R. Mathewson - Perfection

Okay, that wasn't very likely to happen, but at least by then she wouldn't be able to afford food for herself since she had two Bradfords to feed. It would be fine, because she'd be so busy trying to take care of her babies to think about Trevor.

She'd be fine.

Really.

Now if she could only believe that everything would be okay.

How in the hell had he fucked up so badly? he wondered as he signaled for the bartender.

It was that damn arrangement.

Of all the fucked up things he'd done in his life that was one he wished he could go back and change that night. He'd probably already been half in love with the stubborn woman when he'd come up with that asinine idea. What in the hell was wrong with him suggesting something like that?

If his mother was still alive she'd bitch slap him into tomorrow for pulling that shit. She'd raised him to respect women even if he didn't particular care for them and his uncles backed up that little lesson with the unspoken promise of an ass whooping if he ever forgot. Before Zoe there was no question that he'd been an asshole, still was, but he'd never treated any of the women in his life the way he treated her, like she was nothing but a convenience to him.

The fucked up part about the whole thing was that the only woman he'd ever truly cared about and loved was the one he treated like she didn't exist while he paraded women around who he couldn't have given a flying fuck about because of the way they looked.

He let out a humorless snort of laughter at that.

Most of the women he'd dated in the past had annoyed the shit out of him and could never manage to keep his attention, but his frumpy little tenant had him practically drooling after her twenty-four-seven. He was so fucking in love with her that he felt sick and empty when she wasn't around and so unbelievably happy when he saw her that he couldn't believe his own stupidity.

This was all his fault. If he could go back and change things he would. Instead of offering sex like he was doing her a favor he should have done what any normal man would do for the woman he couldn't stop thinking about and asked her out, begged if he had to. He loved spending time with her and could easily think of a thousand things he'd like to do with her, but he'd been stupid and selfish.

If only he could go back and change things......

Well, he wouldn't change the pregnancy. It had only been a day since he found out about it, but already he was excited about the future. It didn't matter if his baby had reading problems like him, he'd be there for his kid and support him and of course teach him how to beat the shit out of anyone who made fun of him. Of course Jason's kids would probably be insanely smart and hopefully would be there for Trevor's kid the way Jason had been there for him.

He hoped his child didn't have an obsession with food, but judging by the way Zoe was devouring her burger he figured that wish was useless. Wait a minute........

Hadn't Zoe ordered baked ziti for herself? He sighed heavily as he gestured for the busy bartender once again. Well, it looked like he was going to go hungry for the next six or seven months, which was fine with him. As long Zoe and his baby were happy then he'd learn to deal.

But she certainly didn't look happy, not the way she had when he showed up at their bedroom door with flowers. Then she'd looked so heartbreakingly beautiful with that little shy smile. It didn't hurt that her outfit highlighted all of his favorite curves. He had to stop himself from grabbing her and showing her how much he liked what he saw and remind himself that they had a date.

A date that was not going very well, which again was all his fault. If he hadn't gone out of his way to ignore her and try to keep her at an arm's length he wouldn't be in this mess right now. She didn't believe that he loved her or wanted her, which now that he thought about it was pretty fucking stupid.

How the hell could she not see that he was in love with her?

Had he dated or shown any interest in any woman since they came together? No. He'd been faithful to her even if she hadn't expected it. He'd also spent every free second of his time with her and came up with a million excuses just to be near her. Hell, he even told the woman that he loved her, he thought, getting a little angry over all the bullshit.

"What can I get you?" the bartender asked when he finally came over.

"All set," Trevor said instead of ordering the apple juice Zoe had asked him to get just to make him to leave the table, because she was angry with him and everyone who wouldn't take a fucking hint and leave him alone or because she was a sneaky little food thief, he didn't know, but right now he also didn't care. They had some things to settle and they were damn well going to settle them now.

"Why the hell did you just brush me off like that?" Hank demanded, stepping in his path and blocking him from his goal.

"Because I was busy just like now," he said, moving to step around the man only to find himself blocked again. Why in the hell hadn't he told this douche bag off years ago? He couldn't stand the prick on a good day and today definitely was not a good day.

"I don't understand your problem," Hank said, shoving his fingers through his overly gelled hair. "Every time I offer to do you a favor by introducing you to some really hot women you blow me off. Maybe instead of acting like an asshole you could show me some appreciation by stop busting my balls and coming to meet some of these women," he said, raising his voice with every word so that everyone around them could hear, including Zoe.

He didn't need this asshole making things more difficult and to be honest, and really when was he not honest with himself? he was sick and tired of dealing with him.

"My problem is that you can't take a fucking hint. I have no interest in being your wingman. Unlike you, I don't need help to get laid. Now get the fuck out of my way. I have something a hell of a lot more important to do than stand here and deal with your bullshit," he said, shouldering his way past the man as he headed towards Zoe, who looked a little nervous.

Good.

He wanted her nervous because that meant she was no longer sure that he was playing around. By the time he was through with her she was going to know exactly how much he loved and adored her. Hell, by the end of the night he fully expected an apology for ever doubting him, accompanied of course with one of her delicious sandwiches otherwise the apology didn't count. Then he would-

"Maybe if you weren't so busy sniffing around some fat ugly bitch you wouldn't need my help," Hank announced smugly as he gave Trevor's shoulder a good shove.

The first punch had been automatic and so quick that he hadn't really had much time to think about it. By the fifth punch he wasn't thinking about anything else but killing the bastard.

"Don't you ever call her that again," he snapped, following the bastard to the floor with a wild punch as he shrugged off several guys trying to pull him off the sobbing man.

"Stop!" Zoe cried as she latched onto his arm just as he pulled it back to let it go flying again. "Please stop!"

Somehow he managed to stop, but just barely. Panting heavily, he stood up and took Zoe's trembling hand into his. After one last glare at the man cowering on the floor he pulled Zoe behind him, dropping enough money to cover their tab on their table and headed for the door. He wasn't too surprised when he found Jeff, the manager, waiting for him.

"You're banned," the man informed him as if he really gave a damn.

With a curt nod he continued out the door, dragging Zoe with him. He wanted to go back in there and beat the shit out of the man until he passed out and then do it again when the son of a bitch came to.