Page 81 of Time for Change

She giggles and taps my erection as she passes. “I’ll be seeing him soon.”

“Fuck,” I grunt out, trying to not think about all the things she’ll be doing to my cock the next time I see her.

When Stevie exits the pantry, I hear her say, “Let’s go see if we can help Christian. I think Jack needs a minute.” It’s followed by giggling.

I start to count backward from one hundred, and by the time I get to sixty, I don’t look like I’m going camping anymore. I make sure my jeans and my Henley shirt are right before exiting the pantry.

Of course, since the universe apparently hates me, I step out into the kitchen and find Jameson there, leaning against the counter. His knowing stare is like a punch to the gut, and even though I’m a thirty-year-old man, I’m still a little embarrassed. I want this man to like me.

“I was just, uh, looking for…something.”

“Find it?” he asks without so much as flinching.

My brain conjures up images of his sister’s nipples. “Uh, yeah.”

He continues to just watch me before closing his eyes and sighing. “Stop giving me reasons to kill you, Jack.”

I can’t help it, I smile. Not because I don’t think he’d do it—oh no, I’m pretty sure he would. But I catch the faintest hint of a smile on his lips, and it feels like he’s extending an olive branch. “Noted.”

He stands up tall and approaches, slapping me—a little harder than expected—on the back. “Come on, Jack. Let’s get back to the party.”

We step out into the madness, and my eyes immediately search for Christian and Gianna. They find Christian first, sitting at a table with a group of boys, and Stevie’s opening up a juice box for him. He laughs at something she says, which makes my heartbeat quicken with happiness. Stevie ruffles his hair, earning a big toothy grin from my son.

Glancing around, I search for Gianna. I find her standing alone at the very back, watching. Her eyes are on Stevie andChristian, her arms crossed over her chest, so I head in her direction. “Hey, Gi. Having fun?”

“Why is she here?”

I follow her line of sight, even though I don’t need to. I know who she’s talking about. “Stevie? She’s Jameson’s sister, so she’d be Rose’s aunt.”

“But…did you know she was going to be here?”

Crouching down beside where she stands, I answer, “Yes. She’s one of my friends too.”

She humphs. “Is she your girlfriend?”

I realize my daughter is much more intuitive than I expected and decide to speak the truth. I don’t want to lie to her, not about anything involving Stevie. The last thing I’d want is it to come back and bite me in the ass. “Yes, I suppose she is. We’ve been hanging out lately. Is that okay?” I ask, gently.

She lifts her shoulders but doesn’t reply.

“Listen, we can talk about this later, but I need you to know no one will ever replace you and your brother as my top priority. But I’ve hung out with Stevie a few times and she’s very nice. I think you’d like her if you got to know her.”

My daughter just stares at me, as if trying to digest what I’m telling her.

Which is probably why I just keep on talking before my brain has an opportunity to catch up.

“You know what? What if we invite Stevie over for dinner next weekend? We can make her dinner and maybe play some games. Would that be all right?”

She turns her big blue eyes my way, and even though I sense she feels overwhelmed, I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding when she nods. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I repeat. “All right. Looks like they’re getting ready to get the tacos going. Why don’t you run over and find a seat. I think Lizzie saved one for you beside her.”

Gianna nods and takes off, moving swiftly toward her new friend and sliding into the available chair.

I release another deep sigh of relief. I can’t believe I told her about Stevie, even if I downplayed our relationship, but the fact she agreed to invite Stevie over for dinner next weekend for an official meet-and-greet is pretty exciting. I know my kids will love her.

Love her the way I’m starting to love her.

Because even though it’s only been about a month since we met, I can’t see my days and nights without her. I want her by my side, and yes, I want her there with my kids. So if that means it’s time to jump and make introductions, then that’s what I’ll do.

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