Baby Love (Baby #2)(121)

I could not believe that Trey was being friendly to that cheating scumbag.

"Trey - great seeing you mate," he responded cheerfully.

"Good evening Tylar."

"Hello Ian," I said very coldly not bothering to look his way.

Gina returned at that point with his drink and placed it before him. I turned my attention to Trey again leaning in to whisper to him.

"How in the hell can you be nice to that cheating bastard?"

"That is between them," Trey whispered back.

"I prefer to stay neutral."

I tuned Trey out and tuned Gina and Ian back in.

"What say you and me get together and talk later or maybe tomorrow," Ian was saying.

"I don't think so Ian."

"Ahh come on love. I was wrong. I am pleading temporary insanity for what I've done. I still love you Giner, it's always been you."

(Holy shit! This was going to get good.)

"The thing is - I don't love you anymore Ian. I love someone else."

"What the f*ck? You say you have moved on already? Our divorce was just final a couple of weeks ago for Chrissake!"

Their voices were getting a bit louder and out of my peripheral vision I saw Tristan look over from the other side of the bar where he was waiting on customers.

"Why is that so f*cking hard for you to believe Ian? You were the one that moved on before we had even filed for divorce."

"I can't accept that Giner. That's just a rebound relationship you've dived into for the moment. It won't last. You will be back eventually."

Gina shrugged as if she was totally unaffected by his words.

"You can think whatever you want Ian but I won't be back. I'm happier now than I have ever been."

Ian was pissed immediately.

He rose up over the bar and grabbed her arm pulling her toward him.

"I won't let you go," he hissed.

"You're trying to hurt me back, I get that. I know that you still care about me."

Ian's mistake was touching Gina. Tristan was instantly at her side; his green eyes were flashing daggers at Ian.

"Get your hands off of her now," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"Yeah? What's it to you mate?"

"She's mine," Tristan said plainly not taking his eyes off of Ian.

Ian released his grip on Gina's arm. She immediately retreated closer to Tristan who pulled her against him. Ian was looking back and forth between them.

"You are mine, right?" Tristan asked Gina softly, staring down at her.

She nodded and smiled up at him. The love between them was obvious. Ian had to be a total idiot if he didn't see it.

Tristan lowered his face to Gina's; she laced her arms around his neck as they kissed playfully and passionately.

I looked over at Ian and saw the pain in his eyes. He pulled a twenty dollar bill from his wallet and tossed it on the bar as he made a hasty exit.

Trey and I left shortly thereafter.

When we returned home Trey and I gave Jean her Christmas bonus. It was a check for $2500. She teared up telling us how much she appreciated our generosity.

She said she had left a present for Preston under the tree.

As Jean was getting her coat on she mentioned that a courier had dropped off a package earlier in the evening and that she had signed for it. She had placed it over in the corner. I looked at the return address. It was from my father.

While Trey drove Jean home I showered and got into my silk pajamas. I tiptoed into Preston's room to check on her. She was sleeping soundly in her Christmas elf pajamas. She had her 'Ho-Ho' Santa clutched in her arms.

When Trey got back we took all of the wrapped presents from our closets and put them under the tree. I saw the box that had arrived from my father.

"Go ahead and open it Tylar," Trey said, chuckling. "You know you are dying to see what's in the box."

I hoped my dad had not gone all extravagant on us for Christmas. I had sent him a framed family portrait of the three of us we had commissioned shortly after Thanksgiving.

I got a knife from the kitchen to cut through the packing tape and opened the cardboard box. Inside there were three wrapped presents; one for each of us. On mine, there was an envelope attached with my name handwritten on it.

Trey had put the fireplace on and had poured us each a glass of wine. He had changed into his pajama bottoms and tee-shirt. We were sitting on the floor in front of our beautiful Christmas tree.

"Aren't you going to open it?"

"You open yours first Trey."

Trey's box was slim and fairly flat.

"I bet it's a tie," he said tearing the paper off of the box and lifting the lid.

He lifted out a folded pack of papers. He began skimming through them.

"Holy shit - this is great. The panel decided in my favor on my Motion to Consolidate."

"Let me see," I said, leaning over to look.

My father had put a handwritten note to Trey on it that read:

"Though I recused myself from the decision process, I did expedite the panel to reach a decision. Merry Christmas counselor!"

"Well congratulations, Trey," I said.

I opened the envelope that was attached to the wrapped box. It was a note from my father.