“Sure. We can watch it whenever you want. I love that movie, so I’ll never complain. Your dad obviously has very basic taste when it comes to movies.”
“Yeah,” Evan agrees.
“I don’t think that’s it at all,” I snort. I take Evan’s hand in mine. We ride to Vickie’s house in silence, but Vickie seems more at ease after her exchange with Evan.
Traffic is light, and we get to her place without any delay. I put Evan on my back and take Vickie’s hand. I stop short when we get to her front door. There’s a bouquet of red roses waiting for her. She squeals in delight when she sees it and kisses my cheek. As much as I love her kisses, I haven’t earned this one. I step in front of her and pick up the large bouquet of red roses. She snatches it from me and swings the door open. Evan whines about needing the bathroom, and I tell him where it is. When he’s out of sight, Vickie turns to the bouquet.
“How did you know roses are my favorite? Did Tara tell you?” She takes the card, and I take it from her.
“I didn’t send these.” My jaw clenches. “Says here they are from a Jerry. Your Jerry berry to be more specific.” She snatches the card from me and reads it. “He says he misses you.”
She sighs and puts the card down on the table.
“Oh,” she says. “Well, I told you he’s an ex.”
“The a-hole who called you the ice queen.”
“He’s irrelevant. Let me go get a few things in my room.” She walks past me, but I grasp her wrist, pull her to me and give her a rough and possessive kiss. She pats my chest and walks down the hall, leaving me alone in her living room.
I stare at the offending bouquet of flowers and tamp down my need to toss them out the window. I pick them up to put them outside her front door, but Evan comes running back.
“You want to see my room?” Vickie yells from down the hall. Evan runs to the sound of her voice. I pick up the bouquet and step outside the apartment. I take the stairs one flight down and leave them in front of a random door. By the time I return to Vickie’s apartment, Evan’s lying on his back on her bed and flipping through the TV channels. I sit next to him and take off his shoes. “I have some coloring books and crayons if you want to color.” She goes into her closet and returns with a bag. Evan jumps off the bed and lies on the floor with the crayons scattered around him.
It takes her about thirty minutes to pack a bag. I have Evan on my back and Vickie’s hand in mine when we step out of her building, but a man approaches right before we reach the car.
She comes to an abrupt stop before I hear her say, “Jerry, what are you doing here?”
I stand between them, but he tries to go around me. Dante, who is standing by the car with the back door open must sense the tension. He walks over and takes Evan back to the car.
“I was here yesterday, but you weren’t home. Did you get my flowers?” He gives me the side eye and takes a step closer to Vickie. I step between them, towering over him.
“About that. I’m going to have to ask you not to send any more flowers to my lady.”
Vickie bristles next to me and steps around me to face the uninvited guest.
“I was with Colt last night. Jerry, we’ve said all we’ve had to say, okay.”
She takes my hand and we start to walk away, but I turn my head and stare at this man. He looks into my eyes, holding my glare, almost as if he’s sizing me up. He’s in good shape, but I’m an athlete in the prime of my life. He can’t handle me, but that doesn’t stop him from approaching my car.
“This guy, Vickie? Some uneducated hick from Alabama?”
“So, you do know who I am?” I inch closer to him, my fist itching to connect with his smug face. He steps closer to me too, but Vickie gets between us.
“Your son, Colt,” she whispers to me before she turns her head to address him. “Jerry, stop it, and while you’re at it, shut the hell up.”
“I’m not going to stop. I still love you, Victoria. I haven’t moved on, baby.” Having had enough of him, I stand in front of Vickie and block his view. I know better than to order her inside the car, and that’s not a fight I’m willing to have with her right now, but Jerry is a different story.
“I have a problem with you telling my lady that you still love her. Back off, Jerry.” I say his name with a sneer. “Desperation doesn’t look good on you, and I’m almost out of patience.” We stare at each other until Dante approaches, opens the car door, and gestures for Vickie to get in.
She nods at him, but looks to Jerry and says, “Goodbye.” She gets in, and I walk around to the other side of the car without giving him another glance.
“Who is that?” Evan asks.
Dante looks at us through the rearview mirror. I give him a nod, and he pulls away from the curb.
“Just an old friend of mine,” Vickie says. “So, you boys are going swimming, huh?”
TWENTY-EIGHT
