Obsession (Stalker #1) (16 page)

It’s late. We make sure the pets are fed and leave them to roam free while Abby and I get ready for bed. We are both beat and have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. We are settled in bed when I hear the padding of paws coming along the floor headed in our direction. Ozzy pushes the door open with his nose and jumps up on the bed, lying by Abby’s feet.

Almost fucking perfect.

            If only Izzy was here.

                        That would be perfection.

“Well, I just can’t believe this,” I say as I swing the door open to the Jeep and hop in. “Dr. Kylie thinks it’s a good idea for me to take an entire month off. She wants me to reflect on myself and this job. Apparently, my blood pressure is way too high and she gave me a script for some Ativan because she thinks I need to calm the fuck down.”

I look at Jake and he hasn’t started the Jeep yet. He is listening to me rant, so I continue.

“Jake, what the hell am I supposed to do if I don’t do this job anymore?”

“Anything you want, baby.”

He fucking says that to me and starts the Jeep! What the hell am I supposed to do with that?

“I started this job fresh out of college and it’s the only real job I’ve ever had; one where I thought I was making a difference.”

“Abby, you can make a difference doing anything. You don’t need to work there to do it,” he says in a calm, reassuring tone.

Perhaps he’s right. Maybe Dr. Kylie is right, too. I just didn’t realize my life would be flipped upside down this much and it’s overwhelming. Dr. Kylie told me if I keep experiencing traumatic incidents, whether involving residents or other staff, may be permanently damaging to my psyche. I guess what’s done is done and I can only move forward.

“I’ll make sure work gets the forms Dr. Kylie filled out for you,” Jake assures me.

I realize we aren’t headed home. “Jake, where are we going?”

He makes a few turns here and there and we are in front of an apartment building.
Oh shit
.

“We are picking up Izzy. This first time I’d like for you to stay here while I go get her. I don’t want psycho Tiffany going off on any of us,” he says. I’m positive my face is pale. Jake frowns at me and I’m wondering why. “Abby, please baby, you have to relax. You can’t go pale every time we pick up Izzy,” he says, sounding concerned.

I hope he doesn’t think it’s because of Izzy. I’m pale and feel like I’m going to fucking blow chunks in this Jeep.

“Jake, my entire world has been flipped upside down in a matter of days. I’m sorry if the thought of being in close proximity to the psycho hose beast has me a bit flustered. I’ll have my shit composed when you get back with Izzy. I’ll just jump out and have a smoke while I wait.” I smile, open my door, and hop out.

I find my smokes and light one up. The first long inhale always feels so good when I’m stressed out. Jake comes over to me and pulls me to him, wrapping his arms around me.

“We’ll figure it out together so don’t worry, and try to relax.” He pulls away, pecks my lips, and then heads inside the building.

Fuck, it’s a nice building. Fuck, I know he pays a lot in child support for Tiffany to be living here with Izzy. I can’t become another burden on him. I want to be self-sufficient. I hear my phone chirp and look to see that Amanda has sent me a text.

Hey Abby, I heard through all the bitches what happened and need to know you’re ok. Call or text me back, please!

I decide to call her right away. I need one of my bitches right now.

“Hey, Abby! How ya doing today?”

“Not great, Amanda. My life feels so jacked up and my head is spinning and I don’t know what to do.”

“Abby, what are you talking about? What’s going on? Dallas called me last night and told me what happened to you at work. Are you ok?”

“Uh, fuck no… Amanda, my doc thinks I need to quit my job. I mean, I was thinking about it anyway, but when a professional tells you, it’s weird. She doesn’t know my life. Can doctors prescribe you to quit your job with no fucking backup plan?” I think I may be shouting because strangers are looking at me funny.

“Oh my God, Abby! This is so perfect!” Amanda squeals into the phone.

“Ummm, perfect is not the word I’d use to describe my situation.” It’s like she’s not listening to me.

“Abby, there is a full-time spot about to open up at The Barking Lot!” she yells into the phone.

“Uhhh, and why is this perfect?” I know why she thinks it’s perfect, and she’s probably right for, fuck’s sakes.

“Duh, for one, you’ll be working with me every day, and two, my job is awesome and you would love it at The Barking Lot. It’s a full time day spot. There is a huge daycare across the street from the dog park by, well, I guess, your house now,” she giggles into the phone.

“I suppose I could think about it.” I need to talk about this with Jake.

“Right!!! Abby, don’t freak out, but maybe this is what you need right now.” She knows me so well. Of course, I’m freaked out.

“Amanda, I promise to think about it and let you know. I can see Jake is coming back with Izzy now so I’ve got to go, but I will call you back, babe.”
How long have I been on the phone anyway?

“Hey, you could probably bring Ozzy with you every day, so that’s a bonus right there.” She keeps trying to convince me and it might be working, but I want to talk it over with Jake first.

“Love you. Bye.” I hang up on her. That was kind of bitchy of me, but I’m all nervous seeing Izzy again.

When Izzy spots me, she beams, screaming,  “Abby, hiiiiiiii! Yea! Abby is here!”

I’m grinning ear to ear and I know Jake sees me. When they get closer to the Jeep, Izzy comes running over to me as fast as her little legs will take her. I crouch down a bit so she doesn’t fly into my knee caps. I embrace the sweet smiling little girl who is so excited by my mere presence. It takes my crap bad morning away.

“Hey Izzy, it’s so great to see you see again!” I totally mean it. She’s a little ray of sunshine on this cloudy day. I needed that hug from her.

“Come on, girls, let’s get inside and go home.” Jake puts Izzy into her seat and straps her In. I climb back in and he totally sneaks an ass grab, looks back at me, and winks. Fucker. I hate it when he does that.
I’m lying. I love it.

We are buckled in and good to go. I turn the radio on to one of my favorite stations, Q107, and Janis Joplin’s “
Piece of my Heart”
is playing. I turn it up and start singing, I love to rock out in the car and I need this right now.

“Take it, take another little piece of my heart now, baby.” At this moment, singing away without a care in the world, I turn and see Jake smiling through his shades. “You like my singing?” And he starts belting out the song now, and holy fuck, Jake can sing. What the fuck can’t this guy do? We sing together and Izzy is bobbing her head to the beat, trying to sing along with us.

The song finishes when we pull into the driveway. Izzy says, “Daddy and Abby sing good together.”

And she’s right. We do sing good together.

I get out of the Jeep and take it upon myself to unbuckle Izzy from her car seat. Damn stupid fuckin’ buckles. Who the hell made this shit anyway, I wonder to myself. Jake sees me struggling and chuckles at me.

“Ha-ha, so funny. Izzy, your daddy thinks he’s funny.” She starts giggling, too. “Oh, now everyone thinks it’s funny, h0uh?”

Jake says, “Izzy, show Abby.” He’s trying hard to contain his laughter when Izzy reaches and unbuckles the seat belt herself.

“I see,” I mutter and laugh, too. “I thought those things were child proof, no?”

“Izzy can get in and out of just about anything,” Jake warns me, making Izzy throw her head back and laugh.

God, she is seriously the cutest little girl I have ever laid my eyes on. She’s the apple of Jake’s eye, so I already know I love her.

We get inside and Ozzy comes running like he always does and he can’t stop his paws from sliding on the floor. I brace myself behind Izzy so she doesn’t hit the floor when he slams into us. Ozzy is licking her face since he’s right at her level. She is laughing her head off.

“Ozzy, come on, buddy,” Jake commands him. Backing up, Ozzy allows us to hang up our coats. We’re taking off our shoes when Oreo comes sauntering out of the kitchen to see what’s happening. It only takes a minute for Izzy to spot him. “Did we get a kitty, Daddy?” she squeals. She takes off running after him. Oh no! Oreo bolts and goes running so fast down the hallway Izzy can’t keep up. She has no idea where he went. He’ll hide forever now that she’s chasing him.

“Isabelle, come here, please,” Jake shouts down the hall. Izzy comes out looking like she just got in trouble.
Aw, I hope he isn’t going to yell at her.

“Izzy, the cat you just saw is Abby’s and his name is Oreo. He just got here a couple of days ago and might still be a little scared so let him come to you, ok?” he tells her sweetly and she smiles. “Ok, Daddy. I’ll let him find me later.” She’s perfectly happy, again.

“What do my girls want for lunch today?” Jake looks to us and we look at each other. “Uhhhh, I don’t know, Daddy.” Izzy goes walking into the kitchen, so I follow her.

“How about some chicken fingers and fries,” Jake offers. It sounds good to me so I nod my head. “I’m down with that.” Izzy laughs and says, “I’m down wif that, too, Daddy.” We both laugh. Jake is staring at us and I know he thinks it’s cute as hell that Izzy just copied what I said. I guess I better learn to watch my foul mouth around her. She will no doubt repeat what I say!

Jake starts making us lunch and Izzy goes to let Ozzy outside. Jake tells her that she has to be careful now opening the door for Ozzy to make sure the kitty doesn’t go outside. She nods her head in understanding.

“Daddy, does Abby and Oreo live here now?”

Holy shit, what’s he going to say?

He looks at me, then looks at her, and smiles. “Yup. Is that ok with you?” he asks.

She thinks for a moment. “Sure, I like kitties, but can we still go to the dog park today?”

“Sure, after lunch and your nap, we can go to the dog park today.” She beams at her dad.

We finish up lunch and I clean up since Jake cooked. It’s only fair. He tells me he’s just going to tuck Izzy in and be right back. Jake comes right back, alright, looking nervous as hell.

What the fuck?

“Jesus, Jake, what the hell’s wrong?”

“Izzy asked if you would tuck her in.”

I stand there with a blank expression for a second trying to process this
. How fuckin’ cute is it that she wants me to tuck her in?
I walk to Jake and kiss his lips.

“I’d love to.”

Knocking gently, I creep into Izzy’s room. “Hey, Izzy, you wanted to see me?” I see two little eyes peeking over the covers.

“Abby, can you tuck me in?” How can I refuse? I can’t.

“You got it!” I go over to her bed, squish her blanket around her, and when she seems settled, I lean over and kiss her forehead. “Have a good nap, babe, and afterwards, we’ll go to the dog park.”

“Ok, Abby. Thanks for tucking me in,” she yawns.

She closes her eyes, but I keep mine focused

on the little person

who has crept

into my

heart.

She asked out of nowhere for Abby to tuck her in. All I did was nod at her, tell her yes, and get Abby. I hope Abby doesn’t freak the fuck out. I’m an asshole. Abby deserves more credit than that. She has handled everything that’s come her way head on. She kissed me on my lips and went to Izzy’s room. I wanted to follow her, I won’t lie. I didn’t though.

If this is going to work, then my girls need to establish a relationship on their own and make it whatever it’s going to be. I don’t feel like any of this is a bad thing, and couldn’t be more relieved at the ease in which this is all happening. Things are only hard if you make them harder than they have to be. Sometimes life is just that easy. Not to say that there aren’t pitfalls, like my fucking psycho hose beast of an ex-wife. She is less than thrilled that I’m in a relationship and I’m pretty sure she wanted to stab me in the eye with a fork when I casually mentioned Abby is living with me.

As much as she needs to know about my life because we share a daughter, she also doesn’t need to approve of my life or my choices. I doubt she would consult me on anyone she dates and I don’t want to know either. I basically told her she better get used to it because Abby isn’t going anywhere. She was all blah, blah, blah, she better not smoke around our daughter and she better not do this or do that. I tune her the fuck out because I can’t take the sound of her voice. It’s worse than nails on a chalkboard. I told Tiff that Abby was injured at work and would be off for the next month. If she needs any help with Izzy, she could always drop her off at my place. She would have to accept Abby watching Izzy and to be civil. If Izzy wasn’t around, I’m sure she would have told me to fuck off, but she didn’t have to because her evil eyes said it all. I got Izzy and split. There was nothing left to be said today.

“Oh my shit, Jake, that was the cutest thing that’s ever happened to me!” Abby is super giddy right now. I can’t believe that my kid is making my woman feel like that. I hope to fuck this works out. I couldn’t take it if didn’t. This relationship has three hearts involved, and it’s possible for all three to break.

I don’t feel worried because as Abby says this, she grabs my hands in hers. “I love her,” she says. “She’s your heart and now she’s mine, too.” She kisses me as if she is sealing the deal and looks up at me and smiles. “I’m not going back to my apartment, Jake. I want this. I want us. I want this family, and I can see it in your eyes that what I’m saying is making you happy.”

I’m grinning like a motherfucker and can’t stop. I pull her to me and kiss her to show how much I love what is happening right now. You don’t always need words to express how you feel. It feels like she’s in complete agreement when she pushes herself into me, her tits pressing against me. I press my erection into her playfully, and she laughs. I will never get enough of her laugh.

“Jake, can we have a smoke and talk? Amanda texted me while you were picking up Izzy and we chatted. She has ideas and I really need a smoke for when we dive into all this,” she says at lightning speed.

“Yes, baby, let’s go outside.”

I grab our smokes and we head outside with Ozzy.