14. Jett

Chapter 14

Stevie and I make our way back to our sandcastle with some more water, her attitude having done a complete one-eighty. Now, I still think we're on a very short fuse but for now she's good.

When the tantrum started, I panicked but Wyla's response was immediate. I know she didn't need me to help her calm Stevie down but having her include me really meant a lot.

I help Stevie fix the parts of the sandcastle that crumbled. She hums to herself happily. I try to figure out the song but the more I listen I don't think it's a real song at all. Not that I care, I could still listen to it all day.

"That's a really pretty sandcastle, Stevie," Mr. Bennett says as he takes a seat in Wyla's chair.

"Thank you." Stevie beams. "Daddy helped me. "

To this, Mr. Bennett sighs. He doesn't grunt or roll his eyes… he sighs. This ought to go well.

"Hey, Stevie, I was thinking we could head back to Papaw's house and watch a movie. I happened to have made some homemade ice cream this morning." Stevie's eyes grow wide at his proposition. "What do you say?"

Stevie nods her head vigorously. "Yeah, yeah, can we go now?"

Mr. Bennett laughs. "Yeah, why don't you go help your mom and Mamaw with the bags. I want to talk to your dad for a minute."

I would like to think this could go well for me. An actual conversation. But this also has the potential to go very bad. Stevie races off without a second thought. There goes my wish for a tantrum so Wyla would come back over here.

I lean back in my chair. Unsure if I should speak first. If this is some fucking power move to let this tension become painfully thick, it's working.

Mr. Bennett sighs again. "Some dads hate the idea of being girl dads, but not me. I knew from the moment I married their mother that I wanted girls who would grow up to be just as incredible as her. I think it's safe to say I got that and more…

"The thing is, I raised my daughters to be strong and independent. As much as I'd like to think my wife needs me, I know she doesn't, and my daughters don't need their men either. They are all perfectly capable of providing for themselves. I think Wyla, specifically, has proven that."

Graham said Mr. Bennett is an actions man, and I'll prove to him I can take care of his girls, but for now he'll have to take my words.

"I couldn't agree more. I'm not going to pretend the past five years didn't happen. I know Wyla did everything on her own. I am painfully aware of how much she doesn't need me… but, sir, I want to be there to help her. Wyla is one hundred percent capable of raising Stevie without me, I know she is, but that also doesn't mean she has to." Fuck knows I couldn't do it without her.

"I know I messed up five years ago, and despite what she thinks, she is not an obligation to me. I care for your daughter deeply. Daughter, no daughter, it doesn't change the fact that the flight I booked to go back home is actually going to Nashville first, because I planned to stay there for the day to walk to the town to see if I could run into her again."

"How many times have you done that?" he asks, holding on to his poker face.

I try to think back over the past five years and count them up. "I'd say I've made about fifteen trips to Nashville in the past five years. Usually staying for a couple days when I can manage it."

Mr. Bennett laughs. "And yet, you showed up to your own kid's fucking birthday party."

"Anna did tell me the Bennetts know how to throw a good party. I just didn't realize they could be so life-changing."

He lets out a hmph. "Everything happens at my fucking parties. I'm going to stop having them." He sits up in the chair as if he was going to stand but stops. "Look, I can't say I'm a fan of yours yet, but I'm going to give you an opportunity to change my mind."

He holds out his hand for a shake, and I take it.

"Thank you."

Now, if I could get Wyla to give me one, I'd be golden.

Mr. Bennett heads over to Winry and Graham's umbrella to get Georgia, and I let out a breath. Baby steps, right?

I walk over to say goodbye to Stevie before Wyla takes her to the car. She gives me a big hug, and while I'm excited to try to get some alone time with Wyla, I kind of hate that she's leaving. I miss her when she's not around.

How am I going to handle leaving at the end of this week? I know I'll be back but I hate being away from her while I'm in town, imagine how across the country is going to feel.

After they head out Anna hollers for me to come sit by her and Levi. As soon as I get close enough for her, she throws a can of Angry Orchard at me—badly.

"Geez, Banana. Remind me to teach you how to throw properly."

Anna gives me the evil eye, and Levi laughs. "Banana?"

Her evil eye turns to him. "Don't even start. It's a nickname I don't like. So don't use it."

Levi grins at her and holds his hands up in surrender. "Okay, I won't."

I chuckle, and take the empty seat next to her. "What's this for?"

"You look like you need it. So, what you mean to say is, thank you ."

I pop the tab and take a swig. "Thank you. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic," Anna replies snarkily.

"Hey, Anna, toss me one?" Waverley says as she, Owen, and Annabelle come back from their walk.

Anna reaches into the box and gives another poor throw that barely makes it to Waverley.

"Dear lord," I mumble, and Levi laughs .

Anna huffs. "The both of you better stop or I'm putting sand in your drinks."

"Yeah, she's artistic, not athletic. Cut her some slack." Waverley pops the top of her can, then takes a seat in the chairs Owen pulled over in front of us. "Where did all your other halves go?"

Graham sets his chair down next to me so now we're all in a weird circle. "Win and Wyla are loading up the kids in your parents' car then they'll be back."

"Wait, they're leaving?" Annabelle asks and sits up in her chair. "Dad, can I see if they'll take me home, so I can go to the movies with Cleo tonight?"

Owen shakes his head. "And how do you plan on getting to the movies exactly? Your mom and I aren't leaving."

"Well, I was thinking… I could drive mom's car." Annabelle says in a tone I can only imagine has worked on Owen countless times.

But this doesn't seem like the one. "Fuck no," he says.

Annabelle is quick with her response. "Mom, help."

I almost laugh, is this what it's going to be like with Stevie?

Waverley sighs. "Hurry and see if they're still here. If they can take you home, my keys are on the counter."

Annabelle squeals and jumps up from her chair to hug Waverley. "Thanks, Mom! "

Waverley hugs her back. "Cleo only in my car, Annabelle, and an early movie. Be home by ten-thirty."

"Ten," Owen corrects. "And I'm texting the guys on shift tonight to keep an eye out for you. There's forty bucks in my wallet under the umbrella, grab that first."

She gives him a hug. "I love you."

"Yeah, yeah. I love you too, kid. Now, go before I overrule your mom."

"Yeah, right," Annabelle says sarcastically but hurries off anyway.

When she makes it far enough away from us, Graham fake coughs. "Pushover."

Owen throws his head back with an amused chuckle. "Ha! Don't even start. I cannot wait until your girls are teenagers. It's going to make me so fucking happy." He turns to me next. "Stevie, too. You guys are in for it."

"Hey, I didn't say anything. Don't put those teenage years on me yet." I hadn't really thought about Stevie being a teenager yet. I've been so focused on now but really the thought of going through the teenage years with Wyla to help doesn't scare me.

"They aren't that bad," Waverley says. "He's a little touchy right now because Belley has her first date next weekend."

"No I'm not, because she's not going," Owen grumbles .

Waverley rolls her eyes and mouths to us, " Yes she is ."

I chuckle, pitying Owen's situation but Graham and Levi don't. "Oh, so Cleo is a cover up, right? She's actually going to the movies with this boy?" Levi jokes.

"Oh no, Levi. Annabelle is smarter than that. He's just going to happen to be at the movie theater, seeing the same movie as her. Total coincidence," Graham piles on.

Owen groans, running his hands over his face, then stands. "Alright, come on, Wav. We're going to the movies."

Waverley shakes her head and pulls him back down. "Sit down, honey, we are not. We're kid free, no way I'm wasting it."

"Ugh, lucky you," Winry says as she walks back up and Graham pulls her in his lap. "It's impossible for me to be kid free for at least another eighteen weeks."

Wyla comes up behind my chair, and I'd love nothing more than to do the same, pulling her in my lap, but I hold back. "Winry, don't act like you don't love pregnancy."

"She's got you there, babe," Graham says, and Winry swats at him.

"Shh, you."

Wyla chuckles lightly at her sister then places a hand on my shoulder. "I was thinking of walking to the jetty. Wanna come with me? "

Doesn't she know I'd go anywhere with her? "Yeah, I loved to."

I stand, and Wyla gives me a nervous smile. "Um, does anyone else want to come?"

Everyone better fucking say no, so help me.

"No," Winry and Waverley answer for the group immediately.

Thank fuck.

"Guess it's just us, Wy."

We start down the beach after her sisters give her snarky "have fun" comments that make Wyla's cheeks turn pink. She fidgets with the hem of her white button up as we walk.

"Was Stevie okay when you left?" I ask, to distract her.

"Yeah, she was good. I imagine she fell asleep in the car as soon as they left the parking lot." A smile pulls at her lips. "She told me she had the best day ever today. I know it seems silly but I love when she tells me that. Makes me feel like I'm doing at least some days right."

"You do all of the days right, Wyla."

Wyla chuckles then looks out at the water. "I could think of a few days that weren't my best."

I reach for her hand, taking it in mine. She looks down at them for a second but doesn't pull away. "Everyone has those days, Wy. But you are an amazing mom. It's very clear to everyone that me being here really doesn't change much. You are perfectly capable of taking care of Stevie on your own, and you should be proud of yourself."

Wyla presses her lips into a thin line. "I am. I just think I could have done some things differently."

There are countless things I would have done differently with her but I'm starting to think this worked out exactly how it needed to. I wish she could see it the same way.

"Hey, what did you tell me the first day? We can't change that we're here now, okay? So, do me a favor, baby, and let all of this go."

Wyla doesn't say too much for the rest of the walk. The further we go, the less people are on the beach. After about fifteen minutes, there's not a person in sight and we make it to the start of this rock pier. The big rocks pile together to stretch out about a hundred yards into the ocean.

Wyla starts to climb up one of the smaller ones. "Come on, there's a nice rock about half way in that's good to sit at."

I follow her up, letting her take the lead. She goes from rock to rock carefully, but I stay close behind her in case she falls.

We make it a little past the halfway point and she stops to sit on her butt then hops down to a rock lower down .

"I didn't realize the walk on the beach was going to turn into a free climb," I say before following her down.

The rock is flat and almost like a hole, the rocks around it are maybe three feet higher, but it's more on the side of the pier, closer to the water. The waves crash alongside the rocks in front but they aren't hard enough today to reach this spot.

"I see Stevie gets her over exaggerations from her father."

I step onto the rock with her, placing my hands on her hips. "I had to give her something. What is it they say about every rose having thorns?"

Wyla tenses slightly at first, but then relaxes. "You are not quoting Poison song lyrics right now."

"You just better be happy I'm not drunk or I'd sing it."

She laughs and pushes me back slightly to sit down, leaning against the taller rocks. "Careful, Jett, I'm pretty sure that would qualify as karaoke. And you don't like karaoke."

I sit beside her and rest my arms around my knees. "There was a girl a few years back who changed my mind."

Wyla looks at me and smiles her scrunch nose smile that I don't think I'll ever get enough of. "She must have been really good. "

"She was the best." My eyes trail down to her lips. I've been dying to kiss her again. Wyla was the best at a lot of stuff… I crave the feeling of her more and more.

Wyla's eyes track mine and her lips part slightly. I want to take it as the green light but then she says, "Fuck it."

The moment her lips graze mine, I want to yell, fucking finally , but instead I show her that's how I feel about kissing her. One hand cups her face pulling her in more and my tongue begs to explore her mouth.

Wyla moans and climbs on top to straddle me. When she hovers over my body, I pull her in, needing to feel her everywhere. My hands can't decide what part to touch either as they go from her hair trailing down to her waist to her ass then back up.

Wyla starts to roll her hips. "Fuck, Jett," she moans.

I know when we first got here there was no one around and especially now that we're dipped back in this hole I have no hesitation about pulling her tighter to me and grinding with her.

"You have. Do you need a reminder?" I need a reminder. I need to feel her come apart for me again, but I don't want to push her too much.

Wyla's head falls back, and I take advantage, kissing her neck. "Touch me," she breathes, "Please touch me. "

"With pleasure." I kiss down to her collarbone and unbutton the buttons on her shirt, kissing lower along the way. Letting one hand slide under her bikini top and the other pull one to the side. "I've fucking missed these tits."

I flick my tongue over her hard nipple while palming the other and she trembles against me.

"More," she groans. "Give me more."

"I'll give you everything, Wy." Before she can give my words any thought, I suck her nipple in hard between my teeth then circle it with my tongue gently after.

"Fuck." Wyla places her hands on either side of my head and pulls me to her lips again. I let her take control of our mouths, as she trails one hand down my arm, taking my wrist and bringing it to her center.

I loved how she never shied away from telling or showing me what she wanted our first night. I'm happy to know that hasn't changed.

"You want to ride my hand, baby?" My thumb brushes over her clit through her bikini bottoms.

"Fuck, yes," she mumbles against my mouth.

I trace down her center then pull her bottoms to the side. She's soaked. Both my mouth and dick are extremely jealous of my hand right now, but this is what my girl asked for and she gets what she wants. Always .

I slide one finger in and she clenches around me. "We shouldn't be doing this," she whispers but contradicting her words she starts to bounce her hips.

"Tell me to stop, and I will." I work in and out of her slowly before adding a second finger. She moans and grinds her hips harder. "But, fuck, please don't tell me to stop."

A hint of that smile teases her face. "I can't. Please don't stop."

Thank fuck. I curve my fingers slightly and her head falls back. "Right there."

"Come on my hand, baby. I want a good taste after you do."

I move my fingers in and out faster, meeting her hips. With her head still back, I lean up doing that same sucking and circling motion I did earlier on her breast.

Wyla falls apart. It's fucking magnificent.

She pulses around me and I don't dare pull out my fingers until she slows. Sliding them out slowly I bring them up to my mouth, tasting her.

"That's my good fucking girl."