Page 71 of Whiskey and Regret
I took another drink. Then another. And another.
Ding dong!
Knock. Knock. Knock.
With each drink, I realized I was replacing the dirt I’d moved off the buried thing inside me. I was drowning it and hiding it once again. Just when I was getting close.
When I heard Xari’s voice in the foyer followed by Frankie’s, I put my glass down and rushed out to meet them. I didn’t need Xari and Alexis bumping heads again.
“Hey, Daddy!” Frankie rushed me with a big hug, nuzzling her face against my chest. I kissed the top of her head and she was off to the kitchen to see what Xari made for dinner. Alexis stood at the front door, glaring at me like she could smell Xari’s perfect pussy on my skin.
“You need to talk to that girl about getting a social life. I offered to take her to my women’s group brunch and she chose to stay home to make pancakes. What the hell, Van?” She shook her head and looked at me like I was the reason Frankie didn’t want to spend time with her and her group of shallow friends.
“What do you want me to do about it, Lex? I’m not forcing Frankie to be something she’s not. You can either love her the way she is or push her away by forcing her into a box you built.”
“She is twelve. She should have friends. I had so many friends when I was her age. We were going to parties, having fun…”
“She’s having fun,” I mentioned when a burst of laughter floated through the air. I loved the sound of Frankie and Xari chatting and giggling. “You hear that laugh? Plus, Xari is good for her. She pulls her out of her shell.”
“She’s good for Frankie or good for you? I know you’re fucking her, Van.”
“You’re delusional.”
“I’m a woman. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. Like she wants to rip your goddamn clothes off with her teeth.”
“You sure you’re not looking in a mirror because I see the way you’re looking at me right now and I have to say, Lex…It’s making me uncomfortable.”
“You’re such an arrogant asshole. Does your little nanny-dick-warmer know that you will ignore her to write your stupid ass books? Does she know that you won’t take her out anywhere because you’re consumed with characters that don’t exist? Should I tell her now before she’s smitten? Or did you already dickmatize her?”
“You done?” I yawned and stretched my hands over my head.
“Fuck you, Van.”
“No thanks. I already have someone to keep my dick warm.” I winked at her then closed the door. She yelled muffled obscenities at me that I refused to acknowledge. Instead, I went into the kitchen and watched Frankie and Xari. She wasn’t wearing my shirt anymore. Now, she had on footless one-piece pajamas with angel wings and halos all over.
Frankie was busy tasting food while Xari detailed the recipes to her. I watched Frankie record every word and take notes in her mind. My baby girl was growing fond of cooking.
“Did you have fun at your mother’s?” I asked, finally letting my presence be known.
“It was cool,” she said with a shrug.
“You didn’t call me so everything must have been okay.”
“Yeah,” she nodded, tugging on Xari’s hand. “Come on. We have an appointment in my room, remember?”
“Right. Let’s go.” My heart thumped at the sight of Xari’s dimples. She glanced at me and I tried to apologize through my stare. I didn’t know if it translated but I hoped she knew I wasn’t trying to give her the cold shoulder.
After they disappeared upstairs, I went into the den and started writing again. Page after page flew from me with ease. I should have been editing my finished book, Riley’s Song but I couldn’t stop myself from writing once I started.
“Daddy,” Frankie’s voice pulled me from the six-foot hole I’d been unearthing inside myself. Whatever was at the bottom glowed bright and hot.
“Hey, sweetheart.” I saved my document and looked at her. Her makeup was done so well she didn’t look like my little girl anymore. She looked like a young woman. “Wow,” I chuckled, standing to my feet. “Xari did a number on you.” I squeezed her shoulders.
“You hate it.”
“No, no, no…” I stammered, realizing I’d shoved my foot directly down my throat.
Xari came down the hall and stood behind Frankie. My eyes roved over her angel pajamas briefly. I almost snorted at the irony. Xari was the opposite of angel wings and halos. She was still a goddess. Albeit a goddess of sin and danger, she still had ichor running through her veins.
