I Stole Your Love Ch. 02

She stood and walked over to the couch against the wall. She pulled two picture frames from behind it and put them in their rightful spot. One was of a little boy who looked to be two or three. The other was a professional picture of him and her.

"I'm sorry, Derek," she sniffed. A tear fell down her cheek.

"The last few men I've dated didn't want to be saddled down with a kid and bailed after a couple of dates. Hell, his father doesn't want to be with me. He wants to be a dad but is happy doing it part-time and he doesn't want to be a husband."

I stood and her eyes never left mine.

"Please don't go. Jimmy's a great kid. He won't..." she was almost frantic, I cut her off.

"Damn it, Andi! This has nothing to do with your child. It has everything to do with you hiding him from me. You're like the others, you know that? Another manipulator, another woman proving to me that I can't trust any of you. Damn you, for playing games with my heart."

I turned for the door and she fell onto the couch sobbing. I looked over my shoulder at her and shook my head. "Just so you know, I love kids and would've loved to have met Jimmy."

I closed the door behind me and left her crying. It left me wondering whether I would ever find a woman worthy of my love again.

****

Later in the week, I got a call from the head of maintenance at the local school district. He wanted to price me out for waste removal for their shop classes. It seems that the monthly pick-up the state was doing wasn't quick enough and when they had a small fire near a collection of chemicals waiting for disposal pick up, it scared them enough to want a weekly pick-up.

It was a relatively painless process to get the contract signed and before I knew it, I was touring the schools and making sure everyone contained the waste properly for pickup. It was at one of the high schools that I saw her.

Andi looked like a sexy librarian as she walked through the parking lot. Her long confident strides made my pants tighten as I watched her walk by. She hadn't seen me but I wasn't hiding.

After saying goodbye to, Jim, the school's auto shop teacher, I walked out to my truck and saw Andi leaning against the driver's side door. She, of course, parked behind me to prevent my driving away.

"Hello, Andi."

"Hi, Derek. How did it go with Jim today?"

I wondered how she knew about that.

"Fine, he runs a clean operation. There shouldn't be any issues with my tweaks to what they were already doing. How did you know I was meeting him today?"

She shrugged her shoulders and smirked.

"Is there any chance you can forgive me for not telling you about Jimmy? I'd very much like to have a second chance."

I sighed and said, "I don't know and that's the truth."

The sad thing was I missed her even though I'd only known her for a week.

"Derek, I'm truly sorry for handling us so badly. I never gave you a chance before I made some preemptive defensive assumptions. I would like to use my history and experience as an excuse, but that's not good enough. Please give me a second chance."

I shook my head and said, "I don't know what to think but I'll think about it."

"Thank you, Thor, all-mighty God of forgiveness."

"I'll give you a call next week."

She kissed my cheek and thanked me.

I couldn't help but think that I was a complete sucker for women.

****

The next morning one of my drivers had a slip and fall accident. He broke his arm and I drove him to the emergency room.

While I was waiting for him, I saw Sara. She waved me over when she saw me.

"Hey, dumb ass, did you work it out with my idiot sister yet?"

I laughed and said, "Not exactly. She's practically begging me for a second chance, but I'm not convinced another manipulative woman is right for me."

"God! Men are so stupid. She wasn't manipulating you. She was afraid to scare you away and made a dumb decision. I mean seriously? How do you ease one into springing a kid on them?"

She shook her head and continued, "Look, be the great guy you are and try again. I saw the sparks fly when you were at my party. There's something there."

I looked away and she grabbed my chin and turned my face to look at her.

"Don't be an idiot. Jimmy's birthday is tomorrow. My mom is having a party for him at noon at her house. Show up on Andi's doorstep at eight with a smile and a present and take them out for breakfast. She'll love the surprise."

"I don't know, Sara. I..."

"Derek, please don't drag it on. If you think there's a chance, take it. If not, then cut bait before you both get hurt."

She kissed my cheek and walked off. I shook my head marveling at how great her ass looked in scrubs.

****

I pulled up to Andi's house and saw a car in her driveway I didn't recognize. As I walked to the door, it opened and Jim the shop teacher walked out. Andi was behind him in a robe.

"Hi, Derek," he said with a smile.

Andi saw the resigned look on my face as I set the toys I wrapped for Jimmy on the stoop and frantically said, "Derek, no! Wait!"

I walked back to my truck with her running after me barefoot and screaming.

She got to me before I could open my door and grabbed me.

"Andi, let me go. You're making a scene."

"No! You have the wrong idea. Jim is my son's father. He stopped by to give Jimmy his presents. I swear to God! Nothing is going on between us anymore."

"She's telling the truth, Derek," Jim said walking up. "I get Jimmy on alternating birthdays and this year is Andi's with him. I only came to visit with him for a bit and give him his gifts."

Andi had tears in her eyes and her hands gripping my shirt tightly. I glanced at the house and saw Jimmy ripping the paper off my gifts.

I laughed and asked, "What happens when you leave little kids alone for a bit?"

Jim and Andi looked at the house and saw Jimmy sitting on the stairs opening presents.

"Jimmy, wait!" Andi shouted as she ran to try to corral him.

"Derek, there's nothing between me and Andi anymore. Go get her and have a good time. I'll see you around."

I nodded and looked at her and Jimmy arguing over opening his presents.

"Oh! Derek?" He added. He pointed to the spot where his neck and shoulder met and said, "Right there, bud. Trust me." He laughed as he walked to his car.

I made my way over to the house and Andi had won the battle. Jimmy was sulking his way back into the house.

"Derek, I..."

"Don't say it. I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions. It never occurred to me to associate Jim and Jimmy as father and son."

She hugged me.

"Come on, quit giving the neighbors a peep show."

She laughed as we carried the presents into the house.

"What are you doing here, not that I'm not happy to see you?"

"Sara told me it was Jimmy's birthday, so I figured I'd surprise you and take you guys out to eat."

"Jimmy, come meet Mr. Derek."

The sprout hopped over, he hopped like a bunny and jumped on my lap.

I laughed and said, "Nice to meet you, little man. How come you haven't opened the presents I brought yet?"

His head snapped around and he ran off to the table where his presents sat.

"You're terrible," she said as Jimmy tore into the packages.

I bought him a bunch of Hot Wheels and a kick-ass track on which to race them.

"So? How about breakfast then? I can take you to..."

"Don't say it," she warned, smiling.

"What, IHOP?"

Jimmy jumped up and started shouting, "IHOP, IHOP, IHOP!"

We laughed and she told him to get upstairs to get dressed. He ran up as if the devil was on his tail.

"He loves IHOP."

"Yeah? I couldn't tell," I smiled.

She kissed my cheek and said, "We'll be down in a jiffy."

****

Jimmy was asleep when we got home from breakfast. The kid was such a ball of energy I couldn't understand how Andi could contain him. Until he hit the car seat. By the time we were out of the parking lot, he was asleep.

I gently set him in his bed and watched Andi kiss his forehead before she took my hand and led me from the room.

"I've never seen anything like that," I said.

She looked at me confused.

"The car putting him to sleep. I thought we were going to have to restrain him at the restaurant."

"He was just being a little boy," she snapped defensively. She must get comments on his energy level from others a lot.

"Easy, mama bear. He was well-mannered. I just meant that he fidgets and doesn't like to sit still."

She smiled, "I'm sorry. I guess that came out harsh. He always falls asleep in the car. Sometimes if he refuses to nap, I'll drive around the block a few times and he's out like a light."

I laughed and she slid over on the couch closer to me.

"I'm sorry about the confusion this morning. I'm going to have to remember that you've been hurt before. I promise you that I'm a one-man kinda girl. You never have to worry about me and Jim, or anyone else for that matter. You can trust me."

I put my arm around her and said, "Okay. I'll trust you until you give me a reason not to anymore."

"Fair enough."

"I have to go to my mom's for his party in a few minutes. Will you come along?"

"I'd love to, but isn't it kind of early for a family party?"

She laughed, "Afraid to meet my parents?"

"No, alright, I'll go," I tried to force a smile. I was not looking forward to the new family inquisition I would be getting. I'd been through it all before, I'd just have to rely on my experience in family butt-kissing.

"My mom's house is huge. They have a large backyard," she added answering my unasked questions of why the party was there.

"Also, I have a very large family and we're very close."

"Yeah, I kinda got that from being at Sara's engagement party."

She laughed, "That was mostly Sara's friends. My family doesn't get excited about third engagement parties."

We laughed together and I side-hugged her. She turned and our lips met shooting a bolt of energy into my through my lips.

She parted my lips gently with her sweet tongue. A hint of strawberry syrup mixed with bitter coffee filled my senses. I had just pulled her onto my lap when her head shot up.

Her super-sensitive mom's hearing powers kicked in and she sprung up. It was only then that I heard the door open upstairs. Somehow she knew he rustled out of his little bed before he hit the door. I was amazed.

"Jimmy, we need to get ready for your party. Strip and get your towel."

I stood and kissed her cheek. "I'm gonna go change and get into 'meet the parents' appropriate clothes. I'll be back to pick you up—unless you want to go separately?"

"We'd better go separately. I'll have to stay for cleanup and post-party things."

"Okay. Text me the address and I'll see you in a little bit."

Out of nowhere a flash of a naked butt streaked through the room and back up the stairs where it started.

I laughed, "Bye, Jimmy," I shouted and walked towards the door.

She grabbed me and gave me a kiss that buckled my knees. "We have some unfinished business, Mister."

I leaned in and licked her earlobe. "Yes, we do."

"Tease," she called out laughing as I waved goodbye walking away.

I could've gone in what I was wearing but I needed time to prepare my nervous mind. I wasn't ready to attend a family function, but it was her son and I had to be a part of the biggest part of her life.

****

I dressed to impress wearing crisply pressed khakis, a polo shirt, and loafers. I wore my gold Rolex, which my grandfather left me. I never wore it unless it was a formal occasion or I was trying to impress someone. Otherwise, it wasn't my style to be that flashy.

I shouldn't have bothered trying to impress anyone. As soon as I followed an older couple into the backyard, Jimmy ran up to me and jumped into my arms.

"Mister Derek!" He shouted and half the backyard heard him.

Sara and Andi smiled as I was given the once-over by the family wondering who Jimmy was shouting over.

On older, just as beautiful version of Sara walked up to me as Jimmy jumped down and ran off to do whatever he was doing before he saw me.

"I'm sorry, young man, you're at the wrong place. We didn't order any sexy men for this party."

"Mother!" Sara and Andi shrieked in unison as they walked up.

I was shocked but recovered and said, "I was told this was a great place to find a cougar. Looks like they were right, I hit the jackpot as soon as I walked in."

She slapped my arm playfully and said, "You're a handsome flirt." She smiled at Andi and said, "I like this one, aren't you going to introduce us?"

"Sorry, Mom. This is Derek. Derek, this is my Mom, Ann Marshall. Tread carefully around her and Aunt Sandy. They are man-eaters."

We all laughed and Ann gave me a cheek kiss. She looked at me up and down and said, "Andi, you know I don't eat them. I just lick 'em a little and release them."

She laughed as I stood shocked at what she said. Andi apologized as Ann and Sara walked away laughing.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to my dad and you can hang out in the men's section while I finish getting the appetizers out."

"Need help?" I asked to hope to avoid any more uncomfortable greetings.

"Nope. We have it under control."

She led me under a large canopy where several younger and older men were sitting.

"Dad, this is my friend Derek. Derek, this is my dad, Mike Marshall."

"Glad to meet you, Sir."

"Cut the sir shit. I'm just Mike. Nice to meet you. This is my brother-in-law Dale, his son Dale Jr., his other son Craig, and my dad, Jack."

Craig tossed me a can of Bud from the cooler in the middle of them and Dale pointed to an open chair.

"Pop a squat, kid," Jack said. "Don't let the fancy big house fool you. We're all working' stiffs."

I sat and open the beer.

"What do you do, Derek?" Mike asked.

"Recycling. Mostly Hazardous waste."

"Oh! You're a fancy garbage man," Jack said and everyone laughed.

"Pretty much," I said with a smile and took a drink.

"How'd you meet my Andi?" Mike asked.

"Sara set us up." I wasn't going to get into the weeds of my ex-wife being Sara's friend.

"I'm surprised she didn't try to keep you for herself," Mike added. "Sara has too much of her mother's side in her."

The men laughed and I was lost at their inside joke.

Dale spoke up, "Ann and Sandy don't have a faithful bone in their bodies. I feel bad for Dr. Jason." He said doctor with a sneer.

Jack grunted and Mike said, "Dale and I divorced them for cheating on us a decade or so ago. They went on a cruise together and brought us home STD's as souvenirs."

"Holy crap," I blurted.

The younger men laughed as Mike and Dale nodded their heads.

"We get along now that they are older and have mostly settled down. It's a weird dynamic but it works for us all."

I wondered what Dale meant by that but I let it go to get out of the strange conversation. I barely knew these men and they delved into their family secrets without my prodding.

"Oh shit!" Craig said with a smirk. "Incoming buzzkill."

Before I could turn a woman called out, "Why are you keeping Andi's new man locked up in here with you party poopers? He needs to be circulated to meet everyone."

Dale rolled his eyes as she stepped in front of me shocking me. She was Ann's identical twin.

"Well, you certainly are a gorgeous specimen. Andi's a lucky girl, indeed. I'm Aunt Sandy."

I stood and went to shake her hand but she grabbed me into a hug.

"Hi, I'm Derek."

"Yes you are, aren't you? Come with me, I have to give you the family tour."

"Sorry, kid. Good luck," Jack said laughing at my discomfort.

She led me away by the arm and behaved as she introduced me to seemingly everybody at the party.

****

"There you are," Andi said walking up to me as I came out of the house. I escaped Aunt Sandy's clutches by having to use the bathroom.

"Hey," I said kissing her cheek.

"Aunt Sandy wasn't too bad, was she?"

"No," I laughed. "I have a lot of questions though."

She frowned and said, "Yeah, I'm sure. I should've warned you about my—unique—family circumstances. I'll fill you in on any gaps later. Come sit with me for lunch."

I held her hand as we walked to a table where a plate was made for me. Lunch was catered in and they had servers bringing the food around.

Sara sat next to me and asked, "So, have you had your fill of our crazy family yet?"

"No, but you're an interesting bunch."

She laughed and said, "Yeah, but we're fun."

I didn't respond as I took a mouthful of pasta salad and Andi patted my leg approvingly.

Jimmy was sitting on the other side of Andi and he walked around to take some of the puffed cheese balls that were in a bowl in front of me. I took the bowl and told him to step back and open his mouth.

He was confused until I tossed the first one at his mouth. He giggled as it fell to the ground, where he immediately picked it up and ate it.

He opened his orange lips wide and asked for another.

I tossed another one and he didn't catch it but ate it off the ground again. I laughed as Andi chastised him for eating off of the ground. I turned and said, "Five second rule, honey."

She shook her head and before I knew it, Jimmy took the bowl and ran off to one of the other children there. They began throwing them at each other to my amusement and Andi's mother's horror.

****

The party died down around five and Andi said, "I'm not sure how long I'll be here tonight. Why don't you head on home and I'll call you later?"

"Okay, are you sure I can't help with anything?"

"Positive."

"Okay," I said and gave her a hug and a nice kiss.

I walked into the house to say goodbye to her dad and found him and Jack sitting at the bar in the basement.

"Derek!" Mike called out. "Join us for some whisky."

It wasn't a request as much a demand, so I agreed to have a drink with them.

As he poured me a drink, he asked, "Party die down yet?"

"Yeah," I said. "Most everyone's gone and the ladies are cleaning up."

"Good. I hate parties," he spat and Jack agreed. They were both feeling the effects of an afternoon of drinking.

"So," Mike started, "what do you think of our fucked up family?"

"Everyone was nice," I answered.

"Just so you know," he slurred, "Andi isn't like her mom."

"How's that?" I asked.

"She's not a cheating whore," Jack spat.

I grew uncomfortable and wanted to get out of there so I threw back my drink in one gulp and prepared to say goodbye. Mike poured another before I could get the words out.

"It's hard," he said. "I dumped her cheating ass but kept banging her over the years. She was always a great lay. Pissed her off when I wore condoms though."

He must've noticed my confusion coupled with discomfort and he patted my shoulder.

"About the time Jimmy was born, I let her convince me to move back in with her. I'll never marry her again, but as she's gotten older, the young studs quit hitting on her and she got lonely. She still acts like she's this hot little thing, but she's not screwing around anymore."

Jack for some reason nodded.

"You see, Derek, she was always a flirty thing. I knew it when I married her. I'll never know if the cruise was her first time cheating on me or not but she says it was. It was enough for me to cut bait and run. Dale did the same. His stupid ass remarried Sandy a few years before I moved back in here though."

"Andi isn't flirty like her mom and aunt. Sara, on the other hand, she's just like 'em. It cost her two husbands and I even liked the first one."

He and Jack laughed.

"Andi's mom? Well, after I divorced her, she went off the deep end. She screwed any young buck that would dip his stick. She tried to prove to me that I made a mistake." He snorted, "Imagine that? Trying to win back her ex-husband by proving how many men she could screw. Insane."