her hands nervously like she doesn’t know what to do with that statement. Heck, I don’t know what to do with it, but I’d like to.
“How do you feel about watching The Princess Bride?” She mumbles escaping to the living room.
“I like it better the second time, little warrior.” I tease her as she fumbles with the DVD player. I sit on the couch and wait for her to join me. She sits down with about three feet between us and I’m not having it.
I lean over whispering against her neck watching the skin shiver and ripple. “Chicken.”
She gives me a dirty look under heated eyes and a hiss. “The kids are sleeping.”
“Relax, I’m not going to do anything.” But I do, because I yank her across the couch to wiggle in my lap. “I’m more comfortable like this.” I lean back and let her rest snuggled against me. It takes her a while to settle down and my dick is pressed tight against her thigh. I decide I must be a masochist because we don’t talk about it, and I definitely don’t touch her other than to hold her in my arms. She warms and her breathing slows about halfway into the movie when Wesley is captured. The last thing I recall before drifting off myself is getting fed a magic pill of strength and saving the Princess. I’d give anything to save Diana, but she doesn’t need saving. Not really. She’s capable, strong, and amazing. She just needs someone to back her up when it counts and that’s where I want to be. Right by her side if she’ll let me.
***
The smell of bacon wakes me up and a coffee cup is pressed under my nose. I’m groggy but wake instantly when I realize Diana is gone and my hands search the living room for her.
“Where?” I ask Milo sipping the coffee in a large mind clearing gulp.
“Relax man. She’s in the twin’s room with Piper.”
“Thanks.” I acknowledge the caffeine rush.
“No problem. Lucky for you Piper was still drunk when we got home.”
“Why do I feel like a kid about to get scolded?” I grumble.
“Oh not by me. Remember I married one barely knowing her. I’m not about to cast stones.” He snickers and I punch him lightly in the arm.
“Speaking of which, tell me about this right hook you gave that dick-doctor.”
Milo demonstrates the move and reminds me that he had some basic military training back in his home country before coming to the United States for medical school. His form is excellent. He’s good and I’m glad Piper has him as a partner. Not that Piper isn’t capable of scaring off anyone on her own, I’m just happy Milo can hold his own against the tiny tornedo.
“Listen, I’m not going to tell you how to handle this, but you may want to go before Pip…”
“Jax Holden!” One set of babies and she’s mastered the mom voice that curls my insides with caution and a little bit of healthy fear.
“Thanks, I owe you one.” I clap hands with Milo and escape before Piper can interrogate me about last night.
Nine
Diana
It’s been a week since the babysitting incident as I refer to it and we’re back to training. Today is the first day I’ve had time to come for a training session. Natalie’s court schedule has kept me busy doing briefs along with Maisy joining a Bluebird Troop. I had a feeling I was going to become a cookie pimp by fall. Uncle Milo already promised to buy several dozen boxes since his dad favored their shortbread with his coffee. As for me, I was still sitting in limbo since Jax declared something was happening between us.
“Are you seriously signing a John Mellencamp song?” Jax had been humming a song for the better part of five minutes before I caught on to what it was making me blush furiously. It was better than Piper singing a childhood taunt about kissing and baby carriages, though she hadn’t done that to my face in at least two weeks. I was due to hear my own melody any day now. You would think twins would tire her out. Nope.
“Not a Camp fan?’ He winks. Ugh. I’m slowly melting into a puddle of arousal. Today I’m wearing a skirt with workout shorts built in underneath because, well, laundry. Now they feel weird rubbing against my business standing here looking at Jax who is as usual shirtless and in sweatpants that hang far too low to be legal if it was a law.
“I wouldn’t say not a fan, but you’ve been humming Jack and Diane for the last hour.” Sweat is pouring off my straining muscles.
“I could move onto to something else, you like Journey?”
“No its okay, I mean I do like Journey, but I didn’t know if you were aware of it or not.”
He continues humming. He’s totally aware of it and doing it on purpose. That’s okay. I actually like the song and I like it better when Jax is humming it softly like he is now.
“So why don’t you want to have more kids?”
That halts me in mid lunge and I nearly topple over until he grabs my arm righting me.
“I beg your pardon.”
“Kids.” He says not affected in the least.
“Well, aren’t you nosy today.” I mumble.
He drops to the mat and does twenty push-ups in succession before I can answer. “What do you have against them?”
“Nothing. I love them. I love Maisy. Wait, why are you asking me?” I’m confused. Why would Jax Holden, gym owner and personal trainer be asking me this? Surely, he isn’t thinking about kids, is he?
“Because at the dinner you said you didn’t want any. It’s been bothering me.”
“Is that what I said? That was…that was weeks ago and you’re thinking of that today?” I try to remember my exact words but all I can see in my head is Jax holding babies and babies clinging to his oversized Hulk arms.
“No, not word for word. I’m just curious.”
I go with honesty and watch his face fall like every other man I tried to date who came after my ex-husband. With a deep sigh I truthfully say, “It was hard when she was a baby and then the cancer seemed to isolate us in this untouchable place. It’s been the two of us for so long that I couldn’t imagine more. ”
“That must have been really painful, and lonely.”
“It was. It still is at times, but I have Piper and now Milo and the twins.”
“Right. They do make life interesting.” Jax moves out and crouches down like he’s going to pounce. I think about a counter move.
“Of course.” My eyes track his movements as he’s taught me to do. I stand my ground on the mat assuming the position. His eyes glint as we stand off.
“Let’s go little warrior. You getting tired yet?”
I roll my eyes. “Never.” It’s a bold lie. Jax pushes me to my limit and just beyond. I’m exhausted but something about
his coaxing makes me want to give more than a hundred percent each time we spar. I go again forcing myself to concentrate on the counter attack he’s been teaching me.
He’s taken to calling me that each training session. It took about five minutes to grow on me and now I look forward to when he says it.
“Slacking…” He taunts.
“In your dreams big guy.” I move fast and low and manage to offset his balance enough to take him down. Jax rolls into the move and we grapple in the take down. As usual he covers my fall, but I best him and roll over to sit on top of him in victory.
“Just like movie night, only better.” He smirks.
“Huh, I feel asleep.” I poke his chest and he grabs my finger moving my hand out of the way for the roll I anticipate.
“I’ve definitely dreamed of something.” Jax rolls again this time pinning me to the ground with a grunt. He weight presses down and it feels so good.
“Jax.” I’m breathless laying here with him now on top. I like this maybe more than I should.
“I’m going to kiss you. I’m going to devour you like I should have while we had those stolen moments on the couch.” His elbows rest on the mat as his hands tangle in my hair, thumbs press on my cheekbones lightly holding me in place as if I were going to run off somewhere. Doesn’t he realize that the only running I’m bound to do would be straight to him? This is the moment I make it clear to him.
“Okay.” I grab his shoulders pulling him down. I’ve never been the aggressor, but Jax makes me feel like I can fight for these things, like I’m his equal. I don’t know what else to say except his lips on mine feel like all the butterflies in spring have found my stomach. It’s sweet and unexpected. Our lips part together and his tongue seeks out mine. We sway into it grinding against each other building friction as we wrestle on the floor neither willing to concede. I’d like to think that at least for today, I bested his body. Jax Holden, however, bested my emotions, my heart, and my soul.
Ten
Jax
“Dinner.” I match her movements between light kisses I don’t want to end.
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
“No Pip. No Milo.” I gruffly hold her face to mine eyes locked in.
“They can babysit for a change. I can ask Milo to pick her up. It’s kind of their thing since the hospital is so close to her school. ”
I push myself off the ground. I don’t want the contact to end, but if I don’t get off the floor, this is where I’ll likely make love to her the first time and she deserves better than a gym mat.
Milo happily agrees to pick up little wonder and I send Diana off to the locker room to shower. We’re ready in record time and out of the gym headed to a Cuban restaurant that serves the best Mojitos I’ve ever had.
We’re seated in a secluded corner where I get to hold her hand and watch the candlelight play with her blonde hair.
“I like this, you know.” I finger the lock of white hair that rests on her shoulder.
“My old lady tail?” She smirks.
“Well, if you want to role play a cougar, I’ll bite.” I bring her hand to my lips and graze the skin with my teeth teasing her.
“So you’re one of those I need to worry about?” She snatches her hand back.
“Just what kind of nonsense has Piper been feeding you?”
“Oh a little of this and a little of that.” Her shoulders bob up and down and I growl tugging the lock of hair I’ve grown fond of.
Testing her, I ask. “And are you scared little warrior?”
“I think I can take whatever you can dish out, Mr. Holden.” Her little nose scrunches and I like the challenge. I’m an open-minded man and I like my sex with variety, but nothing weird. Although, in this day and an age weird seemed to be subjective and if she wanted to role play or partake in a safe spanking I was game.
“I like it when you call me that, but maybe we should save that for another time.” I reach for her hands again just simply enjoying the moment with her. We’d have time enough to for the other stuff when we got to it.
Diana clears her throat and resumes a safer line of conversation instead. Admittedly I’m grateful because the hard on I’m sporting under the table is damn uncomfortable and sucking rational thought from my mind.
“I didn’t know you got an MBA.” Diana teases between sips of her drink and chewing on the mint leaf.
“What, you thought I was another dumb jock?”
“No, of course not, but Piper did peg you as a bit of a player.” She giggles and it’s the first time I’ve seen her let go completely and be carefree.
“Jesus woman, we’re going to need an Uber to get home if we drink anymore.”
She bites her lip and glances at me coyly, “I don’t want to drink anymore. I want to…”
We’re interrupted by a shadow cast over the table. I see Diana instantly retreat.
“Well, if it isn’t my slut wife and her thug boyfriend.”
“Allen, what are you doing here?” Diana cringes in the corner and no fucking way will I put up with this.
“Listen up asshole, I’m about to show you how much of a thug I am if you don’t get the fuck out of here. You’re ruining our appetite.” I see the manager and hostess making their way to us from the corner of my eye.
“Sir, please.” The manager attempts to get between us but the poor kid can’t be more than twenty years old with his shiny skin and red bumps on his forehead. If anything this kid is going to get hurt intervening.
“Maybe you like washed up moms. She definitely wasn’t the putting out type if you get me. Cold fish is what she is.” Her ex sneers. Diana gasps and I’m this close to nuclear meltdown but I know if I throw the first punch I’ll probably kill him and that ruins my plans for having a happily ever after with Diana. Not that I don’t want to bash his head in, but I did enough brawling in my twenties to know it’s not worth it.
I push the manager behind me and get in douche’s face nose to nose growling. “Well, we all know what a spineless shit you were abandoning your kid which says more about you than it ever could about my woman.” Yeah, I went there. “A real man takes care of his responsibilities instead of running like a scared useless little fucker.”
“I guess you like it when they lay there quiet and dead.” He can insult Diana’s sexual prowess and it doesn’t change anything. He’s got nothing on her and he’s knows it so he attacks what he thinks will hurt her the most.
“I don’t argue with stupid. Stop stalking her because next time, I won’t let you walk away with your legs intact. This is your last warning.” I dismiss her ex-husband completely pretending that his existence doesn’t affect me. I won’t feed into his idiocy. I turn to the manager knowing that giving this prick my back is a stupid move, but it also says I don’t give a fuck because I know he can’t do shit to me. “If you want to work out anytime stop by my gym.” I hand the kid my card and money to cover our drinks.
“Come on beautiful, time to go home.” I’m stone cold sober at this point so driving isn’t an issue. Diana looks wrecked and I want her as far away from this as possible.
I won’t have her tainted by the air that pond scum breathes.
Eleven
Diana
“Why Jax? Why would you want to be with someone like me?” My chest tightens as he takes the keys from my shaking hands and opens the door to my house. I can’t breathe with the impending panic attack looming on the edge of my vision. Of all the little restaurants in our city he just had to find the one we happened to be at, Allen ruins everything.
“You have to even ask. You’re my girl. My. Girl.” Jax grabs me anchoring his hand in my hair pulling me close. His other palm cups my cheek brushing a tear away and traveling down, stroking me as if I’m porcelain and breakable. I am breakable. So breakable under his steady unwavering gaze because this man has wormed his way past my defenses and deep down into my heart.
“But all the shit that seems to follow me.” I make exc
uses as his head shakes and a small smile cracks his face wide. Jax is my superhero without the cape and he knows it, damn him.
He kisses my cheek reverently, affectionately whispering, “When was the last time someone took care of you? Just you?”
“I…” I don’t have an answer. I can’t remember the last time. My parents died in a car wreck as a kid and then I took care of my aunt and uncle. Then Maisy came along and there was no question of not caring for her, Allen had merely been a blip in my radar after her birth. Allen was useless. The only person in my life who really gave a damn was Piper, but she was a mother now and I couldn’t use her as the crutch she’d been to me for so long. Even Natalie, my boss, my wonderful pushy boss could only do so much.
My voice hitches and I choke on a sob.
Jax forces me to look him in the eye. “I don’t give a shit about what that pathetic excuse for a man has to say. He’s nothing.”
“He ruins everything.” She cries and I wipe her face clean.
“Not anymore he doesn’t. I’m going to take care of you Diana.” I watch her face change and wait for her to see how much conviction and promise I’ve made in that statement.
“Take care of me?”
“Correction, I want to take care of you, if you’ll let me.” He’s sweet and unexpected. He’s the sunshine on my rainy day and I’d had a lot of rainy days the past few years.
“It’s so hard to let that go. I feel adrift without that control.” I’m fighting this. Fighting him, but I don’t want to anymore.
“Diana let me in. Unravel just a fraction. I don’t want control. I want to be your shelter in the storm.” He pulls me in and I latch on unable to let go. I’m haunted, but living and I have to remember that. Until Jax pushed me out of my comfort zone, I’d been living life on pause waiting for Maisy to get better. I didn’t have that excuse anymore.