The Forever Girl Read online

  I tried calling Casey but it went to voice mail. Fuck me, she’s pissed. I’d only just calmed her down a few hours ago, and now this. She doesn’t get mad often, but when she does it’s not pretty and I always end up bearing the brunt of that shit. I’ll deal with her later. I have to go see about my kids.

  Chapter 5

  ***

  “Daddy!” My little princess came running when she saw me standing next to my truck in the schoolyard. I’d had to take my chopper home and switch out for my truck so I could pick them up instead of having the bus drop them off.

  “Hey princess how was your day?” I picked her up and kissed her cheek while her little arms went around my neck. For this I would walk through fire. I’d fought like a son of a bitch to keep her and her brother, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep them safe. Not just physically, but emotionally too.

  Her brother came through the doors next with a shit load of kids all screaming and running in a million different directions. I watched to see what he would do when no one was around, namely me. And just as I’d taught him he looked for his sister in the crowd. I was about to call out to him when he didn’t see her and started to panic, but he saw us and came running. Until he remembered that he was Mr. Cool and slowed to a walk.

  “Hi dad.” He fixed the strap of his backpack on his shoulder and looked up to make a face at his sister.

  “You see your sister here?”

  “Hi Mellie, dad how come you’re here?” We turned and made our way back to the truck where I strapped them in before answering.

  “I wanted to talk to you two. How does pizza and ice cream sound?”

  “Yeah!” They both chorused loud enough to deafen my ass as I turned the key in the ignition.

  Their mother was into health shit and hardly ever let them have anything other than veggies and fruit. That was all good but I want them to have the complete childhood experience. She’s not a bad mom she’s not the best either. That’s why the judge gave me full custody. She has moments when she’s hands-on and then she can go to that place where she forgets that they’re there. She’d go for days without even noticing them other than to pour a bowl of cereal and put them in front of the TV.

  I didn’t know that shit until after the affair. I was talking to my kids, not fishing or anything, just trying to get them to understand what was going on and it all came out. The neglect, the way she dropped them on her mom when I was gone so she could go out on the town. There was a whole lot of shit that I knew nothing about because she had me so snowed with her innocent act.

  All the while I was protecting my country she was fucking with my kids. For that I wanted to kill her ass. And when I confronted her about it and she was so blasé, I almost slipped my leash.

  She had an excuse for everything and it all circled back to me. I’d never noticed what a complete bitch she was until then. Maybe it was because I was away for most of our marriage maybe that’s why I missed so much of what she was. That one was on me. But leaving my kids on other people’s couch so she could go fuck her side dick, there was no excuse.

  We made it to the pizza parlor and I got us a table in the window. I waited until after we’d placed our order for a large pie with all the works and milk for them and a club soda for me. After the day I’d had I could go for a cold one but I wasn’t about to drink and drive with my kids in the truck.

  “What’s wrong dad?” That’s my boy, a chip off the old block. He sees too much for a seven year old and there’s no point in trying to sugar coat shit for him because like me, he’d see right through it. I’ve tried to shield him as much as I can. He’s older than his sister and in some ways much too worldly for someone so young. But my boy was nobody’s fool and I respected him enough to always be straight.

  “I need to talk to you guys about something. Mellie settled down here sweetheart.” My kid has ADHD or some shit, she can never sit still for too long, shit must drive her teachers nuts. I got her settled in the seat beside me and took her little hand in mine.

  “You guys know I love you very much right. And that I’d never do anything to hurt you.”

  “Are you leaving again? You said you wouldn’t.” His little face scrunched up with distaste.

  “No son, that’s not it. I met someone.” I just left it out there and let it sink in.

  “Is she your girlfriend daddy?” What the fuck does my little girl know about girlfriends?

  “Yes she is, but soon I want to make her more than that. I’m going to marry her.”

  “Does that mean she’s going to be our new mom?”

  “No Mellie, your mom is always going to be your mom, she’s just not going to live with us anymore. But Casey, that’s here name, will be moving in with us after we get married.”

  “Is it because of mom and that Elliot guy?” I looked at my son Jack Jr. I’d never told them that their mother had cheated, just that we were getting a divorce. They’d cried and went through the usual as you’d expect, but we’d got through that. Things had settled into a new normal with their mom still in the house but not my wife any more and they’d had to get used to that. Now I was laying this on them too.

  “What do you know about that son?” There was no point in trying to get the cat back into the bag if it was already out. I wasn’t about to start lying to my kids for any reason.

  “Some of the kids at school were talking about it before and I heard grandma Joan yelling at mom about it when you were getting a divorce.” Damn, all this time I thought I was protecting them from that shit and they already knew.

  “You knew about this too Mellie?” She nodded her head and sipped on her milk like it wasn’t a big deal. Of course she was too young to understand all the mechanics of what was going on, but little man was taking it all in. I didn’t want to go swimming in those waters but if the kid had questions then I needed to answer them.

  “What exactly did the kids say?” I’ll have a word with my ex mother in law later about saying shit in front of my kids, though knowing her it won’t make a difference. He shrugged his shoulders and picked at his napkin. “It’s okay dad it’s not that bad.”

  “What did they say?” it took him a moment but he finally opened up.

  “They called mom a bad word okay. They said she’s a bad person and that we have a broken home.” Fuck, what the fuck is wrong with kids? Can’t they stick to video games and shit?

  “Your mom made a mistake guys. We’re not together anymore but she’s still your mom no matter what. I don’t want you two to worry about any of this and if anything bothers you I want you to come to me.”

  “Do you not love her anymore dad?” He asked the question but his sister was suddenly all ears. “No I don’t but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I’ll always love you no matter what.”

  “But what if we make a mistake daddy?” My little girl is a smart cookie. Her bottom lip trembled ripping a hole in my gut and I pulled her into my arms and reached a hand across the table to her brother.

  “That’s a little different pumpkin. When you grow up you’ll understand there are some mistakes mommies and daddies make that make them get divorced, but when your kids make mistakes you try to teach them the right way but you don’t stop loving them.”

  “So how come you stopped loving mommy?” Fuck me! “Because what mommy did…” What the fuck was I supposed to say? I thought I’d answered all the hard questions, thought they knew by now that I would always be there.

  “Because mommy cheated stupid and kids can’t cheat.”

  “Hey, don’t call your sister stupid, apologize.” He mumbled an apology under his breath and my sweet as pie daughter spent the next two minutes trying to comfort him because she thought he was in trouble. The good thing was she forgot her question and let me off the hook. Thank fuck.

  We ate pizza and they asked questions about Casey and there was none of the crying or screaming accusations I’d half expected. Instead they were curious if a little wary of the unkno
wn. “I have a picture if you guys wanna see.” I pulled my phone and showed them a picture of my girl.

  “She’s pretty daddy.”

  “Thank you sweetheart.” I kissed her hair. Typical girl. My boy wasn’t saying much of anything but he did look at the picture a long time.

  I took them home after and their mother was there waiting. I didn’t say anything to her as I headed for the kitchen table; it was homework time.

  I’m pretty sure as soon as I was out of earshot she’d grill them about where we’d gone but she knew better than to start shit in front of them. I bet she’d be pissed to know that her little stunt earlier had cleared the way for me to spend the night with my girl. I didn’t owe her shit and now my kids knew the truth there was no more need to hide.

  I helped the kids with their homework and got them through bath time. I tried Casey again but she was still not answering and I started to think she was maybe a little bit beyond pissed at me at this point.

  I wanted to go to her but my kids had had a big day and I was about to add more. It would be the first night I’d spend away from them which meant I wouldn’t be here in the morning when they woke up. I’ve been staying close the last year or so, trying to give them all the security they needed in their little lives.

  I told them as I was putting them to bed and although they looked a little unhappy at the thought of me not being here they both kissed me goodnight and told me they loved me. I sat with my princess until she fell asleep and then went to look in on my son once more before leaving.

  Christine was hovering around like she wanted to say something but I just grabbed my leather and walked out the door. I’m such a son of a bitch I locked my bedroom door before leaving. I didn’t want her ass sneaking into my bed while I was gone.

  Chapter 6

  ***

  I pulled into her driveway twenty minutes later. There was one light on so it gave me hope that she was in there. She’d better be. I didn’t like her out by herself at night and she didn’t know anyone in this town. Knowing her she’d do that shit to spite me though.

  I braced myself for whatever hell she was going to unleash on my head when I walked through that door. The smile wasn’t far behind the worry. My girl knows her way around make up sex.

  I put my key in the door, the key she’d given me even when I hadn’t reciprocated. Why that should hit me in the gut now out of nowhere I’m not sure. The house was dead silent as I made my way inside, up the stairs and down the hallway to the bedroom. I pushed the door open slightly, no sudden movements. I wasn’t looking to get brained with one of her four-inch heels again.

  She was in there, curled up on the bed with a nightlight on. “Baby?” I dropped the overnight bag I’d brought with me on the floor and made my way to the bed when she didn’t answer.

  Her eyes were open but she didn’t acknowledge me in any way. I sat on the bed and ran my hand over her hair. Nothing. “You’re not talking to me?” We haven’t done this one yet. We’ve done the throwing shit at my head, the snippy words and the pulling her hair out for emphasis, but the cold shoulder was new.

  I toed off my shoes, lost my jacket and my shirt and climbed in behind her. She was like a block of ice when I put my arms around her. “I’m sorry I yelled at you baby, I didn’t mean to. I just don’t want you mixed up in any of this ugliness.” She didn’t even soften a little. I pushed her to her back and leaned over her.

  “Baby look at me.” Damn my baby could be cold. She didn’t even blink. I started talking to get her out of her pique. “I told the kids about you today.” I told her about my time with the kids and how it went and all I got was an icy glare.

  “Why thank you Mr. Sparks, after half a year in your bed I finally warrant a mere mention to your precious kids. I’m so happy not to be your dirty little secret anymore. So nice of you to throw me that measly little bone.”

  “You said you…” She flew out of the bed before I could finish. I closed my eyes and counted to ten. I’m normally a patient man. I pride myself on not losing my cool especially when dealing with the female species.

  My ex cheated on me, didn’t even get a ‘boo’ out of me. Even when she gets in my face and I have to ream her ass, like today, I don’t raise my voice; don’t even break a sweat. But this one, it doesn’t take much for her to get me from zero to ninety.

  “Where the hell are you going?”

  “Away from you.” That southern accent that her dad paid so much money to erase sure finds its way out when she’s pissed. It’s so cute; she’s so cute it’s hard not to laugh. So I did. Big fucking mistake. I think I saw steam coming from her nose and ears before she reached down and picked something up and sent it flying.

  “Motherfuck….” I flew off the bed and chased after her with blood in my eye. “Get your ass back here you little brat.” I reached for my belt and her eyes flew open wide.

  “No, Jackson, no.” She ran for the door but I was on her ass pulling her back inside. The neighbors would probably hear and call the damn cops but right that second I didn’t care.

  “I told you about throwing shit at me? Get in here.” She struggled but was no match for me, and my anger. I don’t know what the fuck she’d thrown at me but she’d knocked the fuck out of my head with it. I dragged her ass kicking and screaming back towards the bedroom.

  “Shut up before I choke the shit outta you. You want to play tough, let’s play.” She did some kind of limp and drop shit, something I’d taught her for self-defense, but I was onto her shit. I followed her down and we ended up on the floor in the hallway right outside the bedroom door.

  Now she went to hand to hand combat, scratching and kicking while calling me every name in the book. I was trying not to hurt her of course. Just because she’d lost her damn mind didn’t mean I had to lose mine, but she was really asking for it.

  “I hate you-you fucking bastard. Go home to your ugly fat wife, fuck you.” See, bipolar. Had she not been crying through those screams I would’ve ignored her ass, but I know my girl and she was hurting. So I throttled back and held her in my arms with my legs wrapped around hers to keep her still.

  “I don’t want her, I want you.” I spoke as calm and soothingly as possible while fighting for air. Her body was shaking with fury and the tears kept coming. “No you don’t, you sleep in her bed. You leave me here every night by myself alone and lonely and go home to sleep with her.”

  “Look at me.” I had to turn her face myself. “I would never do that to you, never. I told you, whatever we had she and I, it was over long before we met. She said that shit today to hurt you, to make you do this. Don’t let her come between us baby, don’t.”

  Now with a rational human being I figure they’d use their head and try to think things through and put shit in perspective. I wasn’t expecting any of that here. Why? She’s fucking nuts.

  “I don’t wanna hear it. You let her talk to me like that and had the nerve…” Her voice went up on the last word and I waited for the explosion. It came in the form of an elbow to my gut. “Stop it Casey Annette Bennett.”

  Might as well had been talking to the wind. She tried to head butt me so I did the only thing I could. She ended up under me on the floor with my body pressing hers down while my hand fought with the shorts she’d worn to bed. I wrestled them down far enough to do what I needed, released my cock which was hard as a fucking iron bar, and drove into her. That ought to calm her little ass down now.

  “You gonna behave? You ready to listen to reason?” I pulled her up with a hand under her tummy and fucked into her. I was trying to fuck the stubborn out her ass. I know from experience it’s the fastest way to bring her down from her mad. She was trying to hold out this time though and that mouth of hers kept going.

  “Did you just leave her bed? You lying piece of shit.” I covered her mouth to shut her the hell up. “I did no such thing.” Each word was followed by a deep stroke. “Listen to me you pain in the ass. I love you I want only you. I have not touc
hed her in almost two years and don’t plan to ever again. Nod your head if you understand what the fuck I’m saying.” Stubborn shit, she didn’t even move.

  “Fine, be stupid then. I’ll just fuck you one last time and leave.” I wasn’t going anywhere but she didn’t know that. Let her work that shit out by the time I was done. I fucked her hard because I knew that’s all she understands when she gets like this. Some women like flowers and candy. My girl likes me to fuck her to within an inch of her life to show that I’m with her and her only.

  Her pussy started juicing halfway through her mad and she pushed back against me. “That’s my girl. You ready to listen now?” I eased off her pussy and just stroked her nice and slow although I still sunk my cock deep in her belly.

  “If I didn’t love you, if I wasn’t planning to spend the rest of my life with you, there’s no way I would give you my seed without protection. If I was going to fuck you over I never would’ve let you stay here, I would’ve sent you packing.” I said all this while fucking into her and speaking directly into her ear so her hardheaded ass could hear every word.

  She calmed, first her breathing then her tight fist relaxed against the wooden floor. Then came the tears of course. I shushed her and kissed her ear and cheek and any place I could reach while speaking soothingly to her high-strung ass.

  I didn’t want to pull out because we were both close, but I wanted to take her to bed and make love to her. “You want me to do you rough or…” She didn’t let me finish but slammed her pussy back hard on my dick. Sometimes I think she does this shit purposely so I could manhandle her. Fucking nut.

  I gave her what she wanted until she screamed her release and my cock spit inside her, then I lifted her from the floor and took her to bed for more of the same.

  We grappled with each other because I guess she wasn’t completely over her mad. I smacked her ass hard but that only got her going and she didn’t quit until I slid my steel in her and pinned her to the bed.