Page 68 of Daddy's Pursuit
They kissed.
“I love you, too, Daddy,” she said. “I was so scared!”
“I know. Me, too. But everything worked out and you’re safe with me. Now, I’m going to go sleep for a bit and I’ll be back out later. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Wanna come home with me?”
She giggled. “Uh-huh.”
“Wanna move in with me?”
Iris giggled some more. “Uh-huh.”
“Hey, you’re taking my sweet girl!” Athena said.
“Sorry,” Jack said. “But don’t worry. You can babysit her five days a week while I’m at work.”
“Deal!” Athena called from on the patio where she continued to distribute juice boxes.
Was it, though? Did Jack want to keep going to work? True, he’d have to get a job. He wasn’t going to just sit around all day. But maybe he didn’t want to keep going tothatjob.
Again, he told himself that was a problem to worry about later.
He kissed his sweetie once more, placed her feet on the ground, and then turned to head into the house. That nap was going to feel good.
Yet suddenly, as he caught the aroma of the cooking meat atop the grill, heard the sounds of the laughing, shouting Littles, and thought of Iris behind him, he wasn’t so tired.
All he wanted was to be with at that party, with the people he loved.
He wanted his brothers there, too. Pulling out his phone, he sent a text to the group thread, letting them know what was going on.
It only took seconds before everyone had responded that they were coming.
With a smile, he put his phone in his pocket, then kicked his shoes off, peeled out of his dress slacks, and ripped his shirt and tie right off, leaving just his boxer-briefs on.
“Daddy!” Iris laughed. “What are you doing?”
“Oh my goodness!” Athena said with a laugh.
“Damn. He’s gone crazy,” Trevon commented. “Knew it would happen eventually.”
Jack just looked at his babygirl, smiled, and said, “I’ve got the whole night to sleep. Right now, I’m gonna do that slide. It looks like onehellof a time.” He said that last part louder and then looked over at Athena and stuck his tongue out.
“Language!” Athena said, pointing at him.
He winked at Iris, took her hand, and then started running toward the inflatable.
The other Littles cheered, chanting “Jack Daddy! Jack Daddy!” as the two scrambled to the top.
It was the perfect summer’s evening.
Little did he know that later that night, something would happen that would change the trajectory of his—and Iris’s—life forever…
Chapter Thirty-Three
The fun ended and a peaceful, nighttime silence settled over Auntie Athena’s nursery.
