Rock Bottom (Dawson Family 6) - Page 18

What the fuck was I thinking, marrying her? My baby sister was smiling through labor pains so she could be in our wedding photos and Kara acted like she went into labor on purpose just to ruin our day.

Emma was born a few minutes after midnight, so her birthday is the day after my would-be anniversary, but it brings up too many emotions. I love my niece. I’m Emma’s godfather, and I don’t want anything negative associated with her.

That was honestly the driving force that caused me to get my ass in gear. To go to the therapist that Scarlet recommended. To find a way to move on, to let go of my anger.

Kara fucked me over once, and once is enough. I’m going to live my life, and I’m living it the way I want to right now.

“It was a busy party,” I say, keeping my professional air.

“It was. Super cute too. My daughter still wants a Rapunzel-themed party because of it.” Katie smiles and now her five-thousand-square-foot dream house on a three-thousand-square-foot budget makes sense. It’s something I’ve seen before, and something Dad has taught me how to handle well.

It’s the Keeping up with the Joneses syndrome, and this time it’s literal. Quinn and Archer Jones have the biggest, fanciest house in all of Eastwood. It’s easy to want to try to keep up with them, to feel insecure that you don’t have what they do. It can get people into a lot of trouble, taking out a loan for something they can’t afford.

In the end, clients will do what they want, but Dad and I always try our best to convince them not to take on something that won’t really fill the void. They’ll find someone else to compare themselves to and feel shitty all over again.

“I’m going to email you a few forms,” I go on, wanting to wrap up this meeting so I can go get something to eat. “It’ll help narrow down your “must-haves” and will give us a better idea of your design style. Everything is still completely custom, but we’ve found giving you examples or showing you different options available helps move the process along.”

Katie claps her hands together again, and it takes another ten minutes to get her out of the office. I walk her out and then go back to my desk, answering emails and scheduling painters to come in and do touchups to one of our newest projects.

Nearly an hour later, I’m finally heading out for lunch. I’m meeting Quinn, Scarlet, and their kids for lunch today. It’s a ploy to try and set me up on another date, I know, but Quinn offered to pay, and I never turn down free food. Plus, I love my nieces and nephews, though Jackson is at school and won’t be joining us.

It’s freezing rain out today—gotta love January in the Midwest—and the drive into town takes twice as long. Quinn and Scarlet are already at the café, and it looks like they ordered food already.

“Hey!” Quinn slides a plate in front of me. “Just in time. They just set the food down. I got you your regular, is that okay?”

“Heck yes, thank you.” I take one bite before Arya and Violet pounce on me, wanting a hug.

“Give Uncle Dean some space,” Scarlet says, shaking her head and causing her golden hair to dance around her face. Two guys seated at the diner counter lean closer, whispering something about her.

“You’re totally being checked out,” Quinn says, breaking apart food for Aiden.

“Those hilljacks at the bar?” Scarlet flips her hair. “They’ve been checking me out since the moment we walked in. You too,” she adds. “You’re a babe.”

“Please.” Quinn rolls her eyes. “I’ve had three kids.”

Scarlet just shakes her head. “Well, I’d do you.”

“Aw, thanks. I’d do you too.”

I roll my eyes and take a big bite of my burger. “Want me to tell them to fu—I mean, eff off?” No swearing around the kids…gotta remember that.

“Nah.” She looks up again, and this time purposely catches their eye. “I could con them so hard.”

Quinn laughs. “Should I be concerned?”

“No,” Scarlet sighs. “I’ve happily traded my life of crime for a law-abiding husband.”

“Weren’t you afraid you’d get caught?” I ask.

“That was part of the fun,” she admits. “I’m still waiting for the day Wes needs me to go undercover and get top-secret information for a police matter. Though, the Robocop Quinn is making will be able to handle pretty much everything.”

“Laying it on a little thick there, aren’t you?” I ask flatly and take another bite of food.

Both Quinn and Scarlet laugh, and Quinn pulls out her phone. “Come over tonight and I’ll show you.” She swipes through photos that are probably Photoshopped. “It’s real, and it’s not a Robocop like the movie. Wasn’t that one half-human or something?”

Tags: Emily Goodwin Dawson Family Erotic
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