“It’d be doing him a favor. I mean. The joy Disney would bring to his life is immeasurable. He can’t call himself a Californian until he sees the mouse house at least once.”
“You’re so kind worrying about others like that,” B says patting her shoulder.
We’re sprawled around the living room with two pizzas, a two-liter of cola, and horror movies. She’s slightly jet lagged from the trip, and we’re tired from working all week. I had a two day run on top of that, so I’m done in. Plenty of men use Meth or other tactics to keep up. I’ve never been about that. I see what drugs can do to a person. If it’s not a little grass, I’ll pass. I like to be in control of my faculties.
“J?” Whitney glances at me with a face so like her mothers.
“If it’ll make me a real Californian I guess I need to do it.”
Whitney’s face lights up as she jumps off the couch and does a little dance.
“Okay, Mom, I’m hitting the hay, the time difference is messing with me, and I want to rest up for Disneyland.”
“Sweet dreams, Baby.”
“Night, Whit.”
“Night, J.” She pauses halfway to her room. “Thanks.”
She rushes off, and I turn to B for an explanation.
“She likes you.”
“That’s good right?”
“It is. You’re the first new man in her life since her father left.”
“Shit, I didn’t even think about that. Should I stay at the clubhouse?”
“No, she needs to get used to seeing us together. We talked about it before she came here.”
I nod. “What did she say?”
“She wants to get to know you. Right now you’re the hot younger guy her mother is living with.”
“I can handle that title.”
She rolls her eyes. “Course you can. She seems to think our relationship makes me some kind of fox.”
“You are, but that has nothing to do with me and everything to do with genes. I’m just the lucky bastard who managed to grab you before anyone else did.”
“Are you really going to let her con you into Disneyland?”
“Con indicates I’m being fleeced. I know exactly what I’m doing and why. She’s important to you, which makes her important to me.” I shrug it’s simple. Her pack is my pack. The same way mine is hers, and I take care of my own.
“It’s that simple?”
“Most things are once you know what you want.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. You choose based on what means the most to you.”
“And what’s that for you?”
“The club and you.”
“Jagger.”