Snare (Falling Stars #3) (40 page)

I shift my eyes back to Sid and stare at her ass when she bends over.

"How's that going?" Red asks.

Keeping my eyes on her, I answer, "Good."

"Just good?" Jack presses.

"What's wrong with good?" My question comes out a bit harsher than intended.

"Nothing," Jack quickly concedes. "You know what, I think we need to celebrate. Let's get some drinks."

He stands and heads for the bar. We follow him.

Music fills the room, the performers posing for Sid as she moves around them with her camera.

"To Daddy over there," Jack announces, raising a shot glass in Red's direction.

"To fatherhood," I raise my glass. "And to hoping you have a boy—trust me, you want a boy," I tease.

We toss the shots back.

"One more," I exclaim and lean over the bar.

Hands grip my hips right before someone thrusts against me.

I straighten and turn to look down.

Sid stands there, grinning.

"I need you," she states.

"Do you?" I ask, my question full of innuendo.

Her lips purse.

"Now you're a spokesperson for Summer's Eve?" She crosses her arms over her chest.

I raise a one brow in silent question.

"You sound like a douche," she explains.

Jackson bursts into laughter.

"Never mind." She turns away from me. "Red, I need you."

"I'll—"

She puts her hand over my mouth.

"Snooze you lose, now Beth's baby daddy is going to help me move something."

She narrows her eyes on Red and snaps the fingers of her free hand.

"Let's go, Hulktoo," she orders.

"Hulk what?" Red asks.

"Just get over here and help—"

I lick the hand still covering my mouth, cutting her off.

She turns her glare on me and pulls her hand away. Glancing at her hand, then back up to me, she wipes her palm over my face.

"That's gross," she says in disgust. "You have no idea where my hands have been."

Before I can respond, she's walking away with Red.

"I'm not sure how the hell you handle her," Jack says.

I lick my lips as my eyes follow her ass.

"I don't," I respond.

"Don't what?" he asks.

"I don't handle her," I explain, turning my eyes to him. "I just love her."

Sidra

"Why are you so nervous?" Liza asks through the phone.

"His wife will be there," I say with a healthy dose of why-the-fuck-are-you-even-asking-me-that included.

"Ex-wife, Sid," she responds.

"Technicalities," I snap. "In twenty minutes, I'm going to be in a room with Xavier's family—"

"I thought you liked his family?"

"I do," I whine. "Obviously, I'm in love with his parents, Ember is great, and Kami…well, we have the understanding to tolerate each other."

And it's true. After Kam stepped forward to somewhat defend me against Ambria and then found out about Rotten Bananas, things were easier for us. I didn't get bitch mode, but Kami is definitely more reserved like Duncan.

"So, it's just Maria who has you worried?"

"I guess," I respond on a sigh, throwing myself back on the bed.

"Why?"

"She's his best friend, Liza, and the mother of his kids," I explain. "If she hates me, what do you think is going to happen between the two of us?"

"I think you're over thinking this," Liza states, "Every time Lyra or Cass have mentioned their mom, there is nothing but kindness toward you."

"That's in front of her kids. You know how things change when it's just woman to woman." I sigh, again.

"I'm a little out of my element," Liza confesses.

"What?" I quip.

"You sound like a girl," she explains. "I don't know what to do."

Her giggle is quiet, but I hear it.

"The next time you open a drawer, an envelope, anything…" I begin to warn.

"I don't even care," Liza laughs. "You're talking to a woman who gets glitter in all kinds of places on a nightly basis. You can't threaten me with glitter."

"Damn it," I growl. "Curse your stripper-like ways."

"Take a deep breath and just be you," she advises. "If someone doesn't like you, then fuck 'em."

A laugh bubbles up.

"Fuck 'em?"

"Fuck 'em," she repeats.

An hour later, we pull up to Xavier's parents' home.

"Why are you so quiet?" he asks, parking behind a silver luxury car.

"The girls already here?" I try changing the subject.

"You know they are. Now, tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing," I quip.

Unbuckling, I hurry out of the car.

Xavier exits and moves around his SUV.

"Did you guys plan something else I don't know about?"

"What?" I ask, surprised by how close he is so quickly. "Oh, yeah, we got you male midget strippers," I deadpan.

Taking a deep breath, I head for the front door. Then, I realize he isn't following.

Turning around, I find him statue still next to the car.

"Are you coming?"

"Promise me you're kidding," he demands.

"What?"

"About the strippers," he growls.

Rolling my eyes, I sigh.

"Of course, I am. Do you really think I'd do that with all the kids here?"

His eyes twitch for a moment.

"Come on!" I exclaim.

"Swear to me on your Avengers dildo collection."

"I swear," I drawl.

Exhaling loudly, he finally starts moving.

"Mom," the girls shout, dragging me by my arms.

Xavier follows, laughing.

If I could flip him off, I would double middle finger him so hard.

"This is Sid," they announce, shoving me forward.

A thin, pale woman sits in a large overstuffed chair. Her hair is dark brown and cut in a chin length bob. The large smile she wears meets her bright light brown eyes and eases some of my anxiety.

"Hello," she moves to stand.

"Don't get up," I blurt, putting my hands out.

"Nonsense," she argues.

A tall man with brown hair hurries to her side, taking her arm.

"Gil, I'm alright," she says with a sigh, but allows him to assist her.

Once on her feet, I discover she's taller than me. Almost so much so, I need to look up at her.

"Sid," she say, smiling around my name.

Two steps forward and her arms come around me. I reflexively embrace her in return.

"Thank you," she whispers in my ear, giving me a squeeze.

"I didn't—"

"You've been there for my girls," she starts, pulling back, but holding my shoulders. "When I wasn't able—" she stops, beginning to choke up.

"Really," I interrupt, "It wasn't…I mean, they're great girls."

Wiping at her eyes, she nods.

"Thank you."

"Hey, babe," Xavier greets, stepping up and kissing the side of her head.

The stab of jealousy I feel surprises me.

"What's wrong?"

Goddamn it, he's too perceptive.

I shake my head and snap myself out of my ridiculous feelings. "Nothing."

His brow furrows.

"Leave her alone," Maria orders. "She's meeting your ex-wife for the first time and I'm a blubbering idiot." Then, she turns to me. "This is my husband, Gil." She motions to the tall, thin man who looks the complete opposite of Xavier.

"Let's sit," Maria suggests, "we can have girl talk."

Great, girl talk. Kill me now.

"Your face gives a lot away," Maria notes.

I hurry to sit in a chair next to her.

"Not much for girl talk?" She settles back into the chair.

"Um…" I hesitate.

"You two, leave us to talk." She waves Xavier and Gil off.

"No way am I leaving you two to alone together. Sid's fine with me here."

"Excuse me?" I snap, not liking his do-as-I-say tone.

"What?" he quips.

"Go away," I order.

He opens his mouth to protest, but I raise one brow and threaten, "You remember your birthday request?"

His mouth snaps shut.

"Good boy." I force a sweet smile.

Maria's soft laughter takes my attention away from a grumbling Xavier.

"Oh, I do love you," she says between laughs.

After fifteen minutes of awkward conversation, Maria finally shatters the thin glass wall between us.

"I have to know what his birthday request is," she practically moans.

"You sure you want to know?" I scrunch my face.

She nods.

"Listen, I know our closeness can be hard to deal with." Her hand comes to my arm. "It took Gil a couple years to understand, but please trust me when I say there is nothing but innocent affection. To say it's like brother and sister is too weird because we have the girls, but honestly, it's very family love, not romantic." She gives my arm a squeeze and sits back. "Now, knowing Xave and his possessive tendencies, he wants his name tattooed on your ass or something."

"He's always been the jealous type?" I ask.

She lifts one shoulder.

"I wouldn't say that exactly."

"What would you say?" I ask, my curiosity peaked.

"When we were together, he would get jealous and did have a possessive nature. He doesn't like to share."

"Oh, I've been told," I snort.

She smiles, staring.

When she doesn't say anything for a few minutes, I finally ask, "What?"

"It's so good to see him love someone again," she confesses.

"Oh," I whisper.

"And it's even better to see someone love him," Maria adds.

Tears sting at the back of my eyes.

"I don't think I know how to show him the way he wants."

The moment it leaves my lips, I look at her, wide-eyed.

Her smile grows into a large grin.

"Just the fact that you're worried about it confirms everything I need to know, Sid." Grabbing the arms of the chair, she pulls herself forward. "Xavier is very man's man," she states, making sure our eyes are locked, "but he doesn't exactly love easily. You are the first woman since our divorce where I see the change in him." A loud laugh leaves her, making me jump. "I saw it months ago when he came to visit."

"Months ago?" I furrow my brow.

She nods.

"Bravo for shoving a sequin bra in his mouth." She laughs harder and claps. "He grumbled about getting one stuck in his teeth for twenty minutes while he plotted his revenge," she continues with a laugh.

"Whew," she exhales. "The amount of time he spent bitching about you…" She shakes her head. "I knew he was a goner."

I can't hold back my grin.

"Now that I've met you, even in such a short time, I totally get it." Maria reaches out once more, this time taking my hand. "The man he is now, with you, is who he should be, and I'm so excited to witness it."

I bite my lip, holding my tears at bay.

"Don't be afraid to show him he's yours."

Giving my hand a squeeze, she releases it and sits back.

"Now, about that birthday request?" she asks, bringing the conversation back around.

"Well played, you sneaky bitch," I compliment.

She smiles.

Sidra