Shape of You (+18)

Chapter Eighteen

▬▬▬▬ Joel's POV ▬▬▬▬

"So, what's the plan for Christmas this year, gents?" Rick asked, leaning back on my dark brown leather recliner. "We getting together or what?"

"It'd have to be that night if we do. You know Mom's gonna expect to have us all day since it's our first one back in years," Sam said, gesturing to his twin and how they'd been overseas for so long.

Dom easily got on board with the idea of us guys throwing back some beers to get in the holiday spirit. I, on the other hand, was having a hard time even thinking about what was a week away with everything else I had going on.

For starters, I had another meeting with Kim scheduled today, and my stomach was in fucking knots at what news she'd have for me. I'd been told to expect the full extent of exactly what Marie and her lawyers would be asking for, but I'd be damned if that woman got even a sliver of custody of Everly. Couple that with a phone call I got yesterday, letting me know Jared would be going back to prison today, and I was unnerved. He still hadn't fully recovered from his injuries, and even though he wouldn't be around other prisoners yet, as a big brother, I was insanely fucking protective of him.

But, let's not forget the fucking cherry on top of the whole goddamn sundae.

Marley.

Fuck, that women knew how to get in my head and not budge. I just kept seeing the look on her face when I didn't ask her to stay last week, when Dom texted her from my phone and invited her over to our cook-out. I already chewed his meddling ear off for that shit, and the bastard still had the nerve to say I made an ass of myself all on my own. I tried my damned best not to believe him, but the longer Marley ignored my texts and rejected my phone calls, the more I started to think he may have had a point.

That's why I went to see her three days ago, and she gave me the fucking coldest shoulder ever. I wasn't used to that kind of treatment from someone like Marley Jones. The woman was a fucking sweetheart, an angel, and I managed to piss her off so much so that she seemed to be cutting me off completely, and I didn't know how to handle that. My mind told me to be okay with the silent treatment, what with the custody battle I was preoccupied with. But...there was a part of me that hated the idea of Marley losing whatever interest she had in me, permanently, and it made me want to rip my hair out.

It was settled. Marley Jones was driving me crazy, and I doubted she was even doing it on purpose.

"Joeeeeeel," Chris held out, snapping his fingers next to my ear. "Earth to fucking Joel."

Grabbing his hand tightly, I glared at him while asking tensely, "What?"

"We were asking about Evvie. You'd need someone to watch her, right?"

Shaking my head, I answered, "My mom wants to keep her the whole winter break, which starts in a few days, so that's not an issue.You guys plan whatever you want."

"No strippers," Rick stated, and when his older brothers glared at him, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sorry. Gotta respect the wifey."

Rolling his eyes with a small smirk, Sam chucked a pillow at his youngest brother, mumbling, "Whipped bastard."

And that's how two grown men started wrestling like children in my living room. Rick should have known he'd stand no chance against Sam, who was well-trained in combat, but that didn't stop him from trying to pin him down. The last thing I noticed was the entertained look on Chris' face as he refereed the match before I turned my attention to my closest friend as he came up next to me.