Second Chance - 3

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It was nearly Christmas and Jeremiah snuck Maddox out while Janine was out with her girlfriends. "Your wife is killing our flow ..." Jeremiah said to Maddox as they got in his car. "Do you HAVE to keep her?"

"Man, fuck outta here, she ain't going nowhere."

"Alright, alright!" They got into the car and drove off. The drive from beachside was almost 30 minutes before they pulled into a neighborhood with nice homes. They parked and walked a few houses down, then into a house. Music was going, but not too loud. There were poker tables and other card games set up all over the first floor and bars set up on the second landing overlooking downstairs. Jeremiah whispered, "just have my back at the tables, man."

"Not a problem " Maddox just looked around.

They walked through, spoke to a few folks, then they walked up to the guy who apparently owned the place, "Maddox ... This is Antonio. Antonio ... Maddox," Jeremiah introduced them.

Antonio raised an eyebrow at Jeremiah, then shook hands with Maddox. He then turned back to Antonio, "are your hands clean this time?"

Jeremiah raised them like he was surrendering, "hospital grade antimicrobial cleansers, bro,"

"Enjoy yourselves," he chuckled and walked away.

Jeremiah looked at Maddox and grinned, "lets get a seat somewhere."

"What was that about?"

"Nothing," they sat at a Blackjack table, "he's just being funny," Jeremiah assured him. "If there were a problem, I wouldn't have been invited. Right?" He turned to a young woman walking with gambling chips. He traded a wad of cash for some chips, then looked at the dealer, 'deal me in."

Half an hour they sat at the Blackjack table. Jeremiah walked away with a little over 5grand. He grinned at Maddox, "you not playing?" He held out some money to him.

"Nah im good.." Maddox looked around, "you done?"

"No way. Too many suckers around here ... Let's get drinks," they went upstairs and greeted the woman who was working the small bar. Jeremiah chatted with her while looking around a bit, then he and Maddox walked back downstairs, "new dealer at the black jack table. We can go there or somewhere else. Aye ... Roulette." They walked in that direction, "come on ... Try not to have a stick up your ass tonight, man."

"Alright alright..." Maddox went into his wallet and headed to the poker table, pulled out 5 100 dollar bills and looked to Jeremiah, "go big or go home huh?"

"Exactly." They stood playing roulette. Both of them winning ever so often. Halfway through, Jeremiah put a big pile of chips on the table on Red25, kissed the dice and then threw them. He hit and started yelling. He hit again, then two more times. After the last time, he started scooping up his chips, "alright, we good, let's go," he looked around, holding all the chips and rushed over to the cash-out table. He smiled at the girl as she counted out his and Maddox's winnings. As she was loading the money into a briefcase, Jeremiah started to get antsy. The two of them started to the door. Jeremiah noticed the roulette guy pointing at them and then security came. "Shit! Move it!" He said to Maddox as they started running.

"Fuck! are you shittin me?" Maddox took off running putting his All-State gold medal in Track to good use. 

Jeremiah grinned as they weaved through the crowd quickly. A lot of 'STOP' and 'HEY' and 'GET THOSE ASSHOLES' were heard as the two men were stopped at the door by a guard. Jeremiah looked around, then hit the dude in the face with his briefcase and hauled ass out of there. "Catch!" He told Maddox. He tossed his briefcase to him and pulled his keys from his pocket. He unlocked the car and started it with the keyless entry. They got in and drove away. "SHIT! THAT WAS CLOSE!" Jeremiah was pounding on the wheel out of sheer excitement as they drove away.

Maddox was fuming. He looked to him, "I told you to keep me out of your shit because of my wife. You really that fuckin selfish, knowing i could lose her if we end up getting caught because of your bullshit?!"

"It was just some weighted dice. Chill ... Besides ... She won't leave you, man. And look! We got away clean."

"Principle man, principle. Take me home."

"Damn dude. Lighten up!" Jeremiah smiled, "how much you win? Huh? How much?"

"7 Gs.." he paused, "and i'm not kidding, take me home."

"I got 15. Just show her the money and you be alright." They drove to Maddox's house. "I'll see you Sunday for the game."

"Yep.." they slapped hands and Maddox got out and went inside his house.

Janine hadn't long gotten home. She was standing in the foyer with her heels in one hand and cell phone in the other. She'd just opened her Messages to send one to Maddox when she heard the door open. She turned, "there you are."

"Hey love..." he grabbed her by her head and kissed her lips, "i missed you."

"I missed you too. Anya and the girls and i went for happy hour." she started walking off but looked at the briefcase, "what's that?"

"Nothing baby, just did a little light gambling," he sat it on the coffee table.

Janine frowned but also smiled a little, "at least you didn't come home broke."

"I want you to take half of it and do whatever you want with it. I'm putting the rest in our retirement savings."

She laughed, "just put it all in there. We're about to start having kids and kids are notoriously expensive."

"True..." Maddox sighed, loosening his tie.

"You okay?" she looked him over a good while.

"Just a little pissed, but I'll be cool baby, dont worry. Want to get a shower in?" He pulled the tie off and then started unbuttoning his shirt as they stood in the livingroom.

She dropped her heels and took her hair down. She didn't know what he got into while gambling but he looked tense. Must have been with that fucker Jeremiah. Walking to him, she helped him undo his pants then took off her dress, "let's go."

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Undercover Superstar - 17

 | Half Hour Later |

    They danced to KBs record and had a couple of drinks. Janine had loosened up considerably and it was what she needed. All it really meant was she didn't want to shoot him in the face with the shotgun she had but hadn't touched since she moved. They stopped momentarily and leaned on the railing. She thought about telling him to call her but wasn't sure if that was what she wanted. She didn't know what she wanted at all. She stood there trying to figure it out and blurted out, "ever come to Texas?"

    "Only twice in my entire life ..." he scooted closer to her, "should i ..... Go to Texas?"

    She shrugged, "we have one season. Hot. I can't trust you." Janine frowned, her own response didn't even make sense to her.

    He laughed, "me either, I'm too unreliable, i fuck shit up for myself all the time."

    "At some point, trust will not be optional."

    "I know that... Trust me i know."

    "I'm here until Sunday afternoon. We should talk somewhere that isn't a club." Janine looked around the club ... Anywhere but at him.

    "You name the place and the time."

    "Tomorrow. Central Park Zoo at noon? No ... Too public. We could eat lunch at Extra Virgin on 4th."

    "Ok, I'll cancel my meetings..." Maddox smiled.

    "You don't have to do that."

    "I know, but I'm going to."

    "Ok ... Then. I'll see you tomorrow," smiling a little, "i better get back ... To KB."

    He nodded, "ok..." He then leaned into her and kissed her temple.

    After that, they went their separate ways. Janine looked around and found KB in the middle of some folks, and Tarin off to the side taking pictures. She got 2 drinks, then joined Tarin and handed her one. "What was that all about?" Tarin smirked, "he trying to win his spot back?"

    "Yes," Janine sighed, "and doing a really good job at it. I really hate that." Despite the fact that Janine gave no details as to why they broke up, she let whoever run rampant with their own opinions.

    "Make him work hard, at least, girl."

    Janine agreed, "I live in Texas anyhow. It's not like things will be like they were before."

| The Next Day - Noon |

    Janine was sitting in a booth towards the back of the restaurant when she saw a flock of people moving around the window. Camera flashes followed and she knew Maddox had shown up. He walked in the place and Janine held her hand up when she stood. He smiled and pulled her into a hug, "how are you?"

    "I'm good," she rubbed his back and then sat down. "How is your day? You had to move around a lot of stuff?"

    "3 meetings, but its fine. Just music stuff. New record coming out at the beginning of the year."

    "So about ... Us. What do you want to do? Cause i don't know."

    "Well, I'll get a house in texas, so i can properly court you."

    Right then she laughed, "you're going to court me. My grandmother is going to love you."

    "Absolutely, you think i dont know how to work for mine?" He paused, "but your father already hates me ... Dammit."

    "My mom will love you. She doesn't know anything so my dad will have to suck it up."

    "Well that's the plan..."  He smiled.

    "Okay then. We start over ... Sort of."

| 2 months later |

    Maddox ended up buying a nice condo, somewhere in Dallas that had two bedrooms. One was his and another was for Janine whenever she decided too come over. He stocked it with: clothes, jewelry, shoes, a vanity, a chaise, and basically any girly thing she'd need to be comfy at his house. In his new Texas surroundings, it humbled him so he wore jean shorts, Jordan's and polo's a lot, but never sacrificed his grooming, always had a tight fade, and pearly write teeth  Janine was on her way up in the elevator to check out his new place.

    She'd just left school and therefore was dressed teacher appropriate in khaki Capri's, flats, and a blue button up with the school logo on it. She'd planned on changing when she got there anyway. He opened the door and she whistled, "first time Ive been in The W. Well, I came once to get waxed at the spa downstairs but never been up here."

    "Welcome..." He pecked her on the lips.

    "You look comfortable," she walked in further.

    "I am, I use to dress like this all the time." He looked down, "look good?"

    "I love it. And don't be alarmed when you see me in cowboy boots. I wear them often."

    "So, does your dad know i live here? That we're, back together?"

    She nodded and looked around, "I told him. He yelled at me and I gave him a piece of lemon pie."

    He laughed, "distraction, i love it," he wrapped his arms around her from behind and began to kiss her neck.

    "You have plans today?" She smiled, "that's not Adidas you're wearing. What is that?"

    "Gucci ..." Maddox brought his teeth to her ears, "I just got turned on.." The wind could blow and Maddox could get turned on.

    Janine chuckled, "stop messing around." She gently slapped his leg, "at least let me get a shower and change before you get going."

    "Naw, i want you dirty..." He turned her around, and put her over his shoulder.

    "Oh wow ..." She laughed again as he took her to the bedroom.

Later |

     When they were done and showered and changed, Janine sat in her favorite spot, with her legs laid across his lap, "is this like Tennessee?"

    "Tennessee is more country, more green too."

    "Smaller ..." She nodded. "I can see that. How long are you here this trip?"

    A week," he massaged her feet.

    "Would you mind if I needed to grade papers while I'm here? Or you want me to do that at home before i get here. It's math. It will take a bit."

    "You can do it here, of course.."

    "What a sweet pea. How is your family? Especially your extra sweet grandma."

    "Great, ya-ya keeps asking about you... She asked when we were getting married, i told her next fall," he snickered.

    She smiled and shook her head, "how old is she? She probably does want to see you married soon since you're already in your mid thirties."

    "She's 84."

    "Doesn't look it. My grandmother doesn't look her age either. At least we'll be very good looking in our old age."

    "Get old? I'm staying right where i am. 36 agrees with me."