Page 8 of Jaeda
“No buts. Put on some shoes. I want you to take a ride with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“I don’t know yet, but we haven’t had a daddy daughter day in a long time. I want to spend some time with my baby girl.”
I gave him a soft smile. How could I say no to that?
“Okay.”
He kissed my temple, then left the room. I headed to my bedroom and slipped my feet into my sneakers. After tossing my essentials into my crossbody, I met him at the front door. We headed out, and he opened the passenger door of his truck for me to get in. I had to give him a slight side-eye, because he was never one to open doors.
“You feeling okay, Daddy?” I asked. “When did you become chivalrous?”
“Girl, get in the damn truck.”
I giggled as I climbed in, and he closed the door. Once seated in the driver’s seat, he strapped himself in, cranked up, and pulled off. We drove in silence for about ten minutes before he finally spoke again.
“So . . . what’s been going on with you?”
“Same old, same old. You know I’m boring outside of the family stuff.”
He chuckled. “You aren’t boring. Just reserved. I don’t know where you get that from with parents like me and your mama.”
“Mama’s pregnant.”
“Get the fuck outta here.”
“I swear she is. She told us the other night.”
“Damn. She’s catching up to me.”
“That’s what Steel said.”
“I’ll have to call and tell her congratulations. How’s she feeling?”
“She’s excited. Don’t you go getting any ideas about having another baby. I have too many siblings and kids close enoughto be siblings as it is. Y’all are too told to still be going at it like that.”
He laughed out loud. “If the parts work, why not use them?”
I pretended to gag. “That’s nasty.”
“Wait until you get my age, then talk to me. I know you like to be secretive and shit, but are you seeing anybody?”
I threw him a look. “Be for real.”
“Jaeda, . . . baby, you are a beautiful young woman with so much to offer. You deserve to share your life with somebody, princess. What about that guy that works for Titan?—”
“Absolutely not! You see Titan and Mia. If his friends are anything like him, I want no parts of them. He is the last person I’d allow to set me up with anybody. No thanks.”
“Titan ain’t that bad. He’s just a little rough around the edges.”
“And what about your daughter?”
He blew a breath. “You gotta understand how Mia was raised. She was trained with boys who felt like she only got a pass because of who her mother and grandfather were. She had to prove herself to be twice as good as them at a very young age, so of course she’s competitive, combative, and doesn’t take any shit. She’s softened up a little being here, where she’s treated like an equal. Give her some grace.”
“I’m not the one who has to extend her grace. Your daughter is toxic, and she’s in a toxic situationship with that man. You know he comes on the compound to see her, right?”
“Of course, I know. I keep telling y’all there is nothing y’all do that I don’t see or won’t get back to me. I’ve learned to let your sister make her own mistakes. As long as Titan isn’t putting his hands on her or they aren’t out here doing stupid shit to get caught up, I’m just gonna leave it be. I’ve got eyes on them, though. If you ever start dating, I’ll have eyes on you too.”
