Nothing Like Us

chapter 30

"I should have called..." I mutter to myself as I pull into b's complex, worried she might not be home. I find a spot and throw it into park, grabbing my cell off the passenger seat when it begins to ring.

Jacque. Shit. I slump down a little and then pull it together, answering with a "Hey babe!" that sounds overly bright and cheery.

"Hey yourself." She laughs "Where you at? I'm here at your house...thought we were gonna have dinner?"

"Ahhh shit Jacque," I groan "I totally forgot. I'm in the studio and we're really struggling with a few beats. Looks like it's gonna be awhile. Rain check though?"

"Yeah that's cool." She agrees "I'll just raid your fridge instead."

"Have at it girl..." I say, once again sounding suspiciously excited without cause "I'll hit you up as soon as I get outta here. Aye, make sure someone fed tuts though would you?"

"What?" she gasps "No way! She's always stalking around that damn food bowl. I'm not about to get scratched again."

"Quit being a big baby and feed my damn cat." I joke.

"Nope. Not happening, she hates me and I'm not risking it." She does hate her. I mean, she really fucking hates her and will hiss if Jacque so much as looks at her.

"Fine, go ahead and let a poor defenseless animal starve to death under your watch. Hope you can live with that."

"Oh my god, alright.." she sighs "I'll feed your bitchy cat. Call me later."

"I will." I promise and then end the call.

I haven't told her about Lyric, and I certainly haven't told her I went to see b last night. I haven't told anyone, everything is just too new. I just met my daughter last night, the daughter I didn't even know existed until yesterday. I can't even grasp it all yet, how am I supposed to explain it to someone else?

But I've thought of nothing but Lyric and bobbi all day and I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to come, whether she wants me here or not.

~

She looks a little shocked, but not by much, when she opens the door "Oh...hey."

I shuffle my feet and shove my hands down into my pockets "Hey...I thought I'd...I just wanted to..." I give up and get to the point "Yeah, so can I see Lyric?"

"Sure..." she agrees with a cautious look on her face "Come in. She's over there in her swing."

I look her over and notice her outfit. A black pencil skirt paired with a somewhat sheer cranberry top beneath a blazer and heels...I always loved her in some fucking heels.

"You look nice..." I offer "You going somewhere?"

"Oh..." she nods and fastens the earring she's been holding in place "Yeah, meeting and dinner for work. Betty will be here any minute so..."

I head over and lift Lyric into my arms "Hey pretty girl...daddy's here. You miss me?" I place a kiss on her forehead and smile when she squirms around to get comfortable in my arms, scrunching her face up in protest until she finds just the right spot. She curls her tiny fingers into my shirt, holding on to it just like she did last night, and I decide that it's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

"Why don't you call Betty and cancel?" I suggest, rocking Lyric back and forth in my arms "I'll stay with her."

She waves me off, searching around for something in her purse "You don't have to do that Justin."

"I want to though b...its dumb to leave her with a nanny when I'm standing right here."

She hesitates "I don't know Justin...she's only three months old. She's a handful...you wouldn't know what to do."