“Everything okay?”
“I think so. Give me a sec.” He called out.
Emerging moments later, he climbed into the bed beside her.
“Excuse me? What are you doing?”
Shooting her a puzzled glance, Jon looked up “Uh, getting into bed?”
“Not in here, you’re not. Not with Stephanie in the house.”
“Why not?”
“Jon, don’t you think she has enough to deal with. Go...” She shooed him away.
“Where do you expect me to sleep?”
“The couch.”
“What about my back?” He gave her his pouty face.
“Then go up to the main house. Cause you ain’t sleeping here.”
Jon took the book from her hand and tossed it to the foot of the bed. Lifting her arm he moved in closer and wrapped it around his neck, then he rested his head on her bosom.
“Can I at least snuggle a little. You’re lookin all cutesy and sexy with those glasses on.”
She grabbed a handful of his hair and tugged, “Nice try. You’ve seen me in these before. You can stay long enough for you to tell me how it went. Then you're gone.”
He settled closer. This time he laid his arm across her waist and told her all about his conversation with Stephanie. How he was sorta surprised she had all those questions for her age. When he was that age, all he cared about was getting drunk, laid and playing with his band and what went on between his parents was none of his and his brother’s business. His Nana would always say ‘children should be seen, not heard’. Even if his parents were having problems or fighting they never knew about it.
They talked about the importance of being honest now rather than later; they didn’t want the kids finding out from gossip or some rag magazine. Ariana asked just how far he was going to go with information. She was all for telling the truth, she just wasn’t sure if they would understand it fully. She suggested that he go slowly at first, to let it sink in a bit at a time.
Jon agreed. He would wait and see if she asked first. They talked a little about what she and Stephanie had talked about, as well as her feelings about meeting his daughter under such a strange encounter.
“It wasn’t strange. Just unexpected.” Ari answered.
“Yeah, well, I promise she isn’t always like this.” His hand slipped under her tee and caressed her belly.
“She’s sixteen, Jon. I was sixteen once.”
“And were you like that? Did you just do things without thinking?”
“Do you mean, was I strong willed, and determined?”
“Yeah.”
“Very much so. I wasn’t much different from when we met. Growing up, the way I did, I guess I needed to be.”
“You were a spitfire.” His fingers walked up her torso till it scraped the underside of her right breast. “Still are.” He wagged his eyebrows.
Ari pushed his hand from out under her shirt, “I think it’s time for you to go. Stephanie has enough on her plate, we don’t need to add more to it.”
Sitting up, Jon slid his palm along her cheek and into her hair. Pulling her close, he smiled before he placed a soft kiss to her lips.
“I know. Get some rest. Love you.”
“Love you too. You staying or going?”
“Staying. We need to be up early, I have few things I can work on, then I’ll catch a few ZZZ’s on the couch.”
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“S’okay. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Jon rolled off the bed and reached for his shirt on the floor. Tugging it over his head, he walked over to Ari’s side of the bed and bent down to give her a kiss.
“Night.”
“Night. Sweet dreams.” She mussed his hair.
“Gee, thanks. See ya in the mornin’.”
“Uh-huh.” Was her muffled answer as she sunk into the pillows.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Stephanie walked into the living room to find her dad asleep on the couch. He was stretched out on his back, one leg out in front of him, the other bent with his foot planted on the floor. His neck was on the armrest, hair mussed, an arm in his lap, the other dangling with his knuckles touching the carpet. If she wasn’t mistaken, there was a small drop of drool in the corner of his mouth.
Shaking her head, Stephanie laughed as she stood over him, ‘not your everyday rockstar look’ if only his fans could see him now.
“Dad! Wake up. We’re gonna be late.” She nudged his shoulder with her knee.
“Huh. What time is it?” He jolted up.
“It’s six. I have a principal’s club meeting before school starts. We should leave now so we don’t hit traffic.”
“Do I have time for a quick shower?”
“No. Go throw some water on your face and put on that silly hat of yours and let’s go.”
“Kay.... kay. And don’t make fun of my hat, I like it.”
She rolled her eyes, “We know.”
Once again, he was being ordered around by another woman in his life. He was in the need of some boy time, he thought as he padded off to his bedroom. Quietly, he opened the door. He knew there was no chance in hell Ari was up. He’d be lucky if she was up when he got back. His girl could sleep.
Ten minutes later he emerged from his room. “Ready?”
“Yeah. I was joking about the hat, Dad.” She held the front door open for him.
“Shuddup.” He poked a finger into her side.
Squirming away from him, she rounded the car and climbed in, but not before telling him,
“That’s what happens when you have to sleep on the couch and not in your own bed.”
“For your information, I was working and fell asleep. Now put your seatbelt on we’re late.”
“Uh-huh.” Stephanie giggled as she buckled up.
Traffic on the parkway was light for a Tuesday morning and they were making good time. Stephanie monopolized most of the conversation, talking about the bazillion things that a teenage girl talks about. From the latest fashions she just needed to have, what was going on at school. They talked about the holidays and what she wanted to get her siblings for Christmas. It wasn’t long before they were pulling into the parking lot of her school. Jon threw the car in park and turned to face her.
“Okay, baby girl, that’ll be twenty bucks.” Jon held out his hand.
“Seriously, Dad?” Leaning over, she placed a peck on his cheek.
“Someone’s gotta pay for gas.”
“Yeah, right. Whatever.”
Unbuckling, she gathered her things and opened the door. As she stepped out of the car, Jon called to her.
“Steph, we’re good?”
“We’re good.” She closed the car door and walked up the steps.
Jon waited, making sure she was inside before pulling away. Sighing to himself, he thought, I still have four more kids to survive.... Christ.
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