"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Colton said, running his fingers through his perfect hair. Sure you are. He nervously paced back and forth and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Unlike me, he at least had a heads up and time to prepare for what he would say to his daughter. I was caught completely off guard and forced to relive the sordid details of one of the most traumatic experiences of my entire life. Sorry Colt, but I really don't have any sympathy for you.
Jared shot me an affectionate smile and stepped closer, resting his hands on my hips. I could always count on him to have my back, no matter what. "You okay?" He whispered, pressing his forehead to mine.
As if things weren't awkward enough already with my daughter and her wild, bad boy boyfriend. God, she's just like me. She's attracted to the heartbreaker, the wild one that cannot be tamed, only mine actually had been tamed. Unfortunately, I was presently stuck in the hallway, with two of my exes, while being consoled by my current boyfriend, who just happened to be the brother of one of my exes. Fuck, if that didn't sound like a damn soap opera storyline, then I didn't know what did. "Yeah, I'm fine." God, how I wished I could just disappear right now.
"I'm here for you baby, but I think Shannon and I are gonna take a walk and give the three of you a little privacy." I sighed, sinking into his chest. "This is a matter that doesn't really involve me. But, I'm not gonna go far. I'll be in the neighborhood and if you call, I promise I'll come right back. I love you."
Colton patted Jared on the back. "Thanks man, that's really cool of you. You're much more understanding than I'd be if I were in your place." Colton winked at me. "I'm really happy for you, Tish. I'm glad you found someone who treats you well."
Jesus, I hadn't heard that silly nickname in years! Jared squinted, not understanding the stupid name. "Why'd he call you that?"
"It's nothing, really!" I insisted right away. "It's just a stupid nickname that the Beast here gave me." Colton threw his head back and chuckled at my use of the stupid nickname given to Colton all those years ago. "Jared, the Beast is also a high school reference, one Colton's stupid football buddies gave him."
"Hey, I resent you speaking so harshly of my friends that way!" Oh please! Colton snorted, sounding like he really thought that bunch of morons were worthy of the title friend. They were just a group of losers who talked him into abandoning his pregnant, cheerleader girlfriend years ago.
"Yeah, right. And how many of these idiots do you still speak to these days?" I was genuinely curious.
He took his jacket off, showing off his lean, muscular body. "Doesn't matter. Just because you don't see someone every day doesn't mean you're no longer friends with them, Carrie."
I rolled my eyes again and Jared rubbed his hand up and down my back. "So, why Tish? That's not a common nickname."
"She used to love being called that." Colton teased, grinning from ear to ear. Fuck you Colton! He hadn't changed a single bit. If something annoyed me, then most likely, it pleased him. Laying my head against Jared's chest, I narrowed my eyes at Colton, hating the fact that he was about to spill more unnecessary details from my past. "Tish is what I used to call Carrie because even though she was this hot little blonde cheerleader, she was also very morbid and rebellious at times, but it wasn't until she dressed up as Morticia Addams for a Halloween party that the nickname Tish just stuck."
Jared backed up and glanced down at me. "Morbid and rebellious? You? Funny, I've never experienced that side of her." He stared at Colton in disbelief. "Carrie is the most amazing woman I've ever met. She's bright and bubbly and definitely determined." Thank you, baby! "I'm impressed with her outlook on life given all that she's gone through. She's perfect." Great, now he was going to make me cry. I glanced over at Shannon, silently wishing he'd break this shit up. It's not that I didn't appreciate what Jared was saying, I really did, but it was weird standing there being all affectionate with two other I've been affectionate with in the past. "What can I say, I'm a lucky man." He leaned in for a kiss, sliding his tongue across my bottom lip and planting one on me that absolutely made my knees go weak. I could feel my skin prickle with embarrassment, and when we broke apart, I hovered there for a few seconds, hoping he understood my slight hesitation.
