Page 166 of The Champion
“I said I was sorry.”
“I know.” His expression didn’t seem like he knew though.
“Are you mad at me?”
“No honey.” He sighed resting his head against theheadboard and pushing the laptop aside.
His arms wrapped protectively around me. I realized whathis expression wasn’t telling me that his arms did. He wanted to protect me andcouldn’t. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, he just felt that he hadn’t so far.
That was a fear Jameson constantly had. As my husband, hefelt it was his responsibility to do this and he couldn’t. Not just with Darrinbut with everyone...look at Garrett whenhe came into our hotel room and then somehow got my cell phone number.
Jameson couldn’t be with me every day and that scaredhim. Over the years I began to understand the feeling but I would never trulyunderstand what it meant to Jameson to provide a safe place for me and hischildren. It’s a feeling only a man can understand.
Despite my feelings to what I found on the internet thatday, I never brought up everything I found but then again I thought I’d leaveit alone for now.
Tommy returned with Arie and Casten the next day and hisnew girl he’d met the night before.
She went on to talk about how she loved my kids andthought they were the greatest, especially Casten.
That’s when I asked Tommy’s intentions.
“Fire crotch,” he quirked an eyebrow at me and I smiledknowing he hated that nick name. “Are you using my children to get women?”
He kind of choked. He kind of snickered. And then again,he kind of laughed. All that confirmed my theory.
“Why would you think that?”
“Oh I don’t know, maybe because all these women seem tolove my kids.”
He shrugged and reached for a beer in the fridge and thensat down beside me at the table. I could see Arie and Casten talking with thenew girl in the living room.
“Hey, I was thinking maybe they could come with me toJacksonville for the weekend.”
“No, Casten has a race and Arie has dance class.”
“Oh, well, how about I claim them on my taxes then?” Heblurted out.
“Why?”
“They spend enough time with me. It’s only fair.”
“Are you really that stupid?”
“Sometimes.” He admitted and then caught a glimpse ofJameson walking down the stairs. He leaned forward. “Don’t say anything toJameson,” he caught himself and then glared. “Never mind, you will.”
“Oh hey Jameson,” I grabbed his hand as he walked past.“Tommy here wants to claim our kids on his taxes.”
Jameson stopped and looked at Tommy. “Why?”
“That girl in there thinks are kids are his. He’s tryingto make it legit.”
“I never said that.” Tommy added and then wrinkled hisnose. “It sounds horrible when you say it like that.”
“Is it true?” Jameson asked him and then poured himself acup of coffee. He looked into the living room at the girl and then smiled atTommy knowing what he’d done.
“Yeah,” Tommy hung his head in shame. “It’s true. In mydefense, they could pass for my kids.”
“Why do lie to these girls?” I asked Tommy shaking myhead in laughter. “What’s not to love about an overly confident orange headwith commitment issues?”
