Page 66 of About Last Knight

“I know you don’t, but you’re going to have to deal with it. You were seventeen once too.”

My eyes pop open. “I don’t want her doing any of the things I was doing at seventeen.”

She smiles. “I know how to take your mind off of this.” She grabs my hand and leads me toward my bedroom. “Let’s go take a shower to clean off the paint. We can finish what we started a few minutes ago.”

I pull her to me hard, our faces only inches apart. “It’s adorable that you think you’re in charge.” I lean down to whisper in her ear as I cup her between the legs. “You may have controlled the Jaime situation, but I control this situation.” I squeeze her.

Her breathing picks up as she swallows hard. “There’s nowhere in here to go that we won’t make an even bigger mess with all of this paint.” She motions down to our paint-covered bodies.

I pick her up and wrap her legs around me. “It’s adorable that you think I give a shit.”

I move us toward my kitchen table and lay her back on it. Her arms and legs are wrapped around me tightly as I kiss her like I’m going to eat her alive.

All of a sudden, the front door flies open. I turn my head and Jade is standing there wide-eyed. “Jesus, I knew the sexual tension between the two of you today was high, but you couldn’t even wait until I left the building?”

We’re stunned into silence as she walks by us and grabs the keys she left behind. We’re completely frozen in place.

She heads for the door. Before she closes it, she smiles. “Have fun, kids.” We can hear her laughing in the hallway.

I look at Melissa. “How does she know whatsexual tensionis?”

Melissa shakes her head and laughs.

The next morning, when I get a moment alone, I call Amanda.

“Hey, Dec. What’s up?”

“Did you know that she’s dating a grown man?”

Amanda laughs. “Jaime? He’s hardly a grown man. She’s known him for years. He was coming around well before he started looking like a man. He’s a good kid. You don’t need to worry.”

“I don’t like her dating. I don’t like it at all.”

“Too bad, Dec. That’s what teenage girls do. Is this really why you called?”

“No, it’s not. Umm…well…Jade met my girlfriend yesterday and asked if she could take her shopping today. Is that okay with you?”

“I suppose. What for?”

Part of me wants to just say that it’s for her bedroom at my house, which is partially true, but I don’t like to lie. “Jade said she needs some fancier clothes for upcoming job interviews and the like.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that. She never mentioned it. I can take her. Your girlfriend doesn’t have to.”

I feel like such a dick. “Well, Melissa, that’s her name, dresses really stylishly. Jade liked it and asked specifically if she could take her. She doesn’t have to if you don’t want her to or if you’re uncomfortable with them spending time alone together.”

Amanda sighs. “No, it’s fine. If that’s what Jade wants. I only saw her for a minute when she got home last night, but she seemed to like your girlfriend. If you really like this woman, and you see her sticking around for a while, I guess it’s good for her and Jade to spend time together. I suppose my drawers full of concert T-shirts aren’t exactly the style Jade’s going for.” She laughs.

I laugh too. I hit the jackpot with the mother of my kid. She always puts Jade’s wants and needs first.

“Thanks, Amanda. I really appreciate it. Melissa told Jade she’d be there to pick her up at around eleven.”

“Okay, Dec. I’ll meet her then. Have a good one.”

“You too. Bye.”

About five minutes after eleven, my text tone rings. I look at my phone.

Amanda: Who is this woman? She picked her up in a hundred-thousand-dollar car.

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