"I don't want to hurt her or make her upset."
"Grow some balls." He stands and walks to the door.
"I already decided I'm not having sex with her again."
He smirks and nods his head. "That's a start. Either she'll be begging you to be in a…." With a cringe he dopily says, "LDR. Or… or, my friend, you'll realize you don't know Bang like you thought you did." He leaves my office on that note and I smirk.
I know she wants me. Her eyes tell me.
I've never had to stoop to such childish levels but Liam's confident this will get Jenny to admit to those feelings I know she has to be feeling too. I'm a grown man, I shouldn't have to play these games, but I will. I'm realizing that for Jenny, I'd go through a lot.
I'm not as strong willed as I'd like to be; avoiding Jenny is hard. BUT, but I'm proud to say I avoided sex by saying my stomach is upset, and you know what she does? She pulls my head right to her soft tits and snuggles me into her heavenly bosom while scratching my scalp until I fall asleep. I could have died extremely hard but happy.
In the morning I rush like yesterday and this time when I rush her and Firefly through the Porter front door, Liam is waiting.
"Morning, Bang. Your hair looks good, not a hot mess like usual. Is this a freshly fucked head of hair?"
My mouth opens but Jenny is too quick for me.
"As a matter of fact, Liam, jizz makes for a great hair product," she says rubbing her fingers through her soft hair.
Liam's head jerks and he looks at me with furrowed brows and I shake my head no, letting him know I didn't sleep with her and his smile creeps again.
"No, Bang." He pinches her cheek and she reels back looking at him like he grabbed her chest or something. "This hairstyle looks good on you. You should try this out more often." And Liam's out the door, Jenny's flabbergasted by his strange behavior, and before she catches on I lunge at her lips for a quick kiss then bolt out the door.
I just need to get through this night and the next morning without sleeping with her. She's starting to get frustrated, I can tell. The woman needs sex and a lot, and I'm perfectly okay with that… if she'll agree to a relationship, but she won't, so I will not be her man-whore while she's here.
Shit, I really do have a vagina.
My eyes drift to the crotch of my jeans and I quickly shake my head, snatching up my desk phone.
"Hey," Joanna answers.
"Hey, what's Jos up to tonight? I was thinking maybe Able and Jos could come stay the night at Uncle Jack's tonight?"
Kids are the perfect cock-block and if Jos and Able are anything like they were the last time I had them both stay the night, we won't be getting much sleep because those kids never stop.
"With your friend there?" She's trying like hell to hide the discontent but I'm not deaf.
"What's your problem with Jenny?"
"You mean Boobs MaGoo?"
"Christ," I grumble. "You're jealous of her body?" I boast like that's absurd.
"I'm not jealous of anything on that woman!" she retorts cattily. "Since when do you get fuck buddies?"
My eyes go wide and I look at the receiver. Did she really just say that? My sister doesn't use profanity.
"She's not," I finally protest.
"No? Then what is she?"
"My girlfriend." I tightly close my eyes.
"She is?" Joanna questions like I just told her she was adopted.
"I'm hanging up now, Jo. I love you, we'll talk some other time."
"Jack, wait. Hello?"
"What?" I huff because I won't let her insult Jenny.
"You like her that much?"
"Yes, Joanna. She's fun, beautiful, smart as hell, a doctor, hilarious. I like her."
It takes a few seconds before I hear her make a strange noise.
"Jo?"
"You sure you're up to Jos coming over?" she asks in that tone she gets when she's overthinking something. "When those two get together they never stop." She chuckles and I smile.
"I'm positive. I'll pick her up after work and we'll get dinner."
"See you then."
Now Ryley. She's a little harder to recruit her son because she's been really clingy with him since coming back from her vacation but after I mention it being Jenny's last sober night, because I know she'll drink at the barbecue tomorrow, Ryley agrees.
When Able blows past Jenny with a backpack on his back Jenny jerks to look at me then Ryley.
"Hi," she finally says with skepticism and kisses my cheek.
"Hey, you. How was Firefly?"
"Fine." She's glaring at Able climbing into the truck.
"You staying tonight?"
"Um, I thought so?" She looks at Able buckling.
"Able! You need your car seat!" Ryley calls out and walks toward the truck.
"Are we getting dinner with Able?"
"Him and Jos are staying the night. We're going to camp outside." I grin and watch her face fall. "You're not afraid of the dark, are you?" I smirk pulling her toward me and she softly chuckles leaning for my lips so I quickly turn and kiss the side of her head.
When I let her go she almost falls because she wasn't expecting that. It's so hard not to be all over this woman. She's dumbfounded but I'm acting like I don't notice.
"It's really cool of you and Jack to take Able for the night. Me and Ry haven't had sex since our vacation."
"Porter!" she cringes and I hurry to the truck.
"You sure, Jack?" Ryley frowns at me. I wonder if Liam told her.
"I'm positive, Ryley." I smile and get it. "Let's go, Bang!" I call out and watch Ryley's eyebrows shoot up then Jenny's face turn red with anger.
Liam's laughter is heading toward the truck but I'm afraid to look because I'm almost positive Jenny's shooting daggers at me.
"Good one." Liam quietly chuckles then kisses Able. "Behave. If Uncle Jack has to call or text me or mom once, you're done for." He points at him sternly.
"He'll be fine." I chance a look at Jenny and see her and Ryley in a heated conversation.
I think I royally screwed up. I want her at my place tonight. I want her in my arms even though that's getting hard too, knowing she won't make us official, but I want her there. I may never see her again, but I won't go back on my word. I'm not sleeping with her. She's not getting any of this if she can't commit.
Why is that ring song playing through my head right now? That "put a ring on it". Why do I love Beyoncé? Again, my eyes drift to my crotch because I may be forcing my dick up inside my body with all these femmy thoughts I've had lately.
One messy dinner and ice cream, eight games of Old Maid, two of Chutes and Ladders, one bowl of popcorn and half a movie watched, and we finally end up outside putting up our tents.
"You were serious," Jenny quietly says and I smile at her.
"It's a big tent."
Her mouth hangs open until she starts to choke and I quickly grab her.
"Bug!" she gasps and coughs. "Oh God!" She heads inside and I can't help but laugh, but I keep it quiet.
We catch fireflies while taking the dog for a walk around the little pond that's in my backyard. Even though I think she's mad at me, Jenny's still holding my hand and keeps laying her head on my shoulder.
"Your hair smells pretty," I tell her when Able and Jos take off toward the pond with Firefly.
"Thank you," she coos and grins up at me. "It's bug spray."
I belt out a laugh because her face while she says it is the cutest thing ever.
"I'm going to miss you," I accidentally tell her while I wrap her in my arms.
"Mmm," she hums. That's all I get from her.
Can this woman not commit to anything?
Her head rests on my chest until she starts to cough. "You reek like bug spray and I don't find that pretty." She gives me a little snort before bolting toward the kids chasing them, screaming she's a man eating pod fish. Pod fish? I'm not sure what that is, but man-eater….
***
&nb
sp; My little princess is not the outdoorsy type; she's sore and crabby when we wake up with the sun.
"Aw, Able!" she groans and a pillow flies over my head.
"I farted." He laughs and I chuckle.
"You need a better diet, boy!" She unzips the tent and falls out like she really can't breathe.
The little boy does stink though. Able and Jos stay in the tent giggling and I chuckle taking in the beautiful view of my backyard, then the beautiful view of Jenny stepping in front of me with a coffee mug.
"Where'd you get this?" I grin at her as she takes a sip then hands it over to me.
"I set your coffee pot last night."
"My coffee pot does that?" I boast and she laughs with a snort that makes me kiss her nose.
She locks me in her gaze and I'm going to miss these blue eyes. I'm going to miss everything about her and I hate she won't give me a chance. I pull away as this thought hits me.
After me and Able put the tent away we find the girls in the house with Firefly and I stop Able before he barges in on Jenny's conversation with Jos.
"Are you going to marry Uncle Jack? Are you already married? Able calls you Aunt Jenny."
"Um." I can imagine the look of panic on Jenny's face right now and I almost laugh. "No. We're not married. I don't live here."
"That's okay."
Jenny laughs and I can tell she's at a loss so I walk in.
"You girls ready? Gotta get you home, Jos." I smile at the little girl staring at Jenny like she's a princess.
"Uncle Jack, can we go visit where Aunt Jenny lives?" Jos asks and Jenny grins, squatting in front of her.
"You can visit me any time you want." She pushes Jos's dark hair out of her face. "And we'll put special colors in your hair too." She winks then heads toward the bathroom.
Of course the first thing Jos says when she gets out of the truck and sees her mom: "Mom! Aunt Jenny is going to put pink in my hair!"
My sister gasps and looks at me wide eyed.
"She was well behaved," I say not feeling any guilt or need to explain that statement.
"Good." Joanna's eyes flash to the truck a few times.
"See you in a few days." I kiss her cheek.
"I can't say hello to your girlfriend?" she snips and crosses her arms over her chest. "She did just spend the night with my daughter and now Jos is calling her Aunt Jenny."
"That's because Able does. It's not really a big deal. Don't blow anything out of proportion."
"Well if she's your girlfriend, I assume we'll be seeing more of her."
I slightly drop my head wishing I never told her Jenny was my girlfriend, mainly because it's a lie.
"She lives out of state. You actually probably won't see her again." I look toward the front door where Jos is running out of the house with a pony that has pink hair.
"Aunt Jenny, look!" she screams running toward the truck.
"Jack." Joanna grabs the sleeve of my flannel. "Did you two break up?" she quietly asks why Joslyn excitedly shows off her pony that even Able's excited about.
"Long distance. It won't work." I shrug and head for the truck because I'm not having this conversation. After today I will probably not see Jenny again and I thought I'd be pissed about that, but I'm not. I'm scared.
***
Me, Liam, and Able prepare the barbecue and food while the girls stay inside doing god knows what.
"So? You bone her?" Liam quietly asks, glancing to make sure Able's far enough away.
"Nope." I take a drink of my beer. "I'm kind of regretting that too."
Jenny's curvy ass catches my eye through the sliding door.
"Don't." Liam pats my shoulder. "Either she'll jump at your bullshit commitment, or this is good because Bang isn't the type of chick you need in your life."
"Don't start, Liam," I huff.
"Jack." Jenny holds a plate out the back door and I head right for her.
"That looks good," I say to her cleavage.
"I think it's asparagus, but Ryley kind of killed it with sauce." She grimaces at the green veggie.
"I wasn't talking about the asparagus."
Her eyes follow my line of sight to her chest and she giggles with that cute snort I love.
When guests start to arrive I'm getting clammed up and I know it's because Shayla will be here soon and that woman can't keep her hands off me. I usually don't want her to, within reason, but today I'm beginning to think this is a huge mistake. I should have never listened to Liam. I've been ignoring Jenny like Liam's told me to, but it hasn't been hard because she's been helping Ryley and I've been manning the grill.
The second Shayla arrives, she's on me. Her arms wrap around me from behind and slide up my chest; I instinctively look for Jenny but she's not around.
"Hey," I stutter out and take a step away.
"Hi." She moves toward me and her hand goes to my chest.
"How ya been?" I ask taking a small step back so her hand falls.
I've slept with this woman multiple times and tried dating her a few years back but she has three kids and is on again off again with their father. She's a very nice person, sexy, but she's got nothing on Jenny.
"Okay." She shrugs and smiles as Ryley walks towards us, that's when I see Jenny standing on the deck glaring right at Shayla.
Ryley and Shayla hug and do that shit women do when they haven't seen each other in awhile and I can't look away from Jenny whose eyes shoot to mine and it looks like there's a fire in her gaze. I'm wondering if she saw Shayla that close and if she's jealous.
I take off my hat and wipe the sweat from my hairline. This plan is shit and I see this blowing up in my face more than working out.
I'm going to kill Liam.
CHAPTER TEN
BANG DOESN'T HAVE EMOTIONS!
JENNY
I'll kill her.
"Hey, Bang, how’s it goin'?" Liam's amused voice comes up from behind me.
"Fine," I growl heading back inside.
I wasn't going to drink tonight since I don't want to be hung over on my flight tomorrow, but I need something. Something hard. Something to make me forget that he's already moved on, rubbing it in my face all I was was a damn fuck to him.
Breaking open the whiskey, I hear Liam whine from the kitchen doorway. "Really, Bang? I've had that for ten years! You couldn't have one of the beers, or scotch, or something else but my whiskey?"
"Shut up, Porter," I growl, not ready to take on his ass tonight.
"Hostile, Bang?" he asks leaning on the frame of the kitchen door, grinning and sipping his beer like Jack's not outside with a bimbo whore while I'm still right here.
I wonder if he's been screwing her while I'm not around and that's why he doesn't want me anymore. At first I thought he was just withholding because I wouldn't do an LDR, but it looks like he's already moved on from that!
"I'm not in the mood, Liam." I sigh and down my drink in one gulp, wincing as it burns. "Jesus, that's good shit." I shake my head as the burn flows down my throat.
"Yup. Been waiting for a special night to open it. So... congrats," he whines. "What's got ya so worked up tonight? Is it Shayla out there?" He smiles when he says her name and I feel like slapping it right off his smug face.
Asshole had a hand in this, I can almost count on it.
"So what if it is. I hold no claim to him."
"Hmm.…" He rubs his jaw and shakes his head looking out the back door to the party on the patio. "Seems to me she's getting a little handsy with Jack out there. You gonna stop that?" His eyebrows raise and he pins me with his green eyes.
"Why would I?" I roll my eyes and pour myself another drink.
Setting the glass bottle down, Liam grabs the drink before I'm able to bring it to my lips.
"First off, stop drowning your anger with alcohol and do something about it. Secondly, stop drinking all my damn whiskey. Thirdly, and most importantly, take what's yours. You've never had a problem with it before, Bang." He shrugs. "You're call," h
e says then walks out of the kitchen holding the newly opened bottle of whiskey in his hand.
Asshole.
The back door opens and I hear the kid's laughter rolling in from the backyard. Liam and Ry have such a great setup here and for a hot minute I was trying to picture myself being apart of their everyday lives, but that dream can't happen.
I have an entire life, hundreds of miles away.
While studying Bimbo Cinderella it's evident she's a raging whore. I like men, and I have no shame, but this bitch is not only grinding on Jack but a married friend of Liam's and I'm certain I just saw his wife leave in tears.
"Aunt Jenny!" Able screams running into the kitchen. "Come on! The firefly's are out!" He grabs my hand and takes me out to the patio as fast as he can pull me.
On my way out to the yard I make the ever so gentle 'mistake' of bumping into Bimbo Cinderella, maybe slightly too hard, and her red drink goes all down the front of her.
"Whoops," I say as sweetly as I can in my southern charm accent, then turn around and run after Able.
I hear laughter from the patio and I can only assume it's Liam's. Jack wouldn't laugh at someone like Bimbo Cinderella. Not if he wants to get in her pants later. God, just the thought infuriates me! I'd like to take her skinny little neck and—
"Stop, Aunt Jenny!" Able's voice squeals. I dart my glance back to him and follow his line of sight to my hand.
Shit.
"You killed it!" he whines.
"Well," I say, all brain functioning trying to figure out how to redeem absentmindedly squishing the lightning bug he just handed me. "Uh.… Look! If you wipe their glowing parts on your arm, it glows! Your skin is glowing, look!" I say grimacing as I wipe the bug guts on my best friend's son.
God, she's going to kill me.
"Mom, look!" Able screams. "I'm glowing!" He's laughing and carrying on and Ryley's giving me the death glare.
Great.
She walks out to me and shakes her head. "Bath time tonight, I guess." She sighs and smiles. "He's really going to miss you, you know."
"Yea. I'll miss his little butt too. Sorry about that, but I killed it... I needed to redeem myself somehow. Glowing body parts worked!" I smile and she laughs.
Bang: Challenge Accepted Page 13
