The Job (Auctioned), Cara Dee [ebook reader wifi TXT] 📗

him…? Whole other circle of hell. Because he was never just one guy. There was the loving douchebag who could beat me physically and poke fun, the typical brother, both a jackass and a protective friend. Just like I was to him. That was the guy who hugged me hard for my birthday, smacked me good-naturedly upside the head in a quick “good job” or “I got you.” But as co-parents, something constantly caused us to blur the lines. Not counting the four years we’d avoided each other.

Be it a rough day when Ace was in a shitty mood and we just needed a long hug, or a game day when she’d scored a lot and Boone and I spent all night talking to each other about how fucking awesome she was. Or right this second, when we watched our girl grow up before our eyes and Boone threaded our fingers together and squeezed my hand.

I had mad respect for parents who raised their kids all alone, because I wasn’t sure how I’d cope. I couldn’t imagine not having Boone around to share this with. After all, he was the only one who got it. Nobody else, without a claim, without loving her the way we did, would ever understand, because you cared to this extent about your own kids, not others’. In fact, I couldn’t give two shits about other people’s kids. They annoyed me.

Even during these past four years, we’d had a handful of moments where we could at least meet in the middle and be proud as parents. There was no off-switch to that need.

The problem for me was how we manifested that love as parents. It could too easily be misinterpreted. Him taking my hand because it was a sweet moment to see Ace all dolled up trying to pick out a bracelet…? It was intimate, no matter the intention, and it was bringing back all the feelings I’d worked twenty-four seven to bury.

“I think we’re due for a family vacation,” I said.

Ace had wanted to go on a Disney cruise since she’d learned how to talk.

I saw Boone’s smile at the corner of my eye.

“Fuck yeah.” He gave my hand another squeeze before he let go and entered the store. “Did you find anything, Ace?”

I blew out a breath and checked the time. Fifteen minutes till dinner. We were close to the indoor plaza where the canal with the gondolas ran through, not to mention a million more shops and restaurants.

Ace had moved on to a display of what looked like pins, which explained why she looked like a pig in shit, and she held up one to show Boone and whispered something in his ear. Knowing her, she’d buy a few.

She was too cute. She’d gotten a couple “pretty paper bags” already. A pink one with gold handles from a shop where she’d bought bath bombs and soap that glittered, and a signature Venetian bag from a gift shop where she’d bought a few souvenirs.

Boone was right. She deserved more of this. She never asked for much, just us being together, living under the same roof, spending time as a family. And Boone and I weren’t a divorced couple where such a living arrangement wasn’t possible; we were brothers. I considered the hatchet already buried, and we should be able to find a way to coexist. For her.

When Boone and Ace walked out again, she’d gotten her third pretty paper bag, and she could not look more pleased.

“I bought you a gift, Dad!” She skipped over to me and dug a hand into her bag.

“You did? That’s sweet of you.” I grinned as I noticed Boone attaching a pin to his shirt. It was a slice of pizza. Fucking perfect. And not even putting on a tux would stop him from wearing it.

“Because you love your iced coffee.” Ace extended her hand and opened it, revealing a pin of a white to-go cup. It had a pink paper sleeve and the word “princess” written on it.

I laughed and hugged her to me. “I love you, you little shit.”

“I thought it was fitting,” Boone drawled, his eyes glinting with mirth. “You’re our princess.”

I made a fantastic princess. Boone may be the one who could braid hair, but I had a strong nail polish game.

“Help me put it on,” I said and got down on one knee. Ace giggled and handed over her bags to Boone before she took the pin from me and attached it to my shirt.

Boone took out his phone and snapped off a picture of us. “Ace, show Daddy the pin you got for yourself.”

“In a second…” She was concentrating. “There!” With my new pin in place, she took a step back and smiled widely. “It looks perfect, I think.”

“I think you’re right.” I leaned forward and puckered my lips, and she gave me a loud smooch before I stood up again. Then she dug out her own pin to show me, and I chuckled. It was a rainbow resting on two sparkly clouds that read “Fuck Off.”

“I found a typewriter pin for Gramma, too,” she added. “She says she’s almost done with her novel.”

Oh, it’d been almost done for about two years now.

“You’re a sweetheart.” I touched her cheek. “You ready to go eat? We gotta be at the restaurant in a few minutes.”

She nodded and reclaimed her shopping bags. “Yeah, I’m hungry. Some food and calling in sick from school tomorrow would definitely help.”

Boone and I cracked up.

“That was slick,” he laughed.

Legit.

There would be no calling in sick. However, Boone had informed the school that she’d arrive late because of a dental procedure, so we had time. We weren’t leaving until checkout at eleven.

This night was gonna suck. It was great to see Laney again, but after our short shopping spree with Ace, I wanted to crawl back into my family moment, not be at some swanky Italian place where I had to pretend to be interested in