bruised knuckles. “I have to go to work like this!” Eyeing Jack he mutters, “First my wife cheats on me, then my best friend goes after my little girl.”
“Your little girl?!” I cry out. “Oh please! Dad, I’m sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news, but I have been holding you up ever since Mom left. I’ve been the parent! You are the child. And I’m almost as old as your soon-to-be wife, so don’t say I’m your little girl anymore. You’re sneering. That’s amazing. You’re sneering at me.” Lowering my voice, I try the gentle approach. “Dad, wouldn’t you rather me be with someone who really cares about me? Someone you like? I don’t even know who you’re marrying!”
“She’s pregnant.”
I blink at him. “Did you just tell me that to get back at me!? See, this is what I mean? You think you’re the adult here? Try again.” I almost say, no wonder Mom left, but I’m not that cruel, even when I feel this triggered. “Is she really?”
His frown shifts a little. “Yes.”
“That’s why you’re marrying her?”
“Yes. But I do love her, Mar.”
Sucking my lips into my mouth I shake my head, trying to find something to say. “We are a modern family. Yay us.”
Troy is standing by the wall with his head down, arms crossed.
Jack wipes blood from his nose and walks to grab a Kleenex because it’s coming down pretty heavy.
Dad blinks to the tile floor and sighs.
I take a deep breath. “I’m starving. Anyone want to go to lunch?”
Chapter Sixteen
Troy
David and I are both pretty fucked up over this, for very different reasons. The last thing I want to do is eat.
Don’t know what I was thinking getting my heart involved when I knew she wanted him. I should’ve seen it destined to come to this. Jack wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to avoid her, even throwing me at her, if he didn’t care more deeply than he admitted to me.
I thought it was just lust.
Watching him face David like that proved me wrong. Especially the way he took those punches. He knew his friend needed that, so he took it and didn’t fight back. He could’ve overpowered metrosexual-David without breaking a sweat. Now his face is a pulp and his friendship is even worse.
That’s love.
What about me?
What am I going to do now?
I love her, too.
But she’s chosen.
And taken.
David grumbles, “I’m not hungry,” and walks to the door. His weary head turns to Jack, knowing full well that his opinion has been rendered meaningless by years of foolish actions. “We’ll talk about this later.”
Jack nods, “Done.”
Now it’s just the three of us. I pull my keys out, swing the ring around my finger and watch them jingle. “I’m gonna skip lunch, guys, but thanks.” Glancing to Marion, I see her unsure of what to say. My gaze flicks to Jack next.
He sighs, “We have to talk.”
“No need. I just learned all I’ve gotta know. I wish you guys happiness.” But even as I say it, a sharp pain twists inside my ribs. “Glad it worked out.”
Leaning his back agains the door, Jack touches the bloody tissue to a cut on his square jaw. “Mar, you still want Troy, right?”
My lips part as I look from him to her.
Hesitant, she whispers like she’s not sure if he’s going to forbid me coming around her again, “Yes, I still want him.” With more volume she insists, “I still want both of you.”
A smirk flashes on him. “Greedy girl.”
She returns the twinkle. “Maybe I am.”
I’m frowning as I watch them both. Jack locks onto me. “Troy, what do you say?”
“Whoa,” I gasp. “Are you asking what I think you’re asking?”
“What do you think I’m asking?”
I hold my hand out flat, like I’m pushing down confusion with it. “You want the three of us to…”
“Be together. Yes, that’s what I mean. Now before you say yes, I don’t know if this’ll work. But here’s what I’m thinking.” He tosses the used tissue in the toxic waste basket and grabs another while he explains, “David is right, partly. And it’s what’s been stopping me up on this, almost more than the idea of dating his daughter. I couldn’t get my head around how to make it work. I travel all the time.”
Mar interrupts, “If you’re thinking about the player thing, and you’re going for a bunch of girlfriends in different cities, let me just say hell-to-the-no to that right now!”
He pauses and smiles at her.