I flop back onto the fluffy pillows. “Do you know what this means?” I cry before falling into a coughing fit.
When I’m recovered he says, “We’re soul mates?” He winces, seeming to know that’s not the right answer.
“It means we’re both annoying as fuck and missing a very vital piece of being Merida.”
“Which is?” He arches a brow, clearly indulging me at this point.
“Neither one of us has a fire crotch,” I whisper conspiratorially.
He busts out laughing. “Only you, Miranda.”
“What? It’s a valid point.” I click onto another quiz that’s supposed to tell me how many kids I’ll have.
He leans over, seeing what I’m up to. “This ought to be interesting.”
I finish the quiz and get my results, jaw dropping. “Five? Five, kids? No way in hell is my vagina pushing out five kids. I can’t do it. That’s just … too much.” I’m horrified at the very idea. I want kids, but not that many. Five is an entire sports team, practically an army.
“How many do you want?”
“I don’t know. Two? Three? I know I want kids, but I haven’t given much thought to how many. Five seems like a lot, though.”
“Send it to me.”
I do and roll onto my side, watching his iPad screen for his results to roll in once he’s done.
“Six?” I scoff. “This thing is insane. Can anyone even afford six kids these days?” He gives me a look and I release a breath. “Right, you could afford six kids.”
He chuckles, wetting his bottom lip with his tongue. “Got any more quizzes we should take?”
And that’s how we spend our night, taking Buzzfeed quizzes and arguing over the results.
It’s stupid, silly, probably a bit weird, but it’s perfect and it’s us.
I think it might be one of my favorite nights ever, despite being sick.
34
Miranda
“The concert was amazing,” Lou gushes, wrapping her fingers around her Starbucks pink drink.
“Rub. It. In.” Tanner stirs sugar into his black coffee, giving her a pinched look. “I could’ve gone with you.”
Lou smiles sheepishly. “It was so last minute, Miranda not being able to go. I honestly didn’t think of you.”
Tanner lets out a dramatic sigh and turns to me. “What am I? Last year’s Gucci? I think not. I am brand new, unreleased Gucci.”
“Of course you are.” I pat his shoulder.
“At least we’re on break.” Lou sips her drink and it doesn’t go unnoticed by me that she’s trying to change the subject. “Any Christmas plans?”
“I’ll be with Jamie.”
“You guys are really serious,” she remarks. “I honestly didn’t think it would last this long, but … I am happy for you. You’re glowing.”
“Seriously, you look amazing.” Tanner looks me over. “Love is the skin’s natural glow.” I blink at him. “What? I totally read that in a Cosmo magazine.” Propping his elbow on the table and head in his hand, he pouts. “When am I going to find love?”
“When it’s ready for you.”
Lou, always dropping her wisdom.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten the concert snub, missy.”
She sinks down into her chair looking sheepish. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry,” I pat Tanner’s hand, “Jamie can get us tickets to anything we want to see and a private plane. We won’t invite Lou.”
“Hey!” She pouts, setting her cup down on the table. “Not fair.”
Tanner ignores her—I know he’s not actually mad at her, but this is what friends do, or at least the three of us, we mess with each other. If you can’t make fun of each other and laugh together how can the friendship possibly last the test of time?
“Jamie coming in clutch with the big dick and big jet. We love a true Daddy.”
I snort and Lou spews her drink across the table.
Tanner grins widely, faking a hair flip.
“Serious topic,” I try to get the conversation back on track, “what are you and Abel doing for Christmas?”
“My mom’s planning to come visit, and we’ll spend the day with his sister’s family.”
“Wait,” I pause, fighting a laugh, “is your mom going to stay with you guys?”
She drops her head onto the table. “Yes.” Her voice is muffled by the wood.
Tanner sips his coffee, eyes wide. “That’s going to be fun for you guys … or you know, not fun.”
“Yeah, no fun-stick time for you, girl.”
“I’m not even worried about that.” She runs her fingers roughly through her hair, mussing the blonde strands. “It’s such a small space, and you know how close I am with her, so I have a feeling boundaries will mean nothing so all sexy times are off the table until after she leaves.”
“What about when you guys went to visit her over the summer?”
She winces. “We stayed in a hotel.”
“What?” I blurt in surprise, leaning on the table like I’m trying to get close enough to shake the information out of her. “I thought you stayed with her.”
She shakes her head. “We planned to, but at the last minute I panicked and we got a hotel instead.”
I lean back in my seat, letting out a low whistle. “Damn.”
“Yeah.” She drops her head in her hands. “It’s going to be so awkward.”
“Well, I mean, you’re adults. Your mom knows you bang.”
Lou gags. “Oh my God, do not mention my mother and banging in the same sentence ever again.”
Tanner’s eyes dart from side to side and he leans in, lowering his voice like he’s spilling a secret. “What if the bathroom door doesn’t lock properly and your mom walks in on Abel naked?”
Lou squeals, covering her eyes again. “I can’t do this! My mother and boyfriend in one tiny ass apartment is too much for me to handle.” She starts breathing heavily.
“Before you have an anxiety attack, remember how much you love your mother. You guys are close. It’ll be fine.”
She lowers her hands. “I know it’ll probably all work out in the end, but the idea of it still freaks me out. She’s my mom, I want her to—”
“What? Think you’re a virgin forever? Please.” I wave a dismissive hand. “You tell your mom everything, so I know she already is aware of that sordid tale. Your mom is awesome and loves you, stop freaking out.”
Lou exhales a breath. “You’re right. I’m being dumb. I guess since this is the first time she’s driving up here to see me I want it to be perfect.”
“What about you, Tanner? Any plans?”
Tanner sighs heavily and frowns. “Not really.”
Sadness clings to him and I can’t help but reach out and wrap my arms around him. “Aw, Tanner.”
“It’s okay, don’t feel bad. I’m used to being on my own. I haven’t found love yet, not like you guys.”
His eyes slide away and I follow his gaze to where his eyes linger on one of the baristas.
“Maybe one day,” he adds softly.
“No maybe about it. It’s going to happen.” Lou reaches over and takes his hand. I still haven’t let him go.
“You should totally come over and celebrate with Jamie and me. His mom will no doubt make enough food to feed the entire neighborhood.”
“I couldn’t. I don’t want to be a burden.”
Lou makes a squeak of protest while I shake my head. “We’re friends, friends are never a burden. Friends are family.”
“But never food,” Lou interjects with a soft laugh.
I roll my eyes at her piss poor Finding Nemo joke.
“Maybe I will.”
“And who knows,” I add, nodding in the direction of the barista he was checking out—a tall guy with shoulder length blond hair tied back, full lips, and straight nose, “maybe if you wish hard enough Santa will bring you a boyfriend for Christmas. You’ve been nice this year, right?”
Tanner b
usts out laughing and I sit back, picking up my coffee to finally take a sip.
He looks between us and cracks a crooked smile. “Oh, ladies, I am always naughty, there’s no other way to be.”
“Amen to that.”
We clink our cups together, laughter filling the air.
No matter what, I’m forever thankful I’ve found these two incredible people.
Friends like these are worth more than anything and it’s all too easy in today’s chaotic world to forget the power of friendship—the power in the people we choose to be our family.
35
Jamie
It’s time for this to end once and for all.
I have to drive to Sterling for another meeting with Shannon.
She doesn’t know it, but it’s going to be the last. I won’t play her stupid games anymore. I won’t allow her to use my son as a way to scare me into giving her money. I won’t cower to her threats.
But I want Miranda with me. I want to stand as a united front and let her be a part of this. If she’s a part of my life that means she’s a part of Tobias’s. I want her to see that I’m not afraid of Shannon and any lies she might hurl against me, or any tactics she might use to persuade me to stay away from her. Shannon might not want me anymore but she’s the type to not want anyone else to have me either.
Picking up my phone, I ring Miranda.
“Hello oh Masterful one, what can I do for you today? No really, can I do you?”
I shake my head, trying not to laugh. I need to be serious. “What are you doing?”
“Not you.”
“Miranda,” I chide.
“Sorry,” she whines slightly. “I’m leaving Target. I came to get some cat food and now I’m the proud owner of not only cat food but three new shirts, a pair of jeans, a purse, two pairs of shoes, and a blanket. I can’t resist a good blanket. It’s purple, my favorite color, and I’m a sucker.”
“Do you think you could come to my house and ride with me to Sterling?”
“Sterling? Why?” I hear her open her car door in the background.
“I need to see my lawyer.”
“Jamie, we can’t get divorced, we’re not even married yet.”
I laugh at her deadpan attitude. “It’s about custody. I have to meet with Shannon again.”
Miranda grows silent on the line.
“She’s not going to keep me from loving you, sweetheart.”
“But what if she threatens you—I won’t be the reason she tries to take Toby from you.”
“Miranda,” I say softly, trying to calm her. “I have a plan. I won’t let her threaten us.”
“Us?”
“That’s right, baby, you’re stuck with me now.”
“What are you up to?” She sounds suspicious. I suppose she has a right to be. I’ve been working on this for a while now. I knew it would be the only way to get rid of Shannon for good. It’s a shame she doesn’t want to be there for Tobias for the right reasons, but since she doesn’t want to be she needs to know she can’t use my love for him against me.
“You’ll know soon enough.”
* * *
“You’re being so cryptic. You really aren’t going to tell me anything? Just let me walk in here blind?” Miranda clutches the edges of the passenger seat in her hands.
I put the car in park, taking my seatbelt off. Twisting my body toward her I take her hands in mine.
“I hired a private investigator buddy of mine. We use him sometimes for the company when certain situations arise and I had him look into Shannon.” I rub the back of her neck, trying to soothe her. “He found enough that there’s no chance of her ever sniffing around again for money. She doesn’t know that, though, and since she basically threatened you I want you to be here. We’re in this together.” Her eyes soften as I speak. “I don’t want you kept in the dark, not anymore. You’re a part of my life, one of the biggest parts, and you deserve to be a involved in things. You love Tobias too, and that’s more than I can say for Shannon.” Ducking my head, I admit softly, “It breaks my heart for my son that his mother isn’t capable of loving him the way he deserves.”
She gently extracts one of her hands from mine, cupping my cheek. She forces me to look at her and God, when I do, I see how much she truly loves me. I see everything I’ve denied myself, thinking I didn’t deserve it, but I guess that’s the thing, I didn’t deserve this until her. She’s the one I was waiting for all along to pull me out of the dark.
“You love him so much that it doesn’t even matter. He has your mom. He has me. He has more than a lot of kids do. Give yourself credit, Jamie. You’ve shown your son what it truly means to feel loved.”
“You always know what to say.” Pulling her hand away from my face I kiss her palm. “We better head in.”
Inside, Don is already waiting for us. His face is steely, like he’s preparing to go into battle.
“Don, this is my girlfriend Miranda. Miranda, this is Don, my lawyer.”
“Nice to meet you.” He shakes her hand. “Let’s head on back.”
He takes us to the dreaded room I’ve come to hate so much over the last few months.
“Chase should be arriving any minute,” I inform him, pulling out one of the chairs for Miranda before I sit down myself.
Don passes us bottles of water. “I’ll go wait for him.”
“Thanks.”
I might pay the man, but he truly goes above and beyond.
Miranda props her head in her hand. “Shannon is going to lose her mind.”
I chuckle but there’s not one bit of humor in the sound. I don’t relish in having to do this, but if she wants to threaten me she won’t like what’s coming for her.
I cross my arms over my chest, ready to get this over with. I feel like I’m preparing for the fight of my life. It’s a good thing I’ve come prepared.
“Yeah, she is,” I finally say. “But it’s what has to be done.”
Her hand wraps around my bicep. “The way you fight for Toby makes me love you even more.”
“He’s my son.” I gaze down into her warm brown eyes. “I’ll always fight for him. Until my last breath and maybe even after that.” She smiles at my vow, kissing my cheek. “I would do it for you too. For anyone I love. I love wholly, with no ounce of doubt, and when your love is true you’ll fight through hell and back to protect them.”
“Jamie, Jamie, Jamie,” she murmurs softly, rubbing her plump pink lips together. “You’re the man who wears a mask, who tries to hide your true self from the world, all because your heart is purer than we deserve.”
I snort in amusement. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Her lips twitch in amusement.
Don enters the room again, Chase behind him.
“Thanks for coming, man.” I stand, shaking Chase’s hand.
“It’s not a problem,” he assures me.
I introduce him to Miranda and then all of us sit to wait for Shannon to arrive with her lawyer.
Minutes tick by, and I’m not surprised when she’s over thirty minutes late. I swear she gets enjoyment out of knowing she’s made people wait for her.
She breezes in with a toxic cloud of perfume. Her lawyer closes the door behind them, and they sit down.
“Who are these people?” Her lawyer asks, smoothing a hand over his tie. He then waves a hand to Miranda and Chase indicating they’re who he’s asking about.
“This is Miranda, my girlfriend, and Chase is my private investigator.”
Shannon’s lips pinch, eyes narrowing at this news.
That’s right. I’ve got you now.
I’m truly not a vindictive person, but I’m thoroughly going to enjoy scaring the shit out of her.
“Let’s get down to business then.” Her lawyer shuffles some papers, banging them on the table to straighten them. “My client is asking for one million dollars or she’ll pursue custody of one Tobias Ezekiel Miller.”
Miranda gives me a what-the-fuck l
ook at the reveal of Tobias’s middle name.
“Considering your net worth,” her lawyer continues in a monotone, “one million dollars is a very generous request. I informed my client she shouldn’t ask for any less than ten million.” He smacks the papers on the table again before laying them flat. “This back and forth has been going on for months. If we walk out today with no agreement our next step will be to bring this to family court.”
Shannon clears her throat, wiggling her shoulders as she does. It’s a clear sign she’s asking for the floor.
“It would be a shame,” her voice is sickly sweet like a sticky syrup, “for a court to learn how much time you’re spending with your girlfriend,” she spits the word venomously like it’s sour and rotten on her tongue, “and not with your son.”
Your son.
Not hers.
Or ours.
But only mine. At least she got one thing right out of that whole pointless spiel of hers.
“I spend just as much time with Tobias now as I always have. Your threats are pointless.”
“I have photos!” She bangs a fist against the table.
She’s fucking unhinged.
“Really?” I sit back, lacing my fingers together. Miranda watches me curiously. “So do I.” I wave my hand at Chase at the end of the table. “Photos, bank statements, credit card statements, email chains. I have everything Shannon. Are you sure you want to take me to court and have to discuss why you’re in debt?”
Her lips thin.
“Oh, come on, Shannon. Plenty of people have a drug problem.”
She swallows, eyes darting from side to side as if seeking escape.
“Although, I’m sure most don’t exploit they’re child in order to get money from their ex-husband to fuel said drug problem. Chase, if you’d please.”
The burly mountain looking man gets up and strides to the end of the table, handing Shannon and her lawyer each a folder with all the evidence I need. No judge would ever grant Shannon custody rights with all the proof we have on her now.
Desperately Seeking Landlord Page 19
