Dad Bod (Under Construction 1)

“I take it you’re pissed?” There ain’t no sense in beatin’ around the bush. I took the pussy way out and ignored Jordan for two solid days, and she deserves far better than that. But I had to get in the right head space. Bein’ with her, holdin’ her in my arms … fuck. When she startled awake and pushed away from my hold, jumpin’ from the bed like her ass was on fire, I knew then she regretted makin’ love to me. She barely spoke two words as she rushed through the house in the dark, tryin’ to find her clothes. She hurried out the front door with a simple kiss on the cheek and a friendly goodbye, once again puttin’ me in the friend zone. I laid my heart on the line and had to prepare for the hammer to drop, smashin’ it to pieces.

She ran too fast.

Her eyes were filled with utter regret.

And I was completely humiliated that I instigated a moment between us that she wasn’t ready for. Hell, if she even fuckin’ wanted it to begin with. But I gave her an out, and she didn’t fuckin’ take it. Am I that out of touch with the opposite sex that I can’t even understand their fuckin’ hints or body language anymore?

Jordan rolls her eyes and stomps down the hallway toward her office, but I’m hot on her fuckin’ heels. As I cut the corner to step over the threshold of her office, she sneers and slams the door, nearly smackin’ me right in the damn face. If it wasn’t for my quick reaction, jarrin’ my kicks between the door and the jamb, that woulda been one harsh smack upside the fuckin’ head. I push my way into her office and slam the door closed behind me.

“Fine, you’re in my office. Might as well get on with this…”

“Woah, Jo. What the hell?” I throw my hands up in defense, taken aback by the dark rage rollin’ off her in torrential waves.

“You’ve exceeded your expectations under my training. I’m releasing you from my roster. You’re free to continue your membership here at Dumb Belles to train solo.” She pauses and inhales an infuriating breath, her face flamin’ red. “Or I hear Gia is acceptin’ clients, so maybe she’ll open up for you.”

“I miss one fuckin’ session and you’re cuttin’ me loose?”

She fumbles around with the mess of papers on her desk, refusin’ to look my way. “Gia was headin’ toward the sauna last I saw her, if you wanna inquire about her services.”

Fuck this. I make my way around her desk, squattin’ beside her. “Why the hell would I want her when I have you?” I grip her chin in my grasp and force her to look at me. “Answer me? Why, Jo?”

“You don’t have me,” she mutters, fightin’ back tears. Damn it.

In one fell-swoop I clutch her waist in my hands and lift her from the chair, then plant my ass and place her on my lap, her legs straddlin’ my waist. She pushes against my chest and fights to get away, tears streamin’ down her face. “No! Let me go, Mad! No!”

“Fuckin’ stop, Jo!” I pull her face toward me and kiss the fallen tears away, clutching my hands around the back of her head as her forehead falls to mine. “You’re mine. You said it your-fuckin’-self, and you ain’t takin’ that away from me.”

“Does Gia know that?” she bites out, choking on a sob.

“Why the hell are we talkin’ about Gia, Jo?”

“I ate fuckin’ carrot cake because of you, Madden! Carrot cake!”

The hell is she spoutin’ off about? “I’m sorry, what?”

“I was so nervous for your session Wednesday, but the good kinda nervous. The kind where butterflies hum in your tummy then take flight when you finally see the man you’re in love with. But you didn’t show! You didn’t answer my texts, my calls. Then when I saw the two of you at the store, I knew…”

She collapses against my chest, cryin’ so damn hard her body shakes with each sob. I ain’t even had her as my girl for more than a week and I already broke her damn heart. But something about her rambling confession pulls at my gut, so I replay each word she said over and over in my mind, trying to make sense of it.

The kind where butterflies hum in your tummy then take flight when you finally see the man you’re in love with.

My mind is a mess of thoughts, jumbled up and fightin’ for my attention.

I broke her heart.

She didn’t regret our night together.

She’s in love with me.

And the fact I’ve carried close to my heart for far too long without ever breathin’ it aloud—I love Jordan.

I’m smacked out of my thoughts—quite fuckin’ literally—when Jordan’s open hand slaps against my face.

“How dare you!” Her open hand slaps me again.

“I admit to you that I crushed on you since I was a teen!” Her fist pounds against my chest.

“I give you a part of myself that I haven’t given any man in … well, it doesn’t fuckin’ matter how long, and you do this!” She slaps me again. “You ignore me and make me eat fuckin’ carrot cake! I hat—”