Chaser (Dive Bar #3)(48)

Don’t get me wrong, taking a break from fucking didn’t make me deep or anything. But enough about the insides of my head and back to reality.

In the office, Curt was pulling on a jacket.

“Finished?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “Nell asked us to make an order for upstairs before she left, but we got busy. Haven’t had a chance to get away before now.”

“I’m heading that way. I’ll take it.”

Curt grinned. “Thanks.”

I grabbed my jacket and picked up the brown paper bags off the desk. “Jean, Andre, or Alex?”

“Jean.”

Excellent.

The outside steps were a little icy so I took it slow. Hopefully, Jean hadn’t given up on dinner and gone to bed. If my timing was right, she would be finishing up Ada’s midnight feeding before her big sleep. Of course, Ada answered to no one, so no guarantees.

When I put my ear to her door, noises could be heard. It was safe to knock.

She answered the door in flannel pajamas covered in hedgehogs. I’d never considered the small animals a turn-on before. But honestly, it was hard to look away, she was so cute.

“Eric. Hi.”

“I hear you’ve been waiting on this?” I held up the order. “Sorry about the delay.”

“No problem at all.” She smiled. “Are you heading straight to bed?”

“You feel like company?”

“Absolutely.” She stepped back, holding the door open. “Come on in.”

Subtlety had never been my strong suit. By now Jean should just know that if given the chance, I’d want to be with her. Ada lay on a blanket on the floor, apparently watching a TV show involving colorful balls bouncing around and a soothing voice reciting the alphabet. Weird.

“She was wide awake so I gave up trying to settle her,” said Jean, unpacking her chicken-and-noodle salad. “It’s her favorite program.”

“Remind me to introduce her to WWE sometime.”

Jean cocked her head. “Maybe not.”

“Okay.” I pulled a chair up to the table. “I bet this show would make perfect sense if you were stoned.”

“Probably.” She laughed. “How was work?”

“Good. Busy.”

And right up there with hedgehogs was watching Jean eat. Lips sliding over the tines of her fork and her tongue struggling to keep everything under control. She was hot even with noodles slipping over her chin. Hell, I had to look away before things got uncomfortable.

“Joe is upset Ada didn’t love Thor,” I said, picking at a thread on my jeans. “I think he sees himself as Thor in this scenario.”

She laughed. “Tell him I feel real bad for his poor delicate male ego.”

“We can’t help it.” I put my hand to my heart. “We’re sensitive creatures.”

“Sure you are.”

“Meant to ask you, did you hear any more from your parents?” I asked, curious. And maybe a little protective.

She nodded, taking a moment to swallow her food. “Yes, actually. I haven’t talked to Dad yet, but Mom’s called a couple of times.”

“Big turnaround.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. She seems sincere.”

“Like I said, they’re missing out big-time not being part of your and Ada’s life.”

“Thank you.”

I shrugged it off. It was, after all, a simple statement of fact.

“I think they’ve mostly agreed with all of my big decisions up until this point.” She frowned, staring off at nothing. “Guess going against their wishes and keeping my baby caught them by surprise.”

“Maybe,” I said.

“You know, you guys don’t have to keep bringing the orders to my door,” she said, changing the subject. “Not that I don’t appreciate it.”

“Curt often runs things up for Alex.” I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. I’m sorry it was late though.”

“No worries. Are you sure about delivering?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “Saves you from having to suit up Ada and bring her down.”

“That’s true,” she said, wrapping noodles around her fork. “But I don’t have to take it easy on the stairs or anything anymore. The doctor okayed me for everything a couple of weeks ago.”

“That’s great.”

She nodded, finishing another mouthful. “Not that I have the least interest in sex.”

Whoa. Where did that come from?

“Even if I did have a partner,” she said, waving the fork around. “Can you imagine getting busy after caring night and day for a baby?”

“Hmm.” I tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace.

“It’s just so full-on. I mean, where would that energy even come from?” she asked, eyes wide. “Besides the fact that I look like something a cat coughed up on the rug.”

“You don’t look anything like cat barf,” I said, sternly. “I keep telling you, you look good, but you don’t believe me.”

She barked out a laugh. “I think you’re very kind.”

“No. Not really.”

“They should make up a sex position for new parents,” she continued. “The sloth. ‘You have my permission. Just hurry up and get it done while I lie here and take a quick nap.’”