Page 53 of Mister Mom

We head through the courtyard in the center of all the units and reach the beach. Payne immediately runs toward the other kids and joins in with them, kicking the ball.

“Oh, boy.” Layla tenses next to me when she spots how many people are here and her gaze fixes on Payne.

I place my hand on the small of her back and lean in. “Relax. I promise, everyone is good people and they won’t be taking pictures and selling them to the tabloids.”

She nods a few times. “Okay, I’ll try.”

“Now, give me Via and let’s get you a drink.” Via actually comes to me when I put my hands out for her and I pretend we’re flying away before settling her on my side.

Jagger is sitting on the beach chair and we have to pass him as we make our way to the cooler.

“Layla, you got Vance to hold a baby?” he says when he sees us. His eyebrow is so far cocked you’d think he had lessons from Dr. Evil in Austin Powers.

“Hi, Jagger,” Layla says softly. “This is my daughter, Via.”

“That’s an usual name,” he says.

“It’s actually Olivia, but ever since she was little Via just stuck.”

“How cute.” Jagger looks between the two of us, his usual smile absent.

“Why don’t you go get a drink, Jagger?”

“I have a beer,” he says, holding it up in front of him and pinning me with a stare.

“Then just go,” I tell him and his sour mood.

“I can’t be the only one out of the three of us who thinks this is a bad idea.”

“What’s a bad idea?” I ask him.

“You guys playing house, that’s what.” He shakes his head like a disappointed father.

“Here.” I pass Via to Layla. “Can you excuse us for a minute? I’ll join you in a sec.”

“Sure.” Layla walks toward Payne, but Leo quickly cuts her off. At least he seems more welcoming than Jagger.

“Cut the shit, Vance. I told you to stay away from her.” Jagger’s voice is laced with anger and I kick myself for not giving him a heads-up before I invited her.

“Relax. Nothing’s really going on. We’re just having fun.”

“No.” He shakes his head and points the tip of his beer at me. “You think you’re having fun. She thinks you’re going to be a substitute daddy to her kids.”

“She knows this is nothing serious. The last thing she wants is a serious relationship right now.” I down half my beer.

“I don’t understand why you need to play with fire. You’d think you’d learned your lesson after that whole mess with Gwen, but here we go again. You know what?” He raises his hand in the air. “Do what you want. Ruin this opportunity. I hope she’s worth it.”

“You two are looking entirely too serious. This is a party!” Kali waggles her manicured nails between us, her hips swinging at the same speed as her finger, slow and seducing.

“Go away, Kali,” I say, my eyes fixed on Jagger.

“Oh, look, another one of your mistakes is here tonight.” Jagger shakes his head and stands, walking away.

“What does that mean?” Kali’s valley girl voice does nothing to remove her name from my list of mistakes.

“He’s just an asshole,” I mumble and turn around and see Layla talking with Leo, while Via is petting Cooper and laughing every time he sniffs her. A smile graces my lips until Kali swings her small thin arm around my neck, pulling me toward her and kissing my cheek.

Of course, Layla’s gaze shoots my way at that exact moment, because that’s my life lately.

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