He’d had his checkup and the results were in. They were good to give up the condoms, thank Christ.
“I like it too, baby,” he replied, knowing he liked it a whole lot more than she did.
She was silent as she cuddled closer and he thought she was sorting herself to go to sleep when she called hesitantly, “Jake?”
“Right here,” he said on a squeeze of his arm around her.
“I, well…have something to tell you.”
Shit, the way she said that didn’t sound good.
Even so, he encouraged, “Tell me.”
“Um…well, you know, Amond is coming tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
“And you know he’s a friend of mine,” she went on.
“Yeah, Slick.”
She took in a deep breath and gave it to him.
“What you don’t know is that we had a night together some time ago.”
Shit.
Jake said nothing.
She lifted her head and he felt her eyes through the dark.
“You said not to keep anything from you,” she reminded him, her voice soft and cautious.
He did say that, f**k him.
“I said that, Josie,” he confirmed.
She didn’t go on nor did she move and he felt her vibe, her body beginning to get stiff. No longer cautious, she was getting scared. So he lifted his hand and wrapped it around her jaw, using his thumb to stroke her cheek.
“He’s gonna be here with you, I gotta know this. I can tell you know I don’t like having that history but I gotta have it. You gave it to me. I appreciate that. But more, baby, I know you didn’t live in a nunnery the last twenty years and you know I was no monk. It’s gonna come out because it has to, like me havin’ to share about Terry. So don’t be afraid of letting it out. It’s life and we share our lives, yeah?”
“Yes, Jake.”
“Now settle in and sleep.”
“Okay, darling,” she said right before she settled back in.
He gave her another squeeze when she did.
“Thanks for the honesty,” he whispered.
“You’re welcome,” she whispered back and he felt her relax against him.
She fell asleep before him.
But in her bed, in her house with his kids close and Josie tucked tight, he wasn’t far behind.
* * * * *
“Ohmigod, holy crap, ohmigod, this is gonna be epic,” boy Taylor breathed and he did this because Ethan just ran into the room and announced loudly that, “About fifty thousand Escalades are pulling up the drive!”
This meant rap star Dee-Amond had arrived.
It was the next afternoon and not surprisingly, after hearing the news he was coming, Amber showed up after school with both Taylors in tow and Conner had switched his shift with a bud so he could be there.
As for Jake, no way in f**k he wasn’t going to be around when Josie’s friend who also was her ex-lover showed. Mostly because he was male, rich, famous, good-looking and an ex-lover.
Actually, totally because of that.
At Ethan’s shout, Josie shot from her chair at the kitchen table and walked quickly on her heels out of the room.
The kids followed her, Jake coming up the rear.
When he got outside, he saw his son was exaggerating but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a cavalcade of flash Escalades in the drive.
Five of them.
The middle one closest to the house had its back door opening and Josie was rushing to it.
Jake stopped, crossed his arms on his chest and watched as Dee-Amond hefted his bulk out of the SUV, flashed a smile at Jake’s woman and folded her in his arms when she threw hers around him.
Shit.
“So…totally…epic,” boy Taylor declared.
“I can’t believe this,” girl Taylor whispered.
“I thought I was freaking out with Lavon Burkett but now I’m really freaking out,” his daughter announced in a breathy voice. “I mean, he’s right here, in Magdalene at Josie’s house.”
“Come.” Jake heard Josie order and his eyes went from his girl to his woman to see she was thankfully no longer in Amond’s arms but had her hand in his and was guiding him their way.
His eyes were lifted to take in Lavender House and his mouth was moving, “Jesus, beautiful, I’m gettin’ it now why you’d wanna stay. This crib is tight.”
She grinned at him before she stopped him in front of his audience and threw out her hand.
“This is my posse,” she stated, words that, if anything else was happening at that moment, would make Jake smile.
He didn’t smile.
“Conner, Jake’s oldest.” She pointed to him and Conner stuck a hand out that Amond took and shook. “Amber, Jake’s daughter.” She motioned to Amber and his daughter clapped once before she stuck her hand out and Amond grinned at her and took it. “The Taylors, Amber’s personal posse, boy Taylor and girl Taylor,” Josie went on and Amond was obviously holding back laughter as he shook their hands in turn. “Ethan, Jake’s youngest,” she continued.
Amond spoke to Eath, saying, “Yo, little man,” as he stuck out his hand.
Ethan grabbed it and whispered, “Awesome.”
“And last, Jake,” Josie finished, her smiling eyes coming to him.
Jake looked from her to Amond to see the man had his gaze on Jake.
“Holy shit,” Amond said when Jake caught his eyes.
Even with this bizarre remark, Jake moved through the Taylors and extended a hand, muttering, “Pleasure.”
Amond took his hand and told him something he knew but was shocked as shit the rap star knew it.
“You’re The Truck.”
“Whoa! Dad! He knows you!” Ethan cried.
“Yep,” Jake answered Amond.
Amond let his hand go and turned to Josie. “Josephine, girl, you didn’t tell me your fighter was The Truck.” Before she could say anything, he looked back at Jake. “Caught your fight in Vegas against De Matteo. You f**ked him up. Judges were jacked. He could barely stand and you were still dancing.”
Jake remembered that but he didn’t share with Amond that he was moving so he wouldn’t pass out.
“Fight fan?” Jake asked.
“Fu…hell yeah,” he answered.
“We’re even then seein’ as your music’s the shit,” Jake replied.
Amond grinned, the diamonds in his ears twinkling in the sun, his teeth so white, Jake was almost blinded.
“Everyone inside,” Josie ordered and he looked to her to see her grinning big, pleased Jake had passed preliminary inspection or pleased her friend was there. Or both.