The Jaded: Reclaim Me Part 11

He looks up at me as if I'm stupid for giving him this job. "Really, Dad? You know I can't loosen these."

I fight back my chuckle, not wanting to hurt his pride. I step up behind him and place my hands just above his on the crow bar and together we pull up. We loosen all the lug nuts, and then I let him jack the car the rest of the way. Neither of us talks, opting to work in silence. T is a naturally quiet child, always has been.

I step back and let him finish taking off the lug nuts. As I watch him, I think about last night. When I saw Shady leaning over Mia, I wanted to rip his arms away and slam my fist into his face. Shady's always been someone that I don't trust. He wasn't given the name Shady at birth. He earned that name. Even back in high school he did some pretty shifty s.h.i.t.

When Mia appeared to be no worse than wear, it didn't alleviate the rage running through my veins. I know there is more to what Mia said when I asked her about Shady's reminiscing comment. Again, not wanting to push her, I let it go, but I will find out what he was talking about. Mia may like to appear tough on the outside, but I know deep inside the old Mia still lurks. If I push too hard, she'll fold into herself, and there's no telling how hard it'll be to coax her out again.

"What next, Dad?" T asks, interrupting my thoughts.

"Watch your feet and try to pull the tire off the wheel base." He yanks and pulls until it bounces to the ground. I roll it out of the way and grab the other tire.

"Next, we need to line the holes on the tire up with the lug nut posts on the wheelbase." Nodding his head, he picks the tire up with my help, and we push it on the wheelbase.

"Start putting the lug nuts back on but don't tighten them all the way. Start with one, and then move to the opposite one until they are all done."

I watch as he does this. I haven't had many opportunities to teach him stuff like this. He lives full-time with Tessa. I get him every other weekend, some holidays, and half the summer. I thought it was best when we arranged custody for him to be with his mom for the majority of the time. Now, I'm wondering if I made a mistake. I thought things were going smoothly. Apparently, I was wrong.

"When we finish here, we're dropping the car off at Mia's. Afterwards, we're taking her to lunch. That okay with you?"

He stops tightening the lug nuts and looks over at me. He pulls his brows down in concentration before he answers, "Do I have a choice?"

"Yes, you do, T. You always come first. But..." I hold my hand up to stop him when he opens his mouth to talk. "Before you say anything, answer something for me. Why don't you like Mia?"

He doesn't answer right away, just goes back to working the crow bar. After he's finished, he turns to me and says, "I remember hearing you and mom arguing about her when I was little. There have also been some things mom's said about her."

It doesn't surprise me that he heard me and his mom talking about Mia. It was always a big issue between us. Anytime she was brought up, I tried to keep it quiet for fear of T hearing, but Tessa was a hot head and had a big mouth. I tried to shield him, but Tessa didn't care. What p.i.s.ses me off is that she said something purposely to T. He's a kid and doesn't need to be dragged into our s.h.i.t.

"What has she said?" I ask him.

"That Mia is the reason you and mom divorced," he says quietly and looks down to his feet.

"Trent, look at me, son." When he looks up, I continue. "Mia and I dated before your mom and I got together. There was a misunderstanding, we split up, and then I got together with your mom. I always carried feelings for Mia, and your mom didn't like that. I understand why she didn't like it, but the feelings were still there. You'll understand better when you're older. There were some things that happened between your mom and me and that's why we divorced. Mia was not involved and had nothing to do with us splitting."

I won't give him the details, but I won't outright lie to him either. No, Mia was not the direct reason why Tessa and I divorced. We were married for six years before I just couldn't do it anymore. Tessa hated that I wouldn't sleep with her, and she was constantly bringing her up in our relationship. We shared a bed, but I never had s.e.x with her again after that first f.u.c.ked up time. Just the thought of touching Tessa in that way made me sick to my stomach. I was faithful to her the entire time we were married. The same thing couldn't be said for Tessa. I didn't care. She could sleep with the entire population of Ohio, and it wouldn't have fazed me.

"Can you just give her a chance? You might find that you like her." It's important that he does this. It may not ever happen for Mia and me again, but I would love if they could have some type of relationship. Mia is the only female, besides my mom, that I've loved.

"Yeah, Dad, I'll try," T says, and I ruffle his hair.

We finish with the tire, and I walk over to the flat to lift it to put in the back of my truck to dispose of. When I do, something odd catches my eye. I place the tire on the tailgate of my truck and take a closer look. What I see has my blood running hot and my gut clenching.

Who in the h.e.l.l would want to slash Mia's tire? The first face that pops into my head is Shady. He was out late last night, and he did corner Mia, but it just doesn't feel right. Nothing in his demeanor from last night says he was up to something ill mannered. Of course, I'll be stopping by Dax's house later to confirm he was there. Surprisingly, Dax is the one and only friend of Shady's that I can trust. Yes, he's a hard a.s.s and a d.i.c.k just like Shady, but I know he'll speak the truth. He's normally a loner, not getting into anyone's business, not covering for anyone. He's never been an issue in this town.

I throw a tarp over the tire and close the tailgate. I won't be telling Mia about the tire yet, not until I get some answers. As far as I know, Mia has no enemies. She's quiet and hasn't kept many friends over the years. Yes, she can be a b.i.t.c.h at times, but I don't see someone slashing her tires because she mouthed off a little. There's Tessa, but I know she's down in Tennessee visiting a friend.

I tell T to get in Mia's car, and I climb in myself. It doesn't take me long before I'm pulling into her driveway, no closer to figuring out who would sabotage her car. I get out, leaving T behind to sit in the car.

When Mia answers my knock, the breath gets knock out me. She's standing there in just a black camisole that shows off two hard nipples and tiny, skimpy, black boy shorts that showcase smooth tanned legs. The tattoos on her arms and chest are on full display. Her hair is tousled, and it looks like she just woke up. All I can do is stand there and f.u.c.k her with my eyes. It's not humanly possible not to. I know she must see my reaction, but when I force my eyes from her chest to her face, all she gives me is a bored expression.

"Ah, f.u.c.k, Mia," I groan, "Please tell me you don't answer the door wearing that all the time."

"Not that it's any of your business, but I don't. I just got up when you knocked. I checked the peep hole and saw that it was you."

Not realizing I'm doing it and unable to stop myself, I take a step forward and reach my hand out for her. Before I make contact, Mia slaps my hand away like a parent would an errant child.

"No touching. Don't make me regret opening the door for you," she scolds me.

"f.u.c.k, Mia, what do you expect?" I ask in a pained voice.

"I expect you to be a gentleman," she says sweetly with a smile.

"You would test any gentleman in what you're wearing, Pix. Either go get some d.a.m.n clothes on or T's going to be sitting out in the car by himself for awhile."

She laughs and takes a step back before she replies, "Not likely, Sheriff."

"You don't want to test me right now," I say, taking a couple steps closer. "I'm really trying to control myself, but your sa.s.sy f.u.c.king mouth and delicious body are making it d.a.m.n near impossible," I growl the last, my patience for her to be gone is wearing thin.

She huffs out a breath and turns around. I groan as I watch her a.s.s sashay away to her room. I adjust my hard c.o.c.k in my too confining jeans. Her tiny pixie body is going to cause me to lose my d.a.m.n mind, especially now that she's talking to me. My body has always reacted to her, but now that the animosity between us is gone, my body has taken it upon itself to completely unleash its desires towards her. I've always enjoyed riling her up because it caused her to show some form of emotion, but the sweet and funny Mia is going to undo me. Even still, it's a side that I've missed.

I decide to wait out on the porch and try to rid myself of the image of Mia laid out on my bed while I feast on her beautiful and colorful body. I take a seat on one of the chairs and drag my hands through my hair. f.u.c.k! She's going to drive me insane. It was easier before when she regarded me as a cheating b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Now that she doesn't look at me as if I'm the sc.u.m of the earth, it's easier to get sucked back in.

I hear the door open behind me and I get up. I almost groan again when I see what she's wearing. Yes, it hides more than what she was wearing before, but I still want to strip her bare and f.u.c.k her until she's screaming my name. She's switched her camisole for a dark purple tank top and her boy shorts for a pair of black capris that hug her tight a.s.s. The flip-flops she's wearing shows off her black painted toes, toe ring, and ankle bracelet.

I curse under my breath and shake my head. I swear she's doing it on purpose.

"Now what's your problem?" She asks, exasperated.

"You really know how to make it hard on a guy, don't you?" I ask her as we walk down the steps. Our fingers brush, and I'm tempted to grab her hand and hold onto it.

"Seriously, Sheriff? What the h.e.l.l? I'm not wearing anything I haven't before."

I stop and face her, putting the car and T to my back. I take her hand and discreetly place it on my hard d.i.c.k and lower my voice when I say, "That's very true, Pix, but now that I've tasted you after so many years, now that I've had my fingers in you again, and reacquainted my mouth with your t.i.ts and mouth, it's hard to think about anything else when I'm around you."

Her breath whooshes out, and her already dark blue eyes flare and turn even darker. She licks her full bottom lip, and I barely stop myself from closing the distance between us and taking that lip with my teeth. She runs the pad of her thumb along my c.o.c.k and gives it a squeeze. I have to close my eyes and take a deep breath or I swear I'm going to throw her over my shoulder and march right back in the d.a.m.n house and take her against the f.u.c.king door.

She pulls her hand away, but takes a step closer. Her voice is low when she says, "You can always think about Mrs. Cranny and her grabby hands. That should soften you up a bit."

And that right there does it. An image of the crafty old lady in her floral night dress turns me as soft as f.u.c.king cotton. Mia quirks up her lips and turns around to get in her car. She moves around to the driver's side, but I make it there before her. She reaches her hands out for the keys, but I don't give them to her.

"I'm driving," I tell her.

She doesn't lower her hand. "It's my car."

"Yes, it is, but I'm still driving," I tell her again, not backing down.

"Is this some type of alpha male 'me man, you lowly woman' thing? Because I'm telling you, Sheriff, there are ways to bring a man down to his knees and he won't be the alpha anymore."

I cup my b.a.l.l.s just in case she is seriously thinking about unmanning me and consider my words before I reply. Yes, it probably is some alpha male thing, but it's not because I think Mia is less than me. In fact, I consider Mia above anyone else, well, save Trent.

"Pix, it's not that I don't like you driving or that I think you're below me. Call it macho man tendencies or whatever, but I just like to be in the driver's seat when a female is in the car. I like having control over the car. Like I can protect you from the idiots on the road."

Her eyes soften, as if she gets what I'm saying. It has nothing to do with not trusting her. It's a protective instinct that a lot of men carry. It's ingrained in us.

"Alright, Mac, I understand."

She drops her hand and walks around to the other side of the car. T has already gotten into the backseat and is sitting quietly, once again, playing his game. I start the car and Mia looks to the back at T.

"Hey, Trent," she says.

He briefly glances up from his game and mutters, "Hey."

"What are you playing?" Mia asks, not deterred from his lack of interest in her. That's one thing I love about Mia. When she wants something, she doesn't let anything get in her way of getting it. Right now, she wants to talk to T whether he wants to talk or not. I think that's what T needs. He needs to see that Mia is truly interested in him. He needs to see that she isn't here because she has ulterior motives.

"Minecraft," is his one word reply.

"Oh, I've played that one before."

I watch in the rear view mirror as T jerks his head up. "You have?"

"Yep, sure have. Andrew and I play sometimes. Have you been to the End Portal yet?"

"No, I've found the portal but I don't have enough Ender Pearls yet." His words are gibberish to me, but I'm enjoying hearing him open up to Mia a little. She's found common ground between the two of them, something they can relate to.

"Maybe we can play together sometime, and I can help you find more." She looks up to me and smiles. I can tell by her smile that she's happy that T is starting to open up a little.

"Yeah, sure, we can do that," he says lazily, like he doesn't really care, but I can see the spark in his eye. He's interested but doesn't want to make like he is.

Mia turns her head back around and sits back in her seat with a small smile in place. I take a chance, reach over, and grab her hand that she has lying beside her. She doesn't object when I lace our fingers together, just looks down at them with concentration on her face. When she looks up at me, the look disappears and is replaced with raised brows. I give her a shrug and smile before looking back to the road. Her car is a stick shift so when I need to change gears, I take her hand and place it on my thigh until I can pick it back up. She lets me do this, and I can't help but want to jump for joy. I'm not under the illusion that this means anything, but it still feels really nice to touch her again, even if it is something so mundane as holding hands.

None of us talk the rest of the way to Maggie's. T plays his game and Mia stares out the window while I concentrate on driving.

A few minutes later, we step through the doors and take a seat in a booth. T on one side, Mia and me on the other. Mia tried sitting by herself, but I slid in beside her before she could protest. Nitra walks up to our table, and the surprise is evident on her face at seeing the three of us sitting together, but she doesn't say anything. I'm sure we'll get that a lot.

"Hey, guys, how are y'all this morning?" She says.

"We're good, Nitra, thank you. How have you been?" I ask with a smile.

She smacks the gum in her mouth before replying, "I'm great."

Her eyes are darting between the three of us. I can see she wants to ask what's going on, but she holds her tongue. Mia doesn't though.

"It's just lunch, Nitra, nothing more. No sense starting rumors," Mia says.

Nitra bristles as if she's offended, but we all know that her next move will be to pick up the phone that will eventually lead to every person in a five-mile radius knowing we are having lunch together.

"What? I wouldn't..." she starts, but Mia doesn't let her finish.

"Ha! Yes, you would. I see the wheels turning in your head. You can't wait to get on the phone."

She barks out a laugh and says, "Well, it is a surprise to see the two of you sitting together. You normally bite each other's heads off if you're in the same room."

Mia repeats herself, "It's just lunch, Nitra."

She smirks at her and turns her attention to T. "Hi, T. It's been awhile since I've seen you."

Trent smiles big at Nitra and says, "Hey, Nitra."

Trent has a crush on her. It's funny to watch his boyish attempts to flirt with her. He has good taste. Nitra is a very pretty woman with strawberry blonde hair that she currently has pulled back into a high ponytail. She has warm brown eyes and wears minimal makeup. Even at work, she's always wearing cla.s.sy clothes. Today, she's wearing a turquoise b.u.t.ton up blouse paired with black skinny jeans. Even her shoes are a cla.s.sy pair of black strappy sandals.

"How have you been, handsome?" She says with a wink at him.

"Really good. Will you be working tomorrow?"

"Actually, I'll be here tomorrow evening. I'll save you a piece of the house pie if you're here for dinner."

He turns his head towards me and asks enthusiastically. "Can we, Dad?"

No way can I tell him no when he's this excited. Lately, it's not very often that I see him truly happy. "Sure, T, we can eat here tomorrow evening."

He beams his smile back at Nitra. "We'll be here. Can you save me two pieces?"

She ruffles his hair and replies, "Yep, I can do that. So, what would y'all like to drink?"

She takes our drink orders and goes back behind the counter. I look across to Mia, who has a grin on her face as she watches T watch Nitra. I reach under the table and grab her hand again. The move surprises her, and she looks at me. I ignore her look and pick up the menu, even though I don't need it. I really like this. It's almost like we're a family out for lunch. I know I shouldn't think this, but I can't help the thought from popping in my head. What I wouldn't give for this to be reality.

A few minutes later, Nitra brings our drinks and takes our order.

"So, Mac, I meant to ask you the other day. Do you still have Marabelle?" Mia asks before taking a sip of her drink.

I look over at her and squeeze her hand. "No, she pa.s.sed away a few years ago during child birth. I have her foal though. Her name is Pepper."

Sadness enters Mia's face. She always loved Marabelle, who was her favorite out of all the horses my family had. Marabelle was the one she learned how to ride a horse on. From that first day, Mia refused to ride any other horse. When she pa.s.sed away, my thoughts went automatically to Mia, wishing she was there with me.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I've missed her. I wish I knew," she says quietly.

Would she have come if she did know? I want to say no because of her hatred of me. But another part of me says yes. She loved that horse so much that she would have put aside her feelings to be with Marabelle.

"Do you still ride?" she asks after a few minutes.

"Not as much as I'd like. I take T out sometimes. You're more than welcome to come by and meet Pepper. She's a beauty. I think you'd like her."

She graces me with a smile and says, "Sure, I'd like that."

I love that I can put a smile on her face. It's been ten years since I've been able to claim that. They are coming more and more, and it gives me hope that we'll be okay. I know that she'll never fully trust me again, but I'll take what I can get.

"Do you like to ride, Trent?" she asks T.

He looks up from his lap where his ever present game is. "It's great. My favorite is Drakar."