Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology

by Anthony, Jane

  “Again!” she called as they hit the mat.

  The guys all stood up without complaint, took hands, and started in a circle again. After they fell down, Reece crawled over to Austin and hugged him as they all lay where they’d fallen.

  “Looks like you’re all wore out,” Dani said from across the room.

  “Mommy!” her daughter squealed as she wiggled out of her uncle’s arms and bounced in her direction.

  “Hey, sweet pea. How’s it going?”

  “It’s been so much fun!”

  Reece didn’t stick around. She high-fived Dani and Nate before she took off down the trampolines again. Removing his shoes, Nate stepped out to follow her. When he looked back at Dani, she gave him a small wave and smile.

  “You aren’t coming?”

  “Heck no. Pregnancy wrecked me in more ways than one. There’s no way I’m jumping up and down on that thing.”

  “We can go as slow as you want,” he said holding out his hand.

  “It doesn’t matter. My butt is sitting right over here and watching.”

  “I’ll be back. I’m going to go play with Reece,” he said before he came over and gave Dani a quick kiss. Then he turned and jumped off after her toddler.

  Watching as Nate caught up with her, and then the two played, she knew the man she’d chosen had been the right pick. Nate would do anything for Reece and with her. Calm when he needed to be, strict when he should be, he always did everything out of love.

  “He’s good with her,” Austin said as he sat down beside her.

  “He is.”

  “I’m man enough to admit when I might have been mistaken.”

  Dani smiled at her brother. “What are you saying?”

  “I think Nate might be good for you guys.”

  “Why do I sense a ‘but’ coming?”

  Austin wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Because if he ever hurts you guys, I will hurt him.”

  “I’ve heard this all a million times, and I’ve told you, I can fight my own battles.”

  “Just had to say it again. I’m your brother, and I’m going to anyway. It’s also why Reece is having a sleepover with her Uncle Austin tonight.”

  “Austin, you don’t have to do that.”

  “Hey, if someone can get some tonight, I totally support that.”

  Dani smacked him in the shoulder. “That’s crude.”

  “And true. Besides, you’d do the same for me.”

  “Except you don’t have kids,” she pointed out.

  “Yet.”

  “Is there something you and Shelby aren’t telling me?”

  Austin smiled over at her. “Lips are sealed, sis.”

  “Wait! Does that mean there’s something?”

  “Neither confirming nor denying.”

  “You’re a punk! Yes or no?”

  “Reece and I will see you in the morning. Enjoy your night.”

  “I’m going to call Shelby!” Dani called as Austin walked away.

  “Don’t care if you do.”

  Dani watched as her brother joined the rest of the guys playing with her daughter. Pulling out her phone, she sent off a text to Shelby. One way or another, she would find out for sure if she would be an aunt.

  5

  Facebook Status — Dani King: When your child cries more for the man you’re seeing than she does for you...I’ve either picked ‘em right or my child sure told me.

  * * *

  “I don’t wanna go,” Reece cried as they rode to the airport. “I wanna stay wif Unc Nate!”

  “We both do, but we have to go back home.” Road life and toddlers didn’t mix, but explaining that to said toddler wouldn’t go over well.

  “Reecie,” Nate said from the driver’s seat. “I need you to do something for me.”

  Her daughter perked up, waiting to see what Nate wanted.

  “Can you make sure everything at home is ready for when I get back? It’s only a couple more weeks now. As soon as this tour is over, and I make it home, we’ll go to Chicago. Do you want to go back to Chicago?”

  “See Pooper?” Reece asked, wanting to see Wil’s dog.

  “I’m sure we’ll see Cooper.”

  Dani hadn’t even been tracking a trip to Chicago, but if it made her little girl happy enough she wouldn’t cry the whole trip back on the airplane, she’d indulge Nate. He’d been around long enough to know he couldn’t say it and not follow through either. Reece had a mind like a steel trap, and if someone promised her something, she’d make sure they paid up no matter the stakes. If they didn’t, she’d come at them like the mafia.

  “Message me and give me the dates so I can get time off work,” Dani told Nate. “I have a little time saved up, depending on how long you’re thinking we’ll be gone.”

  “Not long. Just a long weekend or so. I’d like to go visit Dad, make sure he’s staying out of trouble.” Nate had been worried about his dad ever since he’d been shot on the job the previous year.

  “I don’t think your dad knows how to be good.”

  “You’re right on that one.”

  “Momma?” Reece sniffed in the backseat.

  “Yes, Reecie?”

  “Why can’t Unc Nate come home wif us?”

  Dani looked over at the man who’d stolen both their hearts. “He has to work for a little longer.”

  “I wish he’d come home.”

  “I wish that too,” Nate told her as he pulled into the parking spot at the airport.

  “You aren’t coming in with us,” Dani said. “You’ll get mobbed, and it’ll be a big mess.”

  He sighed. “Sometimes I really hate my job.”

  “Don’t say that.”

  “When I can’t walk my girlfriend and favorite little lady into the airport, I’d say it’s a real drag.”

  Dani watched as Nate’s head hung, and she felt how much this bothered him.

  “Hey, it’s okay. I don’t need you to walk me into the airport. I know you’re worried about showing me how much you care, but you show me that every day. I knew what I would have to deal with when I decided to give this a shot. It’s not like you’re the first famous person in my life.”

  “Sometimes I both hate and love that your brother is my bandmate.”

  Dani looked at her watch and realized it was now or never. The longer she drew this out, the harder it would get. If they didn’t head in soon, she and Reece would have to make a mad dash to get to the gate in time, and that wouldn’t be fun.

  “Well, I guess this is see you later.”

  Nate nodded and wrapped his hand behind her neck, pulling her in closely. “Time will fly, and I’ll be home soon.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond before his lips crashed down on hers, sucking her bottom lip between his. When he’d finished, far too quickly for her liking, he smiled and said, “Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  “Reece,” he called to her daughter and then turned toward the back seat, “you get ready for our trip. Be good for your mom and call me when you can.”

  “Lub you, Unc Nate.”

  “Love you too, sweetie.”

  Dani should have thought through how hard it would be to say goodbye again before she planned her trip. Not only did it feel like her insides were knotted, but she couldn’t seem to shake herself from the funk.

  Reece felt it too. They’d been back home for a week now, and her little girl had been a holy terror. She didn’t want to do anything Dani told her, she fought bedtime, and the meltdowns left and right made Dani want to pull her hair out.

  To add to the whole craptastic mess, she had a visit coming up with Ron and Georgia, Chris’ parents. Dani had been going to visit them since Reece was a baby while keeping her identity a secret. When everything came out, and they tried to sue her for custody, Dani wanted to cut them out of her life. It hurt Reece so she sucked it up and kept visiting.

  To make everything more interesting, Dani found out that Chris hadn’t even lived with
his parents the last part of his life. They were estranged and hadn’t seen each other for years. One chance encounter at the cemetery had brought the whole thing down on them. Dani had been beating herself up since she had found out. If only she and Chris had been more open with each other. If only they’d talked about their life more. There were so many things she could do differently. It didn’t matter now.

  Most people would cut someone out of their lives after what happened, but again that damned mom guilt. Ron and Georgia were the only grandparents she knew on that side of the family. She didn’t know Tom, Chris’ grandfather, well yet, and she still hadn’t let Reece meet him. After what had happened with his parents, she didn’t take as many risks any more.

  She wouldn’t be going to see them after the stunt they pulled, but Reece seemed to be asking for them. Too bad she didn’t understand the situation.

  “Momma? We go see Nini and Bing tomorrow?” her daughter asked as Dani tucked her into bed.

  “Yeah, we’ll see them.”

  “Are we staying all night?”

  “No, just for the day.”

  “I wanna stay like we used to.”

  “We can’t. There’s other stuff we have to do.”

  Reece nodded, but there were tears in her eyes. She would have to find a way to make it up to her daughter.

  “Get some rest.” And with a hug and kiss, Dani left Reece to fall asleep.

  Several hours later she got a text from Nate.

  Nate: Hope you have sweet dreams. Talk to you tomorrow.

  Dani: I will now.

  Nate: Didn’t expect to get a text back.

  Dani: What can I say? I wanted to talk to my boyfriend.

  Nate: Uh oh, what’s going on?

  Dani: What do you mean?

  Nate: You’re the most independent woman there is.

  Dani: And?

  Nate: You usually don’t stay up just to talk to me.

  Dani: I’m having issues with the whole R&G thing. I’m not sure how to handle it, and it’s got me out of sorts.

  Nate: I really wish you wouldn’t go see them.

  Dani: I don’t think it’s fair to cut them out of Reece’s life when she seems to want them there. I know I should, but she’s had so many changes.

  Nate: You’re her mom, and you’ll make the right decision for her, but don’t do anything because you’ve got this crazy idea you owe them.

  Dani: That ship sailed long ago. If Reece didn’t ask about them, they wouldn’t see her.

  Nate: You’re a good mom.

  Dani: I feel like a shit mom.

  Nate: Don’t say that.

  Dani: It’s the truth. I allow assholes to be in my daughter’s life, and I’m torn on Tom still. What’s that say about me? Chris loved him enough to stay with him, but I can’t give him a fair shot?

  Nate: You got screwed over with R&G. You’re allowed to be cautious.

  Dani: But I’m not, right? Because of R&G. See why I suck?

  Nate: This is why you shouldn’t go down there alone.

  Dani: I’m not. Reagan is coming with me.

  Nate: Good.

  Dani: You sure you want to deal with all this still?

  Nate: Without a doubt.

  Dani: I don’t deserve you.

  Nate: You have that backward. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.

  Dani: You can’t say shit like that.

  Nate: Why?

  Dani: Because it makes me feel all girlie and want to do naughty things to you.

  Nate: I’m still not seeing a problem here.

  Dani: *sigh* You need to get home. I miss you. See! That’s the shit that happens when you say things like that.

  Nate: All part of the plan.

  Dani: You know I love you, right? Even when I don’t say it, I do.

  Nate: There are two things I don’t question. 1. Your ability to be the most kick ass mom ever. 2. What we have together.

  Dani: As long as you know.

  Nate: I can take the hint…this is getting too heavy. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Please be careful.

  Dani: I will.

  Nate: Tell Reecie I said hi.

  Dani: Think you can FaceTime soon?

  Nate: Name a time, and I’ll see if it works.

  Dani: I’ll text you something.

  Nate: Sleep well. Love you.

  Dani: Hope you have a great bed at your hotel. All the pillows here are back since you’re gone. <3 you

  Snuggling into her bed, Dani let all the anxiety of the next day float away for the time being as she drifted off to sleep. There wasn’t anything she could do about it now. Hopefully everything she’d done to protect her and Reece would be enough.

  6

  As the Dive Bar Tour winds down, the shows get more crowded. Last night in Oklahoma things got so out of hand the local cops were called to step in. The show was delayed for an hour while rowdy fans were taken out of the bar and asked to vacate the premises. Most complied, but a couple of fans showed back up after an hour and caused another scene, halting the show a second time. The guys of Innominate made it up to the fans who got caught up in the whole thing by doing an impromptu meet and greet.

  * * *

  “Thanks for tagging along, bro,” Dani said as Reagan slid into the car the next morning bright and early. “I brought a peace offering.”

  Reagan looked at the coffee in the cup holder and didn’t seem to be a hundred percent on board.

  “I also have this.” She pulled out a bag of his favorite donut holes from beside her and passed them over.

  Reagan accepted the bag with a grunt and opened it looking inside. Like Dani would mess up his order. He always got the same thing, since age ten. If anyone wanted to know the way to her brother’s heart, simply get him blueberry glazed donut holes. The only time it changed was when they had pumpkin available.

  Putting the car in reverse, Dani started down the street and toward the highway. She wouldn’t tell anyone, but her stomach ached at the thought of going to see them. That said, “Put on a brave face and don’t let the enemy see you sweat,” was her motto. Seeing Ron and Georgia again wasn’t at the top of her list of fun things to do. It wasn’t even on the list of things she’d want to do at all, but she would take one for the team.

  She hadn’t involved her family up to this point. However, after Ron and Georgia had threatened her with papers to take custody of Reece, she didn’t feel comfortable being alone with them anymore. It’d be a cold day in hell before she brought Nate or Austin around since she worried Ron and Georgia would see them as a payout. Reagan was a good choice, but she hated that she had to rely on her brother.

  Reagan glanced in the backseat and then asked, “What are we in for today?”

  She looked in the rearview mirror and noticed Reece was asleep. Reagan had enough sense to use discretion when talking about the situation.

  “I’m not sure. They were mostly civil before, but I haven’t seen them in several months.”

  “You don’t talk to me the same way you do Austin, and I get it, but if you need anything, I’m here. I might not have the bank account to do what he can, but I drive a fast getaway car.”

  “That’s the most important part.” After a few seconds of silence Dani sighed. “I’m not sure what we’re walking into, and I’ll admit it’s got me nervous. If it wasn’t for Reece, I wouldn’t ever see them again.”

  “You don’t have to be scared,” Reagan told her, looking so much like Austin as he sat up in his seat. “Whatever happens, I’m here, and nothing will happen to either of you.”

  “It’s not your battle to fight, but thank you for coming. I really appreciate the moral support.”

  “It’s more than that. I might be the youngest—”

  “Hey,” Dani cut him off before he finished. “You don’t have to prove yourself to me. In my eyes, you’re more than capable of handling anything that comes at you.”

  “You think that?” he asked stunned.

&n
bsp; “Of course. You’re a King. We’re built for it. Except Austin. He’s a pansy ass,” Dani said with a smile.

  “He is kind of a pansy.”

  “Kind of? Come on, he’s not here. You don’t have to pretend to spare his feelings. Between you and me, he’s the weakest of all of us. It’s that middle child thing. They always think they’re mistreated and being overlooked. That’s probably why he got into the business. He didn’t have the attention at home so he one-upped us all.”

  Reagan laughed and Dani felt some tension leave the air. “You’re probably right. The fucker couldn’t ever stand when he wasn’t the center of attention.”

  “What was that you said?”

  “That he liked to be the center of attention?” he asked.

  “No before that.”

  “Uh…”

  “Come on, you said it first,” Dani prompted trying to get Reagan to say it again.

  “You’re ri— Oh hell no I won’t say that again.” Shaking his head and smiling, Reagan said, “You almost got me.”

  “So close.”

  “Why didn’t you ever tell us about Reece’s dad?”

  “The short answer? To protect everyone. With him not in the picture, there was nothing for me to tell. It’s not like he’d pop back up in their lives. Dad was so mad and life seemed to be out of control at best. When I met Ron and Georgia, my gut told me something was off, but I wanted it to be right so badly. I couldn’t expose you all to that.”

  “We would have been there for you. You didn’t have to do it all alone.”

  “I know that, but I don’t regret it. Knowing how it all ended up, I am so glad I never got you all involved with them. It would have been bad, and we couldn’t have handled them like we can now.”

  “Family sticks together. You would do anything for us, and we’d do the same for you.”

  Reagan left out the fact that their asshole father had jumped ship the past few years, but no one seemed to mind that much. He had been a great father back in the day, but when he left with Austin after he got his signing deal, he changed. Their dad had become someone they didn’t recognize. Last they had heard, he was living in LA still with some washed-up actress twice his age. He hadn’t called or shown his face since the night he appeared on their mother’s doorstep, got in a fight with Austin, and ended up in jail.