Meet Me Halfway(82)

He raised a brow, shaking his wet head and walking toward us, “Then why are you on the floor?”





Chapter Twenty-Three





Walking out the front door that morning was one of the hardest things I’d done in a while. Not because I didn’t trust Garrett with Jamie. I did. Probably more than I should, given I’d only known him for a few months.

What was hard was admitting I needed help from someone I didn’t consider family and actually accepting said help. Layla was the only one I’d ever allowed past my barriers in that way, but I’d known her my entire life.

Accepting help from someone, especially a man who clearly had interest in getting into my pants, was fucking hard. I obviously considered him more than just a friend, and I knew intrinsically, since I’d not only entertained the idea of him having Jamie, but allowed it, I trusted him more than my mind wanted to let on.

But no matter how hard I tried, how hard he worked to prove his motivations were good, I struggled not to question them. Did he truly want to help and enjoy Jamie’s company, or was he trying to butter me up so he could get in my pants, shatter my heart, and never speak to me again?

Okay, that was dramatic, but still. I clenched my hands around my steering wheel, banging my head against it a few times to loosen some brain cells from wherever they were hiding. I needed to get a grip.

I’d tried texting Garrett a few times during my shift to check on them, but after the first two times, he’d effectively told me to fuck off.

Me: How is everything??

Sugar Daddy: Same as the last 2 times you asked.

Me: What are you guys up to?

Sugar Daddy: Shouldn’t you be working?

Me: I am.

Sugar Daddy: Then focus on your job and let me focus on mine.

Sugar Daddy: If Jamie beats me again because I’m distracted checking my phone, I’ll spank the shit outta you.





I might have hyperventilated at that point. In fact, I was sure of it. That was the only explanation for why my next reply only further encouraged his line of conversation rather than ending it.

Me: …

Me: I’ll run.

Sugar Daddy: Go ahead, baby, I’ll enjoy the view.

Sugar Daddy: And then I’ll spank you twice.





I was lucky I didn’t crack my screen when I dropped my phone.

Hours later, I still didn’t think my heart was pumping properly. I’d pulled open our thread when I’d clocked out of work to let him know I was on the way in case Layla still hadn’t arrived, but I’d seen that text again and instantly closed out. Nope. I’d officially put away my Bad Bitch pants and replaced them with my Cowardly ones.

So now, here I was, parked in the driveway, beating my head on a steering wheel instead of walking into my house. Layla was home, her Miata parked right on the street in plain sight, but I had no idea if Garrett had left yet.

I thought about texting Layla and asking, but she was a conniving wench, and if he was there, she would one-hundred percent tell him I was outside hiding.

I glanced at the clock. I didn’t have long before I’d have to head back out for my night shift. I needed to go inside and spend a few minutes with Jamie before I had to change and leave again.

I may or may not have opened the door slower than the drip of molasses. By the time I’d actually stepped through, Layla, Jamie, and both dogs were all staring at me from their curled-up positions on the couch. But no tall caveman in sight, thank God.

I dropped my purse to the ground, kicking off my heels and dragging my butt toward them, only to collapse on the floor. How was it my evening was only starting, and I was already emotionally and mentally done? It was nights like this that I was thankful I didn’t have to try to focus on any schoolwork.

“Did you have fun today, bud?” From my position on the floor, the coffee table obscured my view of him, so I just posed my question in his general direction.

“It was awesome, he’s got so many cool games, Mom. If we ever win the lottery, I want a PlayStation. Oh, and he made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch with crunchy peanut butter! And he taught me how to change the air filter for the house because he said our landlord is an individual unworthy of the oxygen occupying his lungs.”

I blinked, rolling my head back to look at the ceiling and laughed. “Of course, he did.”

The man shared a love of crunchy peanut butter, one of the few things Jamie liked that I refused to buy. It was game over. I stood no chance against the power of crunchy peanut butter fans.

Layla leaned her weight on the coffee table, hovering her head over me. Her hair cascaded down and tickled my face as she spoke. “Do I even want to know what’s got you all giggly down there?”

I groaned, kneading my fingers into my temples. Between Garrett and Jamie, I was pretty sure men were going to be the death of my sanity.

“You really don’t.”

Jamie’s voiced popped up behind her, “I bet it’s because I was talking about Garrett.”

“Ooo,” she sang, lifting an eyebrow at me, “Is that so?”

“Yep,” he said. “I’m pretty sure I caught them kissing the other day.”

I shot up into a sitting position, narrowing my eyes at the little devil who was conveniently hiding behind Sadie.