by Laura Pavlov
I hurried over and hugged him tight. “Thanks, Dad. Are you okay?”
He pulled away and studied me for a long moment, and I tried to ignore the strong stench of whiskey radiating from him. “Yes, angel. I’m good. Come on. Let’s go join the party. I hear you have a date tonight. Jack Montgomery? Great guy, but I can’t believe Miles is okay with this.” He chuckled.
He isn’t.
Chapter Seven
Jack
“So how long have you and Monroe been dating?” Thelma asked as she stroked my arm. She wore a low-cut red dress, leaving very little to the imagination. Her tits were large for her frame, but I’m guessing that was intentional.
“We’ve been together for a few months now,” I said, sipping my wine and turning as Monroe and her father entered the room. Her blue gaze locked with mine and she raised a brow as if questioning how I was surviving my visit with Thelma.
“Jack here is just telling me that he and our baby girl have been dating for a few months. She’s kept this little secret awfully quiet. And he was quite the football player in college, if memory serves. She found herself a guy just like her daddy,” Thelma said, walking toward her husband and wrapping her arms around him.
“Yeah, well, it’s all right to keep your private life quiet. I’m just surprised you’ve been able to get approval from this one,” Ryan Buckley said, as he thrust his thumb toward Miles.
My best friend chuckled. “Well, it’s not too serious yet, and I’m just happy if they’re happy.”
“And yes. Jack was one of the best college quarterbacks I’ve ever seen play,” Ryan added.
“He was all right,” Miles snorted as he elbowed me in the side.
“Well, us girls sure do love a football player. Let’s continue this conversation in the dining room. Petra has prepared a delicious birthday feast. I requested all your favorites, baby girl,” Thelma said, leading us all toward the dining room.
“Thank you,” Monroe said as she walked between her brother and me. I reached for her hand and she slapped it away. I couldn’t help but laugh. She was so fun to mess with. Miles glanced over at me and gave me his infamous warning stare. I’d seen it many times over the years when we were considering doing something stupid. Which we both did often in college. I’d seen it out on the field when I went for risky plays—but this time, there was a bit more seriousness behind it. I rolled my eyes. I was just playing, so he needed to chill. After all, this was his idea.
We took our seats in the oversized dining room. Monroe sat between Miles and me and Thelma and Ryan sat across from us. The tall dark mahogany chairs looked more like individual thrones than they did dining chairs. Thelma had redone the place, and it was a bit gaudy if you asked me. Red and gold wallpaper covered the walls and a similar print hung in long panels on the windows. Hey, maybe regal, over-the-top décor was in these days. Wasn’t really my thing, as I preferred a home to look like a home. My mother always managed to create that in our homes, and I appreciated it. They were grand, sure, but they were comfortable because actual people lived in them.
The platters set before us overflowed and my stomach rumbled with anticipation. Filet mignon, ribs, sweet pork. I leaned into my fake girlfriend. “I thought you were a vegetarian?”
We’d had a few working lunches at the office, and I paid attention.
She turned to face me. “I am.”
This was her birthday dinner? Food that she wouldn’t eat? She reached for the salad and Miles passed her the bowl of pasta. Thelma dove right into an enormous rib as her husband sat beside her quietly sipping his cocktail. What was up with him tonight?
I remembered Monroe telling me their mother died during childbirth, and I imagined this day might be tough for Ryan Buckley. Losing the woman that you love but gaining an amazing daughter. That’s a bag of mixed emotions right there.
“No meat for you, baby girl?” Thelma asked, as she set the oversized rib down on her plate. A large dollop of barbecue sauce landed between her giant tits, but there was nothing sexy about it. She tried too hard to pull off the whole sex kitten vibe, and it wasn’t working for her. And why in the hell did she call Monroe baby girl? I could see that it grated Blue Jay’s nerves and even Miles appeared annoyed by it.
“Nope. Still a vegetarian.”
“Oh, that’s right. How long has this trendy little phase been going on?” Thelma paused and sucked down all the liquid in her wine glass and we all three gaped as we watched her wipe her mouth with the back of her hand.
“A little over a decade, so I’d say it’s a bit more than a trendy little phase. It’s an actual lifestyle choice.” Monroe’s words had some bite behind them, and I put an arm on her shoulder before I could stop myself. She needed the comfort, and I’d be damned if I wouldn’t give it to her. It was her goddamned birthday after all.
Ryan Buckley looked up as he set his glass down and waved over one of the three servers who hovered around us and requested a refill.
“I remember that day vividly. My little girl came home from fifth grade after doing a report on the meat industry, and she told me she’d never eat meat again,” Ryan said, his words slurred a bit.
Monroe smiled. “It’s a promise I kept.”
“Yeah. And you tortured my ass all through middle school and high school for eating meat. Printing out those pictures of little chicks and baby cows and setting them on my plate every night before dinner.” Miles’ head tipped back as he laughed.
“Just trying to help you see the benefits of a plant-based diet.” She smirked at her brother. They were like my brothers and me… they could communicate with just a look. It was impossible to miss their bond.
“So, do you eat meat, Jack?” Thelma purred before her gaze locked with mine and she stuck her pointer finger in her mouth and sucked on it slowly before pulling it out and licking off the remaining barbecue sauce, all while watching me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. Jesus. This woman had no shame. Her husband sat beside her completely disinterested in her antics. My hand still rested on Blue Jay’s shoulder, and it surprised me that she hadn’t slapped it away. Although we were supposed to be dating, so I assumed a little contact would be acceptable.
“I do,” I said around a mouthful of meat and Monroe chuckled beside me.
Ryan Buckley’s phone rang on the table startling all of us from the conversation. “Excuse me. I have to take this.”
“Awww… I want to give baby girl her birthday gift during dinner,” Thelma whined. Her long blonde curled hair was stiff with hairspray and every time she moved it looked more like a wig than her own hair.
“That’s fine. You can go ahead. I’ll be back.” He pushed to his feet and left the room, and I didn’t miss the way Monroe’s shoulders sagged in defeat.
“Okay, here you go, baby girl. I just can’t wait one second longer.” She reached across the table and handed me the envelope to pass to Monroe.
“There’s really no hurry. We can wait for Dad to get back.”
“No. I want you to open it now. I’ve been so excited about this. I put a lot of thought into your gift this year. And well, I think it will bring you and I even closer together.”
Monroe stiffened at her words. Closer together? There was obviously no love between Thelma and her husband’s children. They couldn’t stand her. It was impossible to miss.
“Just open it, or this will never end,” Miles mumbled to his sister as Thelma requested another refill of wine.
Monroe opened the envelope and froze as she read the card. “Oh my gosh. I, um, wow. I don’t know what to say.”
Miles and I shared a glance before we both leaned forward to look at the card. He closed his eyes and shook his head as I tried to make out what it was.
“You can just say thank you, baby girl.”
“Thank you for the generous gift of plastic surgery?” Monroe said as sh
e broke out in laughter. It wasn’t the kind of laugh that caused others to join in. It was laced with disdain and hurt. I was good at reading these things. My sister-in-law, Laney Mae, claimed it was because I thrived in the area of emotional intelligence. And for whatever reason, it pained me to see Blue Jay upset.
“You got it. Anything you want. But I’ve already met with the doctor, and he is best known for his boob jobs. He did mine. So, if I were you, I’d take advantage of his skills.” Thelma winked before reaching for another rib.
Monroe set her wine glass down after taking a sip and coughed uncontrollably. I patted her back and she gaped at her stepmother with disbelief. “You want me to get a boob job?”
“Honey, no. I mean, only if you want one. He’s the best in the city. Look at mine.” She ran her hands down the sides of her oversized breasts and her eyes locked with mine before her tongue slowly dipped out and traced her bottom lip. Miles choked on his cocktail before breaking out in laughter. I didn’t know if he was laughing at her offensive gift or at the fact that she was shamelessly trying to flirt with her stepdaughter’s boyfriend. Well, fake boyfriend, but she didn’t know that. Either way, it was all disrespectful and I didn’t like it. I wasn’t okay with the way Monroe slumped in her seat or how this woman belittled her.
“Absolutely not.” My harsh words surprised everyone, including myself, and both Monroe and Miles turned to face me. “She’s perfect just the way she is.”
“Of course, she is. But are you going to tell me you wouldn’t mind her, um, enhancing a few lacking areas?” Thelma tipped back yet another glass and held her hand in the air, snapping her fingers for a refill.
Monroe groaned beside me. “All right. I’m kind of over this conversation. It’s not up to Jack, nor is it up to you. I’m quite content with my boobs, but thanks for the thoughtful gift.”
Her lip trembled as she spoke, and it pissed me off. It was her fucking birthday. I reached over and tugged her onto my lap, catching her off guard as she let out a gasp. I wrapped my arms around her as she squirmed, and I held her tight. “You’re fucking perfect just the way you are.”
She stopped fighting me and her head fell back in laughter. The smell of lavender and honey surrounded me, and I reveled in it. In her. I liked seeing her all light and happy. She deserved it. And no woman should be made to feel bad about her body ever. And Monroe Buckley was the last person that should be lacking confidence.
The girl was fucking gorgeous.
Fucking perfect.
“Thanks. I’m fine, boyfriend.” She dug her nails into my hand which rested on her thigh and turned, patting my cheek with her palm.
“Well, aren’t you two adorable.” Thelma held her phone up and snapped several pictures of the two of us together, and I didn’t mind it one bit. The woman needed to back the fuck off Monroe, and if dating me made her do so, I was fine with it.
Miles growled beside us. “Okay. Enough PDA at the table.”
Monroe moved back to her seat, and I didn’t miss the pink hue covering her neck. Adorable. Whether she liked it or not, I’d always have her back. She was Buck’s little sister after all. And I liked her.
Ryan Buckley returned to the table, and he asked Thelma if she gave Monroe her gift yet. When she nodded, he reached across the table and handed her a package. “I got you a little something just from me.”
She pulled the ribbon off the box and lifted the top before pulling out a small pendant with a heart. She opened the heart and her eyes watered. “Thanks, Dad. I love it.”
Miles and I both leaned in once again to see a small picture of the three of them tucked inside. She unclasped it and reached behind her neck and I moved to my feet. She startled when I grazed her fingers and took the chain from her hand. She held her hair up and I clasped it behind her neck. I lingered there longer than I should, for no particular reason other than I wanted to. Her skin was soft, and she smelled fucking good, and I was only human.
“Thanks,” she said, brushing my hand from her shoulder and raising a brow as her gaze locked with mine.
I dropped back down in my seat.
“Well, take some time with the other gift, and think about what you’d like to do. You know, starting young is a good way to be proactive in the aging process,” Thelma said with a wink.
“Got it. I’ll take that into consideration.” Monroe tensed beside me.
“I have a little something for you,” Miles said, reaching in his suit coat pocket and handing her a card.
She opened the envelope and laughed at the picture of the little boy and girl on the card. The boy was smashing a cake in the girl’s face and she read the card aloud. “I hope you have a smashing good birthday. Don’t get any ideas there, brother.” She laughed. There was some sort of gift card inside. “Thank you. I could use a good massage.”
Monroe leaned over and hugged Miles, and I reached in my suit jacket and pulled out a little black box. “Happy Birthday, Blue Jay.”
Her cheeks pinked, and I covered my mouth with my hand so I wouldn’t laugh. She didn’t like the attention which only made me want to pour it on even thicker.
She opened the box to see the diamond stud earrings I got her. They may be a bit over-the-top, but fuck it. She was supposed to be my girlfriend, and I was a giver. And it was Monroe. I wanted to give her something nice.
“Oh my gosh. They’re gorgeous. Thank you,” she said, cocking her head to the side and waiting for me to meet her questioning gaze.
“I’m glad you like them. I wanted to get my girl something nice.” I kissed her cheek and felt the warmth of her skin on my lips.
“Dinner table,” Miles reminded me once again. The dude was such a buzzkill. He was the reason we were even in this situation, but he sure didn’t like me acting like she was my girlfriend.
“Ooh, girl. And he’s a good gifter. I’ll bet that’s not all he’s good at.” Thelma winked at me, and Monroe burst out in laughter.
“Are we having cake, Thelma?” Ryan turned to face his wife. He showed no emotion where she was concerned. Like he’d completely checked out.
“Oh yes. Let me run in the kitchen and tell them to get your cake ready. It’s your favorite, baby girl.” She pushed to her feet and turned to the two ladies standing off to the side of the dining room and snapped her fingers. “Let’s get this cleared off. Now. We’re ready for dessert.”
“Wow. Thelma’s really on one tonight,” Miles said, facing his father.
“She means well.” He tipped his head back and finished his drink.
“You sure you’re okay, Dad?” Monroe asked, and the tenderness in her voice caused a sharp pain to settle in my chest. She loved her father and her brother so much, and she’d been dealt a shit hand losing her mom during childbirth. Hell, I missed my father every day, as losing him in that car accident had been life-altering for me. But at least I’d gotten the first twenty years with him. She’d never even gotten to meet her mother.
“I’m good, sweetheart.”
“Okay, cake time.” Thelma used her hands to fluff her hair before taking a seat beside her husband.
Petra set a large cake down in front of Monroe and we all sang “Happy Birthday.” She laughed and waved her hands in front of her face, anxious to have the moment end. I’d quickly learned that Monroe Buckley didn’t like being the center of attention.
But she should revel in it.
Because she was the kind of girl that deserved to be the center of someone’s whole world.
Chapter Eight
Monroe
I woke up to several texts and missed calls, which wasn’t the norm. I frantically read through the messages, anxious that something had happened to my brother or my father.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Holy hell.
This wasn’t happening.
Fucking, Thirsty Thelma.
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There were a slew of texts from Becks, Gwen, and Jilly all asking for details about Jack Montgomery. The phone rang, and I picked up on the first ring.
“Hey, Becks.”
“Um, ‘hey, Becks?’ That’s all you have to say, Mon? You’re going viral on social media. What the hell is going on? I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
I ran a hand down my face. Thelma had posted a picture of Jack and me on both her Instagram and her Facebook, as well as my father’s social media. She’d outed us as a couple. Only we weren’t dating. And my father had a couple million followers, so word spread fast.
Hence the nickname. Thirsty Thelma. She lived for this shit.
“Oh my gosh. I’m going to kill the woman.”
“We can verbally abuse Thirsty Thelma later. What’s going on with you and Montgomery? And seriously, Miles is okay with this? I know how protective he gets when it comes to who you date. His best friend? A well-known playboy?” She barked out a laugh and I rolled my eyes as I carried the phone into the bathroom.
“We aren’t dating. It was Miles’ stupid idea because Thelma was going on and on about me still being single. And Jack was there. So, he just said we were dating, and we figured we’d tell her we broke up in a few days.”
“Mmm-hmmmm, that picture sure doesn’t look fake. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the way he’s looking at you. And you appear remarkably comfortable sitting on his lap, smiling at your fake boyfriend, like you can’t wait to get him home and jump on his—”
“Stop! Oh my gosh. No one is jumping on anything. I haven’t even seen the picture yet.” I scrolled to my father’s Instagram and groaned. “Dear God. Why would she post this?”
“Because it’s hot. And you look like a couple in love, which is why it’s going freaking viral. I’ve gotten all sorts of texts this morning from coworkers asking why I kept it a secret. You know, my best friend is dating the city’s hottest bachelor.” She laughed.
“I’m going to vomit.”
