Page 87 of The Jackpot Screwer
“We’re going to be awesome, Lollipop, you know that, right? The best parents on the fucking planet.”
“Carter,” I scolded, nodding toward our sleeping baby. Right at that moment, Rett let out a huge fart, followed with a noise that pretty much told me he’d filled his diaper.
“What the hell has that kid been eating?” Carter cried, holding his nose.
“Just milk.”
Carter’s eyes came directly to my tits and he licked his lips.
“No,” I snapped, but with a little twitch to my lips. “Don’t even think about them.”
“Not even a little?” he asked, frowning and holding his thumb and forefinger inches apart.
I shook my head. “Nope.”
He tilted his head on one side and narrowed his eyes as he thought about what I’d said.
“Okay, Lollipop, consider this,” he said and then paused to look at Rett. “Damn, son, that shit stinks.” He then turned back to me. “As I was saying. Consider this, I take a picture of your tits and then I can use that to look at and obviously think about that rather than the real thing. How does that sound?”
I just couldn’t look at him, because no matter how infuriating he was, he made me want to laugh so much. As I pretended to consider his proposition, Rett let out a huge scream, a hungry scream. I’d already learned his cries in the nine days he’d had my heart—his tired one started off as a grizzle and built up to a crescendo, while his hungry one was a straight-out scream.
“He’s hungry.” I grinned at Carter. “Sorry baby but looks like he gets first dibs on the tits.”
Carter’s mouth dropped open and his head swiveled to Rett, who was in full flow.
“Son, we’re going to have to have words,” he said, reaching over to unclip the baby from his carrier. “We both have a thing for Momma’s titties, and they were mine first. However,” he said, cradling him in his arms. “You need them much more than I do at the moment, so I’m going to loan them to you. Remember, though, when you get a little older and maybe get some teeth, well they’re mine again and mine alone. We got that?”
It was probably gas but Rett actually looked at his daddy and smiled. His eyes seemed to be following Carter’s lips as though he fully understood what he was saying. Then he let out another huge fart.
“Okay,” Carter said with a chuckle. “I think we have that cleared up.” He looked up at me and smiled. “Ready to meet the crazy crowd?”
Feeling like the sun was beaming down on me and warming me from the tips of my toes to the top of my head, I reached my arms around both of my boys.
“I love you so much, Carter Maples,” I sighed resting my brow against his. “I don’t think there’s a man on this planet who I’d rather have as my baby daddy. You’re right, we’ve got this and we’re going to be awesome parents.”
Carter’s hand came to cup my cheek and he let out a soft breath. His eyes searched my face as his fingers gently caressed my skin.
“I love you more than you will ever, ever know,” he said softly. “We are going to rock the rest of our lives and this kid is going to be glad he was born our son. Now, about that picture of your titties.”
Watching my son and seeing the way he looked at his girl, reminded me of how I was with his mom. Sondra had been the love of my life and when she went, I’d never felt pain like it. We were supposed to grow old together, watch Hunter settle down and have kids of his own but I guess that wasn’t the greater plan for her. I found it hard to say it was God’s plan because I wasn’t sure I believed in a god any longer. If there was one, why the fuck would he let someone as sweet and beautiful as my wife be taken from me and Hunt.
Okay, so years had passed, and I was finally moving on with my life, but it didn’t mean I’d ever forget her. She’d always be with me and I was pretty sure that was why I’d never met anyone else I wanted to settle down with. I’d played around a hella lot in the last couple of years because let’s face it, there’s only so long a man can go without fucking. I thought I’d done well going without for four years before I’d got back on the horse. That was how much I loved Sondra. Any sooner and it would have felt like I was cheating on her.
Recently though the ‘no strings sex’ of the last few years had got a little tiring and it had to have been at least six months since I’d done anything except use my hand.
“So, Pop,” Hunter said, as Ellie moved off his knee. “You sure you don’t mind the wedding planner and Ellie’s folks coming here?”
I waved him away. “Nah, it’s fine. Although why Melinda would want to do a kitchen remodel, I have no idea. Nothing wrong with the kitchen she had, if you ask me.”
Ellie laughed as she picked up our coffee cups to leave the den and take them into the kitchen. “You sound just like Dad. He’s done nothing but complain about how much it’s costing him in both the remodel and dinner out as Mom has no place to cook.”
“You see why I let Ellie pick the kitchen in the first place,” Hunter said with a grin. “Now, I know I won’t have to remodel it because it was her choice.”
Ellie smiled a little secretive smile to herself. She knew what I knew—she was a woman and would be bored with that kitchen before their first kid had reached Elementary school.
“What time will she be here anyway?” I asked, strangely feeling a little anxious about the meeting and no idea why. It wasn’t like she was coming to see me.
“Any time now,” Ellie called from the doorway. “She’s moving here from L.A., so she’s been in town finalizing her house purchase.”
