Page 67 of Daddy's Pursuit
“Hiya, Frank,” Jack said. “Good to see you.”
“Oh shit,” Frank said just before he passed out.
And with that, the excitement was over.
Chapter Thirty-Two
It was later that day when a very tired Jack arrived at Auntie Athena’s to find a party going on in the backyard.
A giant, inflatable waterslide had been erected and Littles wearing only tankini tops and swim diapers were having a blast as they zoomed down it and splashed into the landing pool.
Trevon was at the grill, flipping burgers and hot dogs. Auntie Athena and Auntie Caroline were passing out juice boxes, and telling Littles to be careful as the laughing, shouting cuties turned the scene into near pandemonium.
“Daddy!” Iris said. She was at the top of the slide, waving furiously.
“Come on, cutie. Let me see you go down that thing,” Jack called up.
Laughing, she slid down, coming up out of the water with a shout as she jumped over the short, bouncy wall and toward Daddy.
“Slow down. You’ll trip and fall,” Jack said.
She looked as if she was about to jump into his arms when she stopped suddenly. “I’ll get you all wet.”
“I don’t care,” he said.
“But you’re in your dress shirt and tie.”
He laughed. “I still don’t give a damn.”
“Language!” Auntie Athena called out.
Some of the Littles who’d heard laughed along with Iris and Jack.
What he’d said was true in more ways than one, he noted silently.
He didn’t give a damn about getting wet. But he wasn’t sure he gave a damn about being a cop anymore, either. This whole thing with Frank had really made him reconsider things.
Was it time for a change?
He’d worry about that later. Right now, there was a party to enjoy and a cutie to love.
Iris jumped onto him, wrapping her soaked legs around his waist and kissing all over his face.
“I brought a friend,” Jack said.
“Benson!” The Little laughed as the dog trotted off the patio and deeper into the yard. “Do you want to go home, Daddy?” Iris asked. “I know you’re exhausted.”
“Nah. But I will catch a nap here. You keep playing.”
“Are you going to eat first?”
He shook his head. “Just save me some.”
They kissed. “No more going to weird parties, right?”
She giggled. “No more going toanyparties. Unless Auntie throws them.”
“That’s more like it,” Jack said. “I sure love you, babygirl.”
