Collusion

Chapter 2-4

Jay immediately went into undercover mode when we reached the zoo, putting on sunglasses and a Phillies cap to avoid being recognized. Normally he didn’t mind being recognized, but during his weekends with his son, he preferred to be incognito. Still, even with the hat and sunglasses, people sometimes figured out who he was. One time, a man approached him while we were out and asked, “Aren’t you Jay Tanner from Channel 2?”

“Sorry,” Jay told him. “Wrong guy.”

The man looked confused. “You look just like the weatherman on Channel 2,” he said.

“Why’d you lie to him?” I asked after the guy walked away.

“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “I guess I just didn’t feel like being Jay Tanner today.”

Our visit to the zoo started off well enough. The weather was great, the place wasn’t terribly crowded, and everyone seemed to be having a good time…at first. Jay’s son was so excited to see the animals and other assorted wildlife that keeping an eye on him turned into a full-time job for Jay, me, and Olivia. We couldn’t turn our backs for one second without Brian trying to take off because something caught his attention. After the two-year-old had a temper tantrum in the parking lot when Jay tried to get him into his stroller, we left it in the car and all took turns either holding his little hand while he walked or carrying him (when he’d let us). In spite of those minor mishaps, things went pretty well. Jay and Olivia were cordial enough to each other and I was just starting to relax myself when we stopped for ice cream. Jay bought Brian an ice cream sandwich and the boy managed to get a third of it in his mouth, another third on his sweater, and the final third on the ground. Unfortunately, the chunk that fell to the ground was enough to make him burst into tears and nearly send Jay over the edge.

“Great,” he said, throwing up his hands. “Just great.”

While Olivia took Brian to the ladies’ room to get him calmed down and cleaned up, I volunteered to go back to the car and get the stroller, mainly because I hoped Brian would ride (and eventually sleep) through the rest of the zoo exhibits, but also to get away from Jay. I wasn’t in the mood to listen to him b***h about the mess his son had made. The walk to and from the car gave me time to calm down, too. Unfortunately, when I returned with the stroller, my anxiety level shot right back up when I found Jay and Olivia arguing with each other.

“You are so ridiculous, Olivia,” he said, shaking his head.

“Every word out of your mouth is ridiculous, Jay,” she responded.

“Well, it’s wonderful to see you two enjoying each other’s company once again,” I commented.

Olivia shot me a dirty look before carrying Brian off to see the penguin pool several feet ahead.

“What the hell was that?” I asked Jay after she was out of earshot.

“I’m so sick of her s**t, Brian,” he said. “She’s got a nice ass, but I’m tired of kissing it.”

“You’re the one who wanted her to come along.”

“I know. Obviously, that was a mistake.” Jay watched his son smile and clap his little hands as he and Olivia watched a penguin that appeared to be doing a little dance in front of them. Jay snorted. “At least someone’s having a good time with her.”

Little Brian was indeed enamored with Olivia, so much so that after we drove her home that afternoon, he threw a fit when she got out of the car and wailed all the way back to the condo. Thankfully, he cried himself to sleep just as Jay was pulling the car into the underground garage.

“I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” he said after he’d gotten Brian settled in the spare bedroom.

I handed him a beer from the refrigerator and grabbed another for myself.

“Maybe I should just scrap this whole visitation thing and let Meghan deal with him all day every day,” he said, throwing himself onto the sofa.

I sat down beside him. “Then you’d never see your son.”

“He doesn’t want to see me anyway! Maybe if I looked like a hot black chick, he’d be more receptive to my company.” Jay frowned before taking a swig of his beer. “I love my son and, when he gets older, I’m sure we’ll have a great time together. But right now, he’s a pain in the ass. The crying, the whining, the acting out, it’s annoying as hell. Meghan spoils him.”

“Maybe so, but at least she lets you spend time with him. I’m actually surprised you’re allowed to have visitation with him at all. I mean, as a gay man living with another man, I could see a judge looking at the situation and just denying any kind of visitation outright.”

“It pays to have a very good attorney.”

We clinked beer bottles on that.

“But that doesn’t mean I can let my guard down with Meghan. You know she’s always threatening to drag me back into court over some frivolous bullshit.” He sighed and leaned back against the sofa cushions. “Women can drive you crazy.”

“So can men.”

“Yeah, but women are an entirely different breed of crazy. Trust me. Take Olivia, for instance. I tried to be nice to her today, and she still acted like a total b***h. She was just itching for a fight with me. I really think she gets off on it.”

“Seriously, Jay? Come on.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Why do you always take her side against me?”

“I’m not taking anyone’s side. I think you both are being equally ridiculous.”

Jay c****d his head. “Really? Just remember who you’re sleeping with every night.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Hey, I know where my loyalties lie.”

“And I don’t?”

He shrugged as he rose from the sofa. “I have no idea, Brian. I really don’t,” he said before heading to the spare bedroom to check on his son.