The Soccer Mom's Bad Boy (11 page)

ILENE

“So where have you been?” I almost jumped out of my skin at the voice coming from behind me. “What are you doing here? how did you get in here?”

I tried not to let the sneer on his face get a rise out of me. “My wife and kid live here, I don’t need a reason to be here. As to how I got in, I still have my ways.”

My mind went immediately to Alana, but why would she do that? She was the one who’d been egging me on where Dane was concerned. Has she been secretly hoping her dad and I would get back together?

Somehow I couldn’t reconcile the girl who had told me to go for it in such a mature way, with the same one who would then turn around and give him a key. There was only one other person who had a key and...

“Well, you want to tell your husband where you’ve been all morning?” he actually came towards me with a menacing look on his face. I was so shocked by this turn of events that it took me a minute to find my voice.

“Wait, what, your wife? What are you talking about?” Had he fallen and hit his head or something? I was seriously starting to think that something was wrong with him.

“This is still my family isn’t it?”

Was he demented or something? What the hell had gotten into him? “Mark, are you feeling okay?” Just my luck, after a morning like the one I’d just had I have to deal with this. The glow hadn’t even had time to fade as yet.

“Of course I’m okay, what kind of question is that? did you give any thought to what we talked about?”

“Look I don’t know what’s going on with you lately, but I think we need to keep things civil for Alana’s sake, other than that I don’t think we really have anything to do with each other. You’ve gone on with your life and I’ve gone on with mine.”

Just then my phone rang and I held up a finger for quiet while I answered. Shit, it was Dane. “Hey baby, I missed you already.” I couldn’t hold back the smile that broke out across my face.

“I miss you...”

“Who’s that? we’re having a conversation here, tell whoever it is they’ll have to call back.” I was rudely cut off in mid-sentence. What did it say about me that that quickly I’d forgotten about him?

“What the fuck is going on over there?” I’d never heard ice in someone else’s voice before, now I can say I knew that shit was real. “Um...”

“I’m on my way, if he’s still there when I get there, it’s going to be both your asses.”

“I...” he hung up before I could get the words out. Why is this ass always getting me in trouble? where did he come from all of a sudden anyway? I hadn’t seen him since he walked out on us, except here and there in passing, and now, suddenly, when I was beginning to have feelings for someone else, he shows up.

Yes it was important to me that he kept a relationship with our daughter, but I no longer felt like I needed to use that as an excuse to see him. Whatever was going to be between the two of them was just that, I no longer played any part in it.

I didn’t crumble into ash at the realization, didn’t feel like my world was going to end. I guess I was healing after all. It felt good, but I’ll have to celebrate later. Right now I had a mad man on his way to my house.

“You’re gonna have to leave I have to take care of something.” I picked up my purse as if I were about to head out again.”

“What, but you just got back here, now I...”

“Mark, I said I have something to do, my days of bowing to your wishes are long over. Now will you please excuse me, and in the future I’d appreciate it if you didn’t just let yourself in here.”

“My money pays for this place in case you’ve forgotten.”

“Actually no it doesn’t, I earned that money by keeping your home and raising your child while you built your career.” I was never so pissed in my life, but I didn’t have time to debate the merits of the past fifteen years of my life. Dane sounded like he meant business on the phone and I had no doubt he’d carry out his threat.

***

Calm the fuck down brother. My little pep talk wasn’t working. I sped through the streets to get to her, the warm glow from the morning long gone.

I’d already started setting things in motion for our future together. I’d found a house that was just perfect for the three of us and any future children we might have.

I was still riding high on this morning’s activities and thinking as always about when I could get my hands on her again, and now this shit.

I pulled into the driveway and was disappointed to see just her truck there. She’d gotten rid of the fuck, too bad. Now she would have to bear the brunt for both of them. I wasn’t even a little bit calm when I beat my fist on the door.

She opened the door a bit tentatively but I didn’t stop to placate her as I stormed into the room forcing her to take a step back.

“What the fuck part of stay the fuck away from him don’t you get?” She did that ringing hand shit again and looked at me pleadingly.

“It was nothing Dane come on. You can’t seriously believe that I’d have any interest in him after the way he treated me.”

“Hey, look at me, this isn’t a fucking democracy I said no, that’s all the fuck there is to it. I said he wasn’t to be here and he sure as fuck has no need to be here while Alana’s in school if she’s his interest, he ever heard of a phone?”

She worked her mouth like she wanted to argue, which would be the worse fucking thing she could do while I’m in the mood I’m in; not fucking good.

“You have something stuck behind your teeth?” I walked over to her and looked down at her stubborn as fuck head.

“No.” That pout said different.

“Thought so, it looked like you were getting ready to say something to me. I wouldn’t advise it, you’re in enough shit as it is. Get your bag let’s go.”

I didn’t wait for her acceptance and she had the good sense not to ask where we were headed as she grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder.

I still strapped her in as pissed as I was, and the move surprised her. She wasn’t accustomed to being treated like a woman I’ve long realized. Still she was willing to piss me the fuck off for his dumb ass. I’ll never understand women as long as I live.

I didn’t say fuck all to her as we drove. She didn’t have much of a reaction when we drove past her old neighborhood and into the one after it, until we pulled into the mile long driveway.

“What’s this?” She finally showed some life as she looked at the mansion up ahead. I’d planned on doing this different, but this shit worked for me too.

She was nervous when I helped her down from the truck and took her hand. I felt my anger ease a little because I just couldn’t stay mad at my girl, hardheaded fuck though she was.

I know who my enemy is, and before long I’m going to have to take that boy out to the shed, but he had no place here, so I put my fire on hold so I could give her this.

This shit represented her regaining her womanhood, or at least that’s the way I looked at it. She’d been degraded in the eyes of her neighbors, and not that I gave a fuck about them, but I wanted her to be able to hold her head up if we were gonna live here, and this place was the best on the market.

“Dane what’s all this?” Her hand trembled in mine as I led her through the doors into the marble foyer with the cathedral ceilings. I knew from Janine that my girl was into this shit.

I just squeezed her hand and took her deeper into the house. Her eyes told the whole story as she took it all in. I knew down to the second when she realized what was going on.

Instead of waiting for her to ask again, I turned her into me. With my hand wrapped around her nape, I drew her lips up to mine.

Wordlessly I led her down to the bare floor, bracing my hand beneath her so that she did not get hurt. I was mindful of the hardwood floor and her tender skin, so removing my shirt I placed it under her head for a cushion.

Between heated kisses I removed her clothing and mine before turning us around so that she was on top of me. Pulling her lips back down to mine, I used my hand between us to lead my meat into her.

“Ride me.” Her hips started a slow dance as I guided her hips with my hands. “Tongue.” She leaned over and fed me her tongue as I fought not to go too hard or too fast.

I felt around beside us for my pants and found what I was looking for. Taking the box out, I kept her occupied while I wrestled the diamond out of its hiding place.

Taking her hand in mine I lifted it to my lips as her eyes followed my every move. She started crying as I slipped it on her finger. “This never comes off, ever.” I looked deep into her eyes so that she understood the severity of the unspoken consequences if she disobeyed me in this.

“Don’t cry, it’s going to be okay.” I pulled her up and off of me and turned us again. I fed on her mouth, tasting her tears as I felt her with my fingers. Leaving her mouth, I kissed my way down to her nipples and suckled her before moving down to her heat.

She raised her head to look down at me while I got her in position. “I love you.” She choked out the words, words that I thought would be a long time in coming.

“I know baby.” But fuck it felt good to hear her say it.

She pulled my head down to her wet heat, with one knee bent at my side and the other resting on my shoulder. Lifting her ass in my hands so that I could reach her, I licked deep into her pussy.

I slipped back into her, getting as deep as possible without bruising her against the hard floor. When I spilled inside her, my anger finally gone, my hope was that I’d planted my son in her here, on this day. A new beginning!

DANE

We spent the rest of the morning at our new house while I convinced her that this was really happening and not a dream. I gave her no opportunity to doubt or to backtrack. There was no going back from this.

I spoke to her fears, understanding that she had some hang-ups about being here again in her life. “Hey look at me.” I lifted her chin.

“You have nothing to fear from me. Your heart, your mind, is safe with me. I’ve got you.” That seemed to calm her down some and she went back to perusing her new home while I made some calls.

She had shit to do, and so did I, so I took her home.

***

I spent the day hiring workers, some to help with the move and others to fix shit that needed doing. She hadn’t asked when we were moving in. I guess she would know when the trucks showed up.

She’d made it known that she was looking forward to decorating her home herself and so I transferred some funds to her account so she could get started if she was so inclined.

I didn’t stay on top of her all day but let her do her thing while I did mine. I’m fucked if I was going to let him turn me into a little bitch, peeping behind my woman in fear of what she was doing.

***

I kept myself busy until it was time for squirt’s recital and then went to get Ilene. Though I’d been at a few of her games since we went public, this was the first thing we would be doing as a family, which meant that for Alana’s sake I had to be on my best behavior. Let’s hope the asshole, if he even bothered to show up, stayed the fuck away from me and my woman.

***

“You look amazing.” More than the flattering dress she wore, there was a glow about her that made me want to smile. My baby was happy. I could only surmise it was the rock on her hand and the new house she couldn’t wait to get her hands on.

My suspicions were confirmed when we pulled up to the school and Janine and Xavier met us before I even turned the car off.

The two women started gabbing and doing some kind of dance with their arms around each other while Xavier reached a hand out to me. “I hear you did good, congratulations.”

“I’ll take it.” I grinned at him, he was the first person to extend congratulations, and though I wouldn’t say it made it seem more real, it was greatly appreciated.

We turned and looked at our women who were grinning and looking at the pictures my girl had snapped of our place. The talk soon turned to decorating and room outlays and shit I had no idea about, after they were through admiring my choice for a ring, while Xavier and I talked shop.

I heard a twittering sound coming towards us and the closer it got I realized it wasn’t some sort of endangered bird, but rather the fake nasal twang of some chick that was headed our way.

You know the sound: that put-on sulky pout bullshit that twits are always trying to pull off. That’s what it sounded like. I didn’t miss the body language of the two women at the new arrival and walked over to my girl.

***

ILENE

I guess I shouldn’t feel any way about him bringing her here, but it still galled me. Did he seriously think this was the right thing to do? Alana is going to be so upset by this.

On the other hand, Dane had the strangest look on his face as they made their way towards us.

“What the fuck is that?” He pointed at Mark’s fiancé Joanne as they drew closer.

“That’s Mark’s fiancé Joanne.” I tried to keep my voice low so as not to carry, because Janine was already starting to huff next to me, and I wasn’t sure about Dane.

“It takes all fucking kinds.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Mark overheard and took umbrage. It’s funny how I never noticed how soft he was before.

I guess I’d never really seen him around a real man before. Mark likes to surround himself with lesser beings, men he found to be weaker than him. But seeing him in the same space as Dane...my thoughts were rudely cut off at the next words out of Dane’s mouth.

“It’s supposed to mean, that you made a bad fucking deal; your loss.” And with that he took my hand and led me away.

“I can’t believe you just did that.”

“What, were you expecting me to be cordial?”

“Yes, we have to be for Alana’s sake.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, that’s the last fucking thing that kid needs. She needs to be surrounded by people who are going to tell her the truth and allow her to see the world the way it really is, not this candy coated bullshit. That way when she grows up she’ll know not to marry a dick-wad like her fuck of a dad.”

“Are you saying that I’m stupid because I married him?” I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, even though I’ve called myself a hundred types of fool since he left me high and dry.

“I would never call you stupid babe, what the fuck? Do I look like the type of motherfucker that would fall in love with an idiot?” I blushed and looked down at the ground.

Each time he said it I had the same reaction, butterflies in my tummy.

“No babe you’re not stupid, but I’ve met your mom so I know what kind of fucked up childhood you had.” I wasn’t too happy about that assessment either, but there was a whole lot of truth to it.

“Stop fussing. If I did half the shit to you that’s running around in my head, I’d get arrested in ten fucking states. Trust me, the fault wasn’t in you, you just have poor taste in men that’s all.”

“Well if my taste is so bad what does that say about you?”

“Nothing, you didn’t choose me, I chose you.” We headed into the auditorium after that with the others bringing up the rear.

Dane refused to sit with them and made no bones about it. He found four seats up front on the opposite side and didn’t even look at Mark and Joanne for the rest of the evening.

I could feel Mark’s glare from where I sat, but chose to ignore and enjoy my child’s performance.

I almost felt bad for him when it was all over and done and Alana made a beeline for us. “Did you see was I good?” I never noticed before how starved she was for attention, until she stood in front of Dane with bright eyes full of hope.

I really lost it though, when he kissed her little head and hugged her. “You were perfect squirt.”

Of course Mark chose that moment to approach us and play dad of the year. “Oh hi dad.” Her greeting was fleeting and not at all welcoming, which caused his face to redden with anger.

I wanted to scream bloody murder, not to mention do bodily harm when the home-wrecker had the audacity to put her hands on my daughter.

“Ugh, Alana you haven’t been doing what I told you, your hair is so drab.” Alana shrugged the hand from her hair and moved closer to my side.

Both Janine and Dane started to bristle at this and I was preparing to head them off when Alyssa saved the day. “Come on Alana we have to go back with the others.” The two preteens walked off arm in arm.

“And who might you be? I’m Joanne.” She held her dainty little hand out to Dane and I wasn’t sure which I wanted to do more, snatch her bald or knock her teeth out. What gall.

Janine snorted with laughter when Dane, instead of even acknowledging her, took my arm and turned us away. I was slightly mortified as I’m sure we had an audience.

It was the first time that we’d been seen out in public all together like this since the divorce, since the asp had befriended me to destroy my life.

I’d been avoiding her all this time, too hurt and disillusioned by the whole sordid affair.

“You know that was rather rude.” I said to him tongue in cheek. Inside I was doing handsprings and jumping jacks.

“I would never disrespect you like that babe, and you don’t need to put yourself through that shit either. You don’t fraternize with your enemies babe, never forget that.”

Sometimes he could be so harsh. “I wish it was that easy, but you know that we’re all going to have to deal with each other for the rest of our lives.” At least the prospect no longer filled me with dread.

After we collected the girls from their friends, I was surprised by what else he had up his sleeve. “Okay everyone we’re going to dinner, Alana, Alyssa did you want to invite some of your little friends along?” He named one of the most popular restaurants among the young people that served something a little more palatable than pizza.

The squeals were almost deafening as the two girls headed off to invite their friends. “Oh boy, I don’t know if that was such a good idea. How do you know they won’t invite the whole cast?”

“So be it.” Hah, I’m guessing he’s never been subjected to ten preteen girls at once. It turns out I was right and almost all the others accepted.

For the first time since I’d been demoted from wife to unwanted refuge, some of the other women actually smiled and spoke, but I found that I wasn’t interested in them. Most of them had turned their backs on me when my station in life had changed.

“Oh wow Ilene, that’s some rock.” Carly Jackson, who has been a snob since high school, and who had been one of the first to shun me, actually lifted my hand.

Of course Mark the idiot chose that moment to catch up. The look on his face was priceless, but the best was the look of green that crossed Joanne’s face.

It’s silly, but for the first time, I felt alive again. Dane wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Sorry but our daughter is waiting for us.” Oh shit. I know Mark heard that.

***

ILENE

Is this an epidemic? How does he know when I’m happy? And why didn’t I check the phone before I answered? “What do you want now Mark?” I’d just got in from the restaurant where we’d all had a great time. I should’ve known that he wouldn’t let things end the way they had, his ego would never allow for that.

I wondered where his jailbait was or if he was hiding to call me much in the same way he’d once hid from me to call her? “We need to talk.”

Crap. “It’s late Mark can’t this wait?” I rolled my eyes and kicked off my shoes. I’d just had a great evening with all of my favorite people, and wasn’t about to let him spoil it.

“No, I don’t know what game you’re playing but I don’t appreciate being made to look like a fool in front of the whole town.” I took the phone away from my ear and looked at it in disbelief. I’m convinced he’s having some kind of crisis. I would’ve had a good laugh at his plight if his next words hadn’t dragged me back to the present.

“I’m coming over, we’re going to put an end to this nonsense once and for all.” Shit, Dane was going to be back here in a couple hours. Alana was with Alyssa so there was no excuse for him being here, and why is this my life?

“I’ll meet you somewhere.” I regretted those words as soon as they left my mouth, but it was too late. He latched onto that suggestion with a smarmy tone in his voice that made me see red. I was never so frustrated in my life as I snatched up my keys and headed for the door.

I met him halfway between his place and mine, already with a heavy heart. I watched as he got out of his car half an hour later and made his way to mine, his swagger telling the whole story.

How was it possible to have so much disdain for someone you’d once thought you loved? Looking at him now, all I saw was the selfish little boy who never grew up. Who had thrown me and our daughter away like old used toys that no longer had any worth.

Stepping out of the car I kept my distance even when he seemed to want to invade my space. “Glad to see you’ve come to your senses, though I don’t appreciate having to meet in a parking lot. I must admit, it does add a little sense of excitement don’t you think?”

I think I’m going to throw up. Apparently I wasn’t quite good at hiding my inner thoughts because his smirk changed to chagrin. “So, let’s talk about this guy you think you’re going to marry. This is my town. I have a certain reputation and standing here as you know. I don’t think it would look very good to have my wife and kid living with some stranger now do you?”

That’s it. “Were you always an asshole? How did I miss that all these years?” Instead of fear I felt anger, but not the old anger of betrayal. This anger stemmed more from the fact that I was now realizing how much of my life I had wasted on someone like him.

I would never regret giving birth to my daughter, but everything else about our union seemed so farcical now. If I were the fighting type I would really give him a piece of my mind, but even now my only thought was for Alana and what it would mean to her if I didn’t at least try to get along with this jackass.

“I don’t think you want to talk to me like that, remember I still hold the upper hand when it comes to our daughter and there’s nothing stopping me from going for custody.”

I got that old burn in my tummy. He’d used this same argument when he threatened me not to contest the divorce. It was true that because I’d sacrificed going for any kind of career after college that I didn’t really have much of a financial foot to stand on.

Most of the town thought I’d been lucky to land the town’s golden boy in the first place, and no one ever saw any wrong in him as far as I could remember. So he’s kept me hostage with threats of taking my child.