Page 5 of Joint Custody

I slammed my hips against her ass until we shook from our pleasure, giving me what I needed, to think of nothing else on the drive home but a bit of fun from a woman I’d never see again.

Chapter 3

Tiffany

“Sweetheart!We’resoproudof you! You did it! And don’t worry, there’s more to this party!” My mom grinned as my dad nodded along with her.

“We got you a gift, honey. Although, I should probably say that we got both you and Chris a gift since we purchased it from his dealership,” my dad said as he handed me the keys. “We decided to help him out.”

“Mom, Dad, he owns the car dealership. I’m pretty sure he’s doing well. He brings in over a million dollars a year,” I responded, and my mother gave me that look that told me I should stop talking. “I mean, you got me a car?! Yay! Let’s go see it.” I changed my tune because I didn’t want to start an argument.

Ever since Chris decided that he loved cars more than he loved the law, my parents treated him like a disappointment and pinned all their hopes and dreams on me being the one to follow in their footsteps. And I loved the law, I mean, how could I not? It was my entire life. All I knew. They got started with me early, and I guess they knew what they were doing.

They made sure I breathed and slept law so that I would never depart from it. I went to school and when I came home, I was homeschooled. I stopped going to kids’ parties long before I could remember, and I was allowed to have friends but with certain limitations. It was like if I didn’t satisfy my parents’ requirements, then I couldn’t hang out with friends. By the time I was fourteen, I was in law school, and I carried that pattern with me there. No parties and no fraternizing unless I earned it.

I was surprised I was allowed to live in the dorm and have a roommate. It gave me a sense of freedom, but I never exercised it. I never felt free because they had eyes everywhere. Most of the lecturers knew them. They were famous lawyers. If I’d put a foot out of place, they would’ve been told about it.

Despite all of that, however, I loved them because I knew that my life would not be what it was without them. I’m honored to be a twenty-one-year-old law school graduate and grateful I learned the value of hard work and that it paid off.

My roommate, Annie, and her friends—who later became my friends and remained friends with me throughout law school despite my unavailability—Simone and Laura walked alongside me as my parents took me out of the garden and into the parking lot. I owed a lot to these girls. They were like my older sisters. I’d always kind of felt like an only child. Even though I had an older brother, he’d already left the house by the time I was four years old, and I hardly ever saw him after that. He liked to avoid my parents, and when he’d come back for the holidays, things were tense. He’d be there but he wouldn’t reallybethere. He’d spend most of his time hanging out with his friends.

At twenty-five, these girls were like older siblings within the same age range, and that was a lifesaver at times, even if they never gave up on trying to get me to go to a party with them, get drunk, or hook up with a guy. I’d never done any of those things, and somehow, they still chose me even though most of the time we spent hanging out was in the library or my room, associating ourselves with the law and learning how to apply it. They were the ones responsible for teaching me how to walk in heels, do my makeup, and how to do my hair. If it wasn’t for them, I’d have wasted a lot of money on salons and stylists in order to present myself the way my parents wanted me to. Always prepared to make a statement. Which apparently was what they wanted to do with this car.

I stood in front of the baby-blue Lamborghini that had doors that opened toward the sky. Um. I wasn’t sure this was me but, then again, maybe it was. I wasn’t sure who I was. I just needed to get used to it.

“Ooh! Girl! There’s no way you’re having this car and not taking it out on the town tonight.” Annie leaned over and whispered.

“Yeah, I say tonight’s the night we get Tiffany Levine to hit the clubs with us!” Simone said a little too loud.

“Shh!” Laura slapped her on her arm. “At the rate you’re going, her parents might take it back if they hear you.”

“Come on, she’s twenty-one now. Legally she’s an adult, and she’s entitled to certain rights. They know that. They’re lawyers for fuck’s sake. The girl’s gotta live,” Simone responded.

“The girl’s standing right here, and I think it’s up to me whether I want to go to a party? I don’t know. It doesn’t sound fun to me,” I whispered.

“Why would it? You’ve never experienced it before. I bet your brother knows a lot about partying. Ooh, he’s hot.” Laura bit her lip. “You think I’ve got a shot?”

“Look at those arms and those cheekbones,” Simone gushed.

“He’s married with kids.” I grinned.

“Mm, I’d call him daddy. I’d let him call me mommy.” Annie squealed and they laughed.

“Ew,” I responded.

“Oh, come on, lighten up. Okay, I get it, he’s your bro, but what about those two dudes he’s hanging with? I’d be up for them showing us a night out,” Simone said. “Damn, they’re hot.”

His best friends: Mario and Anthony. And my friends weren’t lying, they were kind of hot, I guessed. I’d only seen pictures of them, back in the day with my brother, and well, they’d gotten better with age, for sure.

I had never paid attention to whether or not guys were hot. Of course, I had crushes on guys my age, but they were all so caught up with chasing “the paper” so that they could live life with the riches and post about it on social media. I’d get bored of the conversation halfway through if I managed to be brave enough to entertain the idea of dating them.

But my brother’s best friends seemed as if they had their lives together already, and there was a certain laid-back appeal that came with that. I doubt they’d be looking our way, though. And if they did, it wouldn’t matter. Even if I had the time, I was pretty sure I wasn’t their type, and they had far more grown-up lives and responsibilities.

“Yeah, they’re probably married too and, if not, they probably have someone waiting for them at home,” I said, turning away from the images of the men that made my cheeks burn.

“That’s a bummer,” Simone said just as my mom came hurrying up to us, taking me by the arm.

“Oh, oh, oh, oh!” she said. “Those lawyers congregating over there have some pretty outstanding reputations and even more outstanding firms. Getting your foot in there will look amazing on your resume.” She rocked on her heels through the grass, trying to get me close to them faster than her feet would let her. She was lucky she didn’t tip over at the rate she was going.

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