by M. Robinson
“I was thinking with the wrong head.”
“Ugh!” I stepped back. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that.”
“Then you shouldn’t have asked.”
“I’m going to go now. Are we cool?”
“I’m not happy about you being the one who told me you’re living here now. But it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with him.”
“Jackson, just give him a break. I’m sure he was going to tell you, I just beat him to it. He had to go to the hospital.”
“After the way he treated you last night, you’re still defending him?”
“Journey keeps calling me ‘Ma’, and every time it comes out of her mouth it hurts my heart. I can’t imagine what it feels like for your dad to hear her say it.”
“What does he expect? He’s never around. Journey is with you all the time. I could think of worse things she could say.”
“Especially with what comes out of your mouth.”
He chuckled.
“Your dad loves you, Jackson. I know that sounds really hard to believe right now, but it’s the truth. He wouldn’t have asked me to move in if he didn’t love you as much as he does.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Because that’s the first thing that flew out of his mouth this morning. What you guys would say to him if something happened to me. See, even he knows you like me.”
“You’re reaching, Camila.”
“You called me Camila, not Mary Poppins. Hashtag progress.”
“You really need to stop watching Mean Girls.”
“I’m not a regular nanny.” I smirked, winking. “I’m a cool nanny.”
He rolled his eyes, hiding back a smile. It warmed my heart that we were establishing some sort of middle ground.
“Better watch out, cool nanny, who knows what I’m going to do to you now that you live here.”
I stopped smirking. “Wait, what?”
He deviously grinned before pushing me out the door, backing away, and closing it.
“Jackson!” I banged on the door. “This is BS! You can’t keep pranking me!”
Nothing.
“I know you can hear me! This works both ways, you demon spawn! I will get you back and really poison your food so that you’re shitting for weeks!”
“Good to see you guys are back to normal,” Jagger interrupted, making me turn around to face him.
“Oh my God, Jagger!” I placed my hand over my heart. “You’re like a ninja. How do you just keep showing up out of nowhere?”
He smiled as I made my way over to him.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to know you’re moving in.”
I stopped. “It’s not like—”
“I know what it’s like. It’s you that doesn’t.”
“You’re like a fortune cookie, care to elaborate?”
“Nah, it’s more entertaining watching you figure it out for yourself.”
“Watching me figure what out?”
“You’ll see.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Jagger, I know you’re a guy of very few words, but with the words you do use, can they please make sense?”
“They will, eventually.”
“Again, with the cryptic messages.”
“Jagger, stop teasing Camila and let her be,” Skyler chimed in, walking down the hall toward us with a book in her hand.
“I’m not teasing. It’s the truth,” he stated, disappearing back into his room and shutting the door.
“Has he always been so—”
“Stealth-like?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded. “He used to scare the shit out of Bailey on a regular basis. They’ve actually had his IQ tested, and he’s way up there on the scale. Genius level. We think that’s why he’s so socially awkward.”
“Huh, makes sense.”
“Anyway, I heard the news.”
“You did?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Aiden… I mean, Dr. Pierce told you?”
“Not exactly, my husband did. He also said I should let you borrow one of my books. I didn’t know you were a reader.”
I had no idea what she was talking about, but I played along. Simply replying, “Sure.”
“Great. I just finished this one.” She handed me her book, wiggling her eyebrows. “Make sure you read it when you’re alone.”
I zeroed in on her.
“You can thank me later.”
This family just kept getting weirder and weirder today.
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
I shrugged, pondering, “Playing with Journey.”
“How about you play with Journey at the MC barbeque?” She beamed. “Remember, I told you yesterday we have one every Sunday. I think it’s perfect timing.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I do. Jackson and Jagger haven’t gone to one in months, it will do them some good to be around family and kids their age.”
“Okay, I guess that would be alright. What can I bring?”
“Just a bathing suit and sunscreen. We’ll pick you up in the morning on our way over.”
“Sounds great.”
“I’m really happy you’re back, Camila.”
“Me too.”
She pulled me into a hug and for the first time that day, it felt like maybe…
I really was home.
Chapter 9
<>Camila<>
“Skyler! Hurry your ass up!” a man shouted from the front door the next morning. Skyler was doing me a favor by finishing getting Journey ready, so I could put myself together as well.
I walked out into the foyer, stopping dead in my tracks when I saw the powerhouse of a man standing by the open door. He was tall, muscular, and covered in tattoos. Wearing a wife beater that showed off his defined arms and broad chest.
“Holy shit. Skyler is married to a living, breathing, bad boy. Like ‘Sons of Anarchy’ shit.”
“Reformed bad boy,” he stated, grinning from ear to ear. “Name’s Noah. Nice to meet ya.”
“Ay mierda,” I breathed out, “Oh fuck.” I just said that out loud.
Skyler’s giggles echoed down the hall, agreeing, “I thought the same thing when I first met him!”
“I’m Camila.” I waved to him. “But I’m sure you already knew that.”
As soon as Journey saw me, she corrected me, “Ma!”
“Little Miss, for the tenth time today. My name is Ca-mi-la,” I emphasized, taking her from Skyler.
Two little hands grabbed my face and she laid a huge, sloppy, open mouth kiss on my nose. Correcting me again, “Ma!”
I grabbed ahold of Skyler’s arm, whispering in her ear, “Why didn’t you tell me your husband looked like that?”
She laughed. “It’s way more fun to see people’s first reaction of him.”
We both gazed over at her man, and by the look on his face, he was used to women openly gawking at him.
“Careful, Camila, you’re going to make it go to his head.”
I blushed, looking away. “Jackson, Jagger! Let’s go!”
Noah must have murmured something extremely dirty in Skyler’s ear as he pulled her into his arms. Her face turned as red as mine had been. It was cute watching them together, especially since her belly was taking up most of the room between them.
The ride to his clubhouse wasn’t that far from the Pierce’s home. The lot was massive, probably three or four acres of land with an immense building in the middle. Cars were parked everywhere on the property. At least a hundred people easily scattered all over the place.
Kids ran rampant in the open field, chasing each other. While the adults all hung out, talking and laughing amongst one another.
There was a strong sense of love and devotion in the air. I’d never experienced anything like it before. Skyler wasn’t lying when she said they were all family. You could physically feel it
in your body.
Immediately making me think of my parents, who I hadn’t seen in a while. I made a mental note to check in on them soon. The Pierce’s had been taking up all of my time and I’d been unintentionally ignoring them.
I felt at ease as Skyler introduced me to everyone. Trying to keep track of each of their names, but my saving grace was that they were wearing cuts with their names already stitched on them.
I laughed so hard when I read the back of Harley’s vest, engraved with Property of my Daddy.
“I love your heart sunglasses,” I said to her.
She cheekily smiled, only looking at Jackson who was standing beside me with a pissed-off expression quickly appearing on his face.
She revealed with a wicked glare in her eyes, “They’re my Jackson blockers.”
“Harley!” her mom Mia reprimanded. She swiftly took off running and Jackson eagerly followed closely on her tail.
“I bought her a similar pair of heart sunglasses when she was seven, telling her they made her invisible. I don’t know why she decided to call them her ‘Jackson blockers’,” she informed, shaking her head. “I can’t even with those two.”
“So, I guess it’s true, they’ve always hated each other?” I asked, noticing how much she resembled Skyler.
There had to be a story there…
It was obvious the Jameson brothers had the same taste in women.
Maybe they were sisters?
“Hate is a strong word. I’m going to say they love each other and just don’t know it yet.”
“I said the same thing!”
She chuckled. “I like you. Camila, right?”
“That’s right.”
“How’s it been over at the Pierces’?”
“Now that’s a loaded question.”
“That bad?”
“It has its ups and downs.”
“Aiden is such a nice man. I can’t tell you how many times he has come to our house in the middle of the night to stitch-up our son Luke. I can’t for the life of me control that boy. He’s exactly like his father Creed, and sometimes I feel like he’s going to be worse.”
“Your husband is that one, right?” I pointed to another muscular, tall, tattooed man standing next to the barbeque pit. Staring daggers at Jackson, who was still chasing Harley.
“Yeah. That one belongs to me.”
“Uh… is Jackson okay?”
She smirked. “He’s been staring at Jackson that way since he was born.”
“So, he’s okay?”
“He’s fine. At least for now.” She winked and we both busted out laughing.
I spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with everyone, shooting the shit, immediately feeling as if I was one of them. It was nice to feel like I was a part of their group, their family, they were all so welcoming.
“Camila!” Aubrey, Dylan’s wife shouted from her raft floating around the pool with a cocktail in hand. Shaking her free arm, trying to get my attention.
“Suga! Keep bouncin’ those tits and watch how fast I burn that bikini!”
Everyone laughed, but Aubrey didn’t pay her husband Dylan any mind. Seemingly used to the detective’s foul mouth.
“Come play volleyball with us!” she invited.
“Okay!” I hollered back. “Give me a second!” Walking over to my tote I left beside the lounger, I pulled off my jean shorts and my tank top. Putting all my items securely in my bag.
Thinking I might as well enjoy myself, Jackson was off doing God knows what to Harley. Jagger was hanging out with some of the other boys playing video games, and Skyler had taken Journey to nap with her.
I scanned the pool area, immediately feeling like my bathing suit might be a tad skimpy, but it was the only one I owned. I bought it years ago, which I apparently might have been going through a slutty stage.
“Damn, girl!” Briggs, one of the other wives, whistled. “Your booty is poppin’, babe!”
“Oh God, look at you! You look amazing!” And she did, she was covered in tattoos and had the brightest purple hair I’d ever seen.
“You do, baby,” her husband Austin voiced, slapping her ass.
“How often do you work out?” Alex, Harley’s grandmother who looked more like her mother, asked.
“I dance a lot. It keeps me in shape.”
“Can you teach me how to clap my butt?” Harley questioned out of nowhere. “Like you did on your YouTube video.”
“Alrighty.” I nervously laughed. “I’m going to go play some volleyball.” Before anyone could continue interrogating me, I jumped in the pool. Letting the refreshing water take me under before resurfacing, only to have water shot in my face.
“Jackson!”
“Oh, come on, Mary Poppins! You’re already wet!” he yelled, running by, torturing Harley with his water gun.
“Leave that poor girl alone!”
“Never!” And he was gone.
By the time we stopped playing and I stepped out of the water, it was lunchtime. Everyone started eating, sitting around on the picnic tables anywhere they could find a spot.
I threw on my shorts with the looming sensation of being watched heavy on my mind. I felt it the entire time I was in the pool and it didn’t subside as I made my way inside through the glass door in the backyard. Looking for Journey, so I could feed her.
It was only then I locked eyes with the man across the room.
Dr. Pierce.
Was he the one I sensed staring at me?
With the way his eyes were solely fixated on my body, it had to be him. There was this predatory regard in his demeanor as he unceasingly stared at me. Oblivious to everyone, it felt like we were the only two people in the room with a look like his.
Suddenly, music erupted from all around us. Kelis’ “Milkshake” song bumped wildly through the speakers, and I heard Journey yell, “Da!” from the floor by the couch, where she was playing with the other babies.
Everyone’s stares darted to her, including Aiden’s. Who was so blown away from her calling him Da for the first time.
Seconds later, she pulled herself up on the coffee table in front of her, bouncing, excited to see her daddy.
It was one of those moments where you knew something monumental was about to happen. All eyes were on Journey, waiting for her to take her first steps. Camera phones shot out, people were just waiting to snap picture after picture. Recording videos to capture the moment.
Wanting to treasure this memory forever. Possibly show her future husband and kids one day.
The beat of the music kicked up through the speakers as Journey took her first step, and I held my breath while everyone in the room began cheering, “Go, Journey, go! You can do it! Go, baby, go!”
Oh, God… don’t encourage her.
I knew my girl.
And my girl was about to drop it like it’s hot in her baby sort of way.
Choosing this very second to show everyone she had rhythm and skills. She was just waiting for the perfect beat like I taught her.
The chorus began, Kelis started singing how her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and Journey took two more steps, shimmying her shoulders. Almost falling over.
Oh man…
Once she got to the edge of the table, she let go and took off. Walking toward Aiden like a drunk sailor, except midway when the harmony kicked up again, she leaned forward and right on cue, bounced her booty in the air.
I mean, don’t get me wrong. She looked a hot mess, but you could get the picture of what she was trying to mimic me showing her for months.
Oh shit…
The room fell into a fit of laughter, except my boss. Who was now glaring at me in a much different way than he had a few moments ago.
“I… I… I… have no idea where she learned that.”
Journey didn’t pay attention to anyone or anything other than the music she was feeling deep in her bones. She kept losing her balance, on the verge of tumbling down but that didn’t s
top my girl from popping, locking, and dropping.
Oh, God… I’m so fired.
Again.
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did.
She did this twist thing with her arms, that made her fall. Except she didn’t let it deter her from showing off her skills. She just bounced her booty on the ground, her big diapered butt moving in every direction.
My hand instantly flew over my mouth, holding in the laughter that wanted to explode out of my chest.
“Da! Ma!” she excitingly exclaimed, making sure we were looking at her moment of glory. Recognizing that the song was coming to an end and so was my job.
The music changed over to Maluma’s “El Clavo” and the crowd started clapping.
Well, at least they found it entertaining. Maybe that will score me some points from the shit list I’m on…
Journey stood up, walking over to her daddy again. The instant panic in Aiden’s eyes tore into my heart and without thinking, I rushed over and picked her up. Spinning her in my arms to the rhythm of the beat, we started dancing. Playing it off like that didn’t just happen.
For Journey.
But mostly, for Aiden too.
No one noticed the internal conflict he was battling, but I felt it in every fiber of my being. Experiencing it with him. Journey might have been what started his turmoil, however it was me that derailed his struggle. He was fighting our connection, it was evident on his handsome face.
Yeah, me too, buddy.
We locked eyes, and for a split second, I saw something familiar in his bright blue stare. A raw, agonizing burn.
A pain.
He wanted to smile, be with his friends, his family, his daughter in that moment, but he wouldn’t allow the longing to take control. His vulnerability radiated off of him, making him feel weak in the situation we suddenly found ourselves in.
As much as he hated it, he loved it even more. The ability I had to take him away from whatever was destroying him inside.
I knew it had to be about his wife. I’d be stupid if I thought it was something else. The desire to know where she was ran rampant through my mind on a daily basis. The urge getting stronger with each day that passed with no answers.
He was questioning everything in front of my eyes.
