Chaser (Dive Bar #3)(60)
“Oh, I think we’re definitely ready for third base,” she said as Ada increased the volume on her wailing. “Coming, baby.”
“Pants are the worst.” I gave her a quick kiss, then made for the door. “I better get home, hit the shower.”
She made a little noise in her throat. “I know exactly what you’re going to do in that shower. You disgust me. I wish I could watch.”
“Another time.” I grinned. “Good night, my friend.”
“’Night.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Later in the week, we hadn’t yet made it to third base. Mostly due to Ada deciding to be an overachiever and start teething early. Maybe she was making up for not smiling on time. I’d told her the books said she had another couple of months to go before she hit that stage, but the baby didn’t listen to science and reason. So two nights ago, I’d done an emergency run to Walgreens to fetch teething gel and a teething-ring thing. With Nell getting more pregnant by the day, it was easier for me to run errands for Jean and I didn’t mind. Hell, I loved being the person she asked for help. Being the person she relied on, someone she trusted, felt damn good. And it was way easier for me to go grab stuff than for her to load up the baby and the car at some crazy hour.
I got all the way to Thursday night, and third base was nowhere in sight. To be honest, I’d actually have settled happily for another romp around second. But I hadn’t even seen either of them since yesterday morning. Still, maybe Ada’s new teething gel would see an improvement. That would be a relief for all our sakes. I tried not to get my hopes up about it and just focus on the work in front of me.
“There you go,” I said, sliding a French martini across the bar to Taka.
“Thanks.” He nodded and went off to serve it to whatever customer.
It’d been a good night so far. Vaughan and I kept busy behind the bar due to a decent amount of people coming in for dinner and drinks. Nell had picked out an interesting mix of female artists for the music, making for a great atmosphere. Aretha Franklin, Bj?rk, Sia, and more.
To my knowledge, she hadn’t yet found out about Jean and me getting more intimate. Not that it was any of her business. But if she did know, the woman would be on the warpath. There’d probably have been knives thrown my way, the odd roasting pan—who knows how many weapons she could find in a commercial kitchen. I really didn’t want to find out. Let sleeping dragon-ladies lie.
It was close to eight when Jean came in with the baby and an older couple. A man and a woman in their fifties at a guess. Ada was in one of those infant car seats that you can pop out and carry around. Weird, Jean hadn’t made any mention of dropping by. Also, I had a bad feeling about who the people with her might be. Taka seated them at a corner table away from the main lights and some of the louder parties. A good call. Overstimulation could freak Ada out sometimes. And apparently worrying about Ada and Jean both could freak me out sometimes. A sudden sweat pricked at my shirt.
Shit. Were those really her parents come to visit from Florida?
When I caught Jean’s eye, she gave me a tight-looking smile and a wave. Her (probable) mother spotted the movement, head snapping around as she sought me out with her eyes. Not a happy face, though it was a familiar one. Mother and daughter looked a lot alike.
The woman said something and Jean answered, still with that strained smile in place. Whatever she’d said had Jean’s dad frowning at me too. Great. I tried standing taller, shoulders back, and head up. Jesus, I’d even worn a neat white button-down shirt with black suspenders today. You’d have thought rockin’ style would make up for the long hair and tattoos with the older set. Apparently not.
“Trouble incoming?” asked Vaughan. Trust the musician to be the fastest at reading the crowd.
“Don’t know. But it doesn’t look good.”
The ginger sighed. “Parents-in-law are the worst. It’s just the way it is. Lydia’s are next to fucking useless. Some people shouldn’t be allowed to have kids.”
“Jean and I are just friends.”
He gave me a long look. “Dude, swear to God, you’re going to get sick of spinning that shit someday soon and I for one cannot wait to see what happens.”
“Fuck off,” I muttered.
Instead of waiting for table service, Jean slipped out of the booth. She lifted Ada out of the baby carrier and brought her over. Poor baby. Two angry pink spots still lit her cheeks as she gummed at the teething ring.
“She still doesn’t look happy,” I said, reaching out to pat her soft little head.
“No.” Jean gave me a glum look. “I thought she might like to see her best buddy, Eric.”
“Man, I wanted to be best buddy,” complained Vaughan. “Poor cutie. No smiles today, huh?”
Jean kissed Ada’s cheek. “Not today, unfortunately.”
“Being a baby is rough sometimes.”
“That it is.”
Taka came up to the bar and Vaughan got busy filling his order.
“Can I have a cuddle?” I asked, slipping out of the bar.
“You sure can.” Jean carefully handed the baby over. For a second, Ada startled, then seemed to recognize me and chilled. Well, as much as she was of a mind to chill.
“Hey, sweetheart.” I cradled her in one arm, helping her to keep the teething ring up to her mouth with the other. “That tooth still giving you grief?”