Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,146
shit happen?”
“Eight in the evening, I got the email. Cindy Blackwell feels as though your language is uncouth and bedside manner entirely irresponsible.”
“Cindy Blackwell?” Jake laughed. “Sweet Jesus, that woman will be the death of you. She’s as bad as that old bat, Nurse Jackie. Get her off his ward, Jim. I’ve run into her during my rounds a few times. She’s fucking toxic, man.”
“She sits with nurses and makes up stories and gossip. Do you know what the bottom line is, Jim? She despises how young I am. That’s it. She doesn’t give a fuck about my success rates, or the fact that I’m a goddamn prodigy. She can say whatever she wants, but I’m fucking fantastic at what I do, despite people like her who are continually finding something negative to say. You don’t get to fuck around and make it to where I am, being able to do what I can. Negative-ass hag. She acts like she’s a fucking prison warden. I’m sick of this shit.”
Holy shit. This just escalated. Collin had always seemed so relaxed, but it was apparent that this woman had struck a chord with him.
“Chill out.” Alex laughed. “She’s already being dealt with.”
Collin picked up a closed beer and tossed it to Jim. “You’re an asshole. You know that?”
“Making us sweat for your amusement.” Jake shook his head. “You do realize we run on zero sleep, right?”
Jim chuckled. “I couldn’t resist. You two get worked up so easily. It’s highly enjoyable to watch.”
“You can say that again,” Alex said.
Ash and I sat and watched the men bantering with smiles on our faces. These guys had such good energy. We all sat around until about eleven, and when it was time for everyone to leave, Jim took the extra bags of too much food and forced everyone out of the door with them.
We stood and held each other in silence after the house grew quiet before I checked on Addy. She stirred, and then her head popped up. She instantly started crying, and I just held her.
“Addy, baby,” I said softly. “We’re at Jim’s house high up in the hills. He has lots of happy meals for you to choose from.”
Addy started to wake up more and then looked at me. “Daddy hurt Jim.”
“Daddy hurt himself today.” I pulled back. “Addy, look at me,” I said, her face somber. “Were you scared today?”
“Yes,” she said, rubbing her eyes. “Daddy was so mad.”
“I know. Daddy was mad because I have a crush on Jim.”
Addy looked over my shoulder and then at me. “But why?”
“It’s confusing, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Daddy will be going away for a while. I think he needs some help to be a happy daddy, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then we will make sure he gets happy and know he is at a place that might make him learn that he did a bad thing today,” I said, hoping I was saying the right things and not making anything worse.
“Yes. Papa will be mad.”
“Papa will be mad,” I agreed.
“I’m hungry.”
Jim seemed satisfied now that Addison was eating and content. I had no idea if my conversation with her helped or not. Hopefully, it worked to give her mind a little peace.
We all were invited into Jim’s oversized bed after Addy and Jim reunited and told their fun stories from surfing together. A scene I would never let leave my mind. A man whose heart was where a dad’s heart should be. It was heavenly to see, and my heart swelled with love for him.
Jim lay next to me, and we both smiled over at Addy, who lay on the other side of me, watching the flatscreen on the wall in his room. I was growing tired, and the shows Jim bought for Addy to live stream would keep her up until tomorrow if we didn’t turn them off.
“Addy, let’s get under the covers and try to sleep. We’ll play in the pool tomorrow.”
“I’ll even have some more toys brought in for you,” Jim said.
“Okay,” she said, and then the lights dimmed.
As I tried to doze off, Addy started getting restless.
“Addy,” I said, “try to sleep.”
Bad idea, keeping her knocked out since five and expecting her to go back to sleep in a new place.
“I’m trying hard, Mommy.”
“Do you need to sleep in your own bed?” I asked, knowing Addy wasn’t used to sharing a bed, and this whole situation could be keeping her awake.