Page 35 of For Her
“It was supposed to look that way,” she calmly defends her position. “Most of all to him.”
Jack’s eyebrows pull together and I feel my own lips part in confusion as she continues.
“But this was supposed to be for me,” she announces, dropping a missile on us that resounds with a boom in our immediate atmosphere.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Jack asks, his voice lowered to an ominous level. “You were going to somehow benefit from giving this guy more fame and attention?”
“I’m one of the anonymous victims that filed a complaint, Jack.”
I feel my heart skip a beat before resuming its job with a few thuds as I stand there, stunned. I’m pretty sure Jack’s with me because he says nothing, just continues to stare at the screen in disbelief.
“It’s a long story, but to sum it up, he traumatized me back when I was a nobody, but seeing how for him, it was just a typical Tuesday, the asshole doesn’t even remember. I was going to reveal myself to him in the middle of our interview and watch him squirm and humiliate himself on live TV, which would have made him lose any shred of credibility he had left. It would have put the last nail in the coffin of his career, not to mention his freedom,” she concludes with finality, a palpable air of passion in her voice.
“Damn,” I mouth to Jack as I take both hands and cradle my belly, smoothing my hands across it in an attempt to calm myself. Well shit, that would’ve been awesome to see. Although I didn’t hate the sight of Eli being pushed into an ambulance with a huge ice pack covering his crotch.
“And wouldn’t you know, the fucker decided he would spruce himself up for the appearance and hit the gym,” Kassandra adds, dropping her sense of professionalism, “thought he could spar with a guy twice his size in the boxing ring. Turned out that fellow prisoner of his was the brother of one of his victims…”
Huh… I wonder if they could add forcing Eli to listen toIt’s a Small World After Allon repeat to his sentence.
“Anyway, one of my sources on the inside informed me that the guy decided to avenge his sister in the form of a well-placed haymaker to the junk while Eli was against the ropes.”
I can’t help it. While I was trying not to let Kassandra know I’m listening in, I unwittingly announce my presence with my uncontrolled laughter. I double over, holding my belly, finally able to see what Rebecca found so hilarious when she was one coffee filter to the wind the other day. When I’m able to look up, Jack is trying to hold the phone straight while his face cracks into a huge grin that dissolves into a laughing fit of his own.
I’m pretty sure that after my knee to his ‘nads, followed by the prison boxing incident, Eli is done.
Fourteen
Mayzie
“No peeking,” Jack playfully reminds me as he holds both of my hands, slowly guiding me down each step.
“I’m not,” I assure him, obediently keeping my eyes completely closed as he leads me down the plush carpeted stairs to our basement. After weeks of him busting his ass on something down here, I finally get to see what it is.
“So,” Jack begins his presentation as we make it down the last two steps. “I’ve been hearing the new thing these days is for a husband to give his wife a ‘push present’.”
“What’s that?” I chuckle, eyes still closed.
“It’s a gift to show appreciation for what you’re going through for me and the baby; the pregnancy, delivery, and all that.”
“Okay,” I shrug as the anticipation sends butterflies and humming birds up through my chest. Sounds fair when I think about it, but I’m thinking this is going to go beyond what the average husband gives his wife for housing and pushing out a baby. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard, I’m that excited.
Jack gently faces me in the direction he wants me before stepping away.
“Alright, open them up,” he encourages.
I take a breath before doing so, just needing a second to steel myself for what I’m about to see. And I’m glad I did, otherwise this sight would have taken my breath away.
Before me, is a small but more than adequate dance space. Jack has laid down gorgeous, gleaming hardwood flooring that is just begging to be sashayed across. There is a mirror wall for a back drop, and on the opposite wall, I can see that he enlarged the windows to let in more light. The walls are a powder blue with framed posters featuring black and white dance related photographs. There’s even a clock on the side wall that has only the numbers 5, 6, 7, 8 on it. In the corner is a sound system all set up and ready to go, and in the opposite corner is a large, free-standing fan. It’s everything.
“Jack,” it comes out on a shuddery whisper as I feel my eyes mist over. Damn hormones.
“Do you like it, Baby?” Jack asks as he comes closer to my side.
“It’s perfect,” I squeak out and a tear falls. “I can’t believe you did all this.” I can’t take my eyes off the flooring, it’s so exquisite.
“Baby, it was easy and fun, and I love doing things for you, you know that.” He reaches over to catch the stupid tear on my face.
“I love you,” I tilt my head up at the world’s most wonderful husband.