by Ciz, Alley
QUEEN OF SMUT: Hold up. I’m writing out of EP today. DO NOT
QUEEN OF SMUT: I repeat DO NOT say anything to the guys until I get there. I’m sure this will make for an epic scene in one of my books.
QUEEN OF SMUT: *GIF of kid with head bent over frantically writing in a notebook*
ALPHABET SOUP: YOU GUYS ARE SO NOT HELPING RIGHT NOW. THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
ALPHABET SOUP: HUGE
ALPHABET SOUP: EPIC
ALPHABET SOUP: SIT GAGE IN A CHAIR, SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON HIM AND QUESTION WHEN HE’S GOING TO PROPOSE AND GIVE MY MOM GRANDBABIES
ALPHABET SOUP: WE JUST STARTED DATING. HE’S GOING TO RUN SCREAMING FROM THE ROOM
MAKES BOYS CRY: Ooooo. Shouty Capitals. She means business girls
ALPHABET SOUP Can we cut the Fifty Shades references and get serious please
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Ok we’ll behave. Tell us what’s got your panties in a bunch
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: I DID NOT agree to behave
MAKES BOYS CRY: Me either
PROTEIN PRINCESS: Plus you know she doesn’t wear underwear at work. She never does underneath her leggings
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Me either. Thank god for kegels otherwise I’d have a serious problem after pushing the twins out my hoohah
ALPHABET SOUP: *screaming face emoji* *facepalm emoji* Gah. I need new friends
QUEEN OF SMUT: Chillax. I’ll bring you one of Lyle’s banana nut muffins when I come over
ALPHABET SOUP: I’ll keep you. The rest of you bitches, I’m on the fence
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Hey! I take offense to that. But seriously what’s the problem? Gage sees your dad and uncle everyday training at the gym. I’m missing what the big deal is
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: And if it’s obvious I blame it on Mommy Brain
ALPHABET SOUP: The BIG DEAL is Gage and I officially became a couple like two seconds ago. Now he has to have dinner with my whole family.
ALPHABET SOUP: Did you guys not read what I sent earlier? That boy is going to run screaming for the hills
PROTEIN PRINCESS: We may have missed it while you were ranting.
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: Please. You may have only just put a title on it but that boy has wanted you from the jump.
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: You guys should have seen the way he looked at her that first night at The Ring.
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: *GIF of a girl fanning herself with her hand.*
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Hold on, there’s someone else we need to loop in for this. This is serious
THE BIG HAMMER (Jase): Holy Shit. I really get to be included in a group chat with The Coven??
THE BIG HAMMER: Is this real life
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Behave Jase or I’ll kick your punk ass out
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Now make yourself useful and help your bestie out
THE BIG HAMMER: What’s the sitch?
MAKES BOYS CRY: Omg! Did you really just quote Kim Possible???
THE BIG HAMMER: *GIF of Kim Possible saying “What’s the sitch?”*
ALPHABET SOUP: *facepalm emoji*
ALPHABET SOUP: *GIF of girl banging her head against the wall*
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: Gem is driving so I’m responding for her.
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: And she said we should probably focus before we break Rock *squirrel emoji* *Dory fish emoji*
THE BIG HAMMER: As honored as I am to be invited into the situation room for your plots on world domination and all… I do have to leave for morning skate in a few
MOTHER OF DRAGONS: Rock has to bring Gage to dinner with her family tonight and she’s a tiny bit nervous it might scare him off
THE BIG HAMMER: Are you kidding me Balboa?
THE BIG HAMMER: I swore he was going to release The Kraken on me when I came to visit you at the gym
THE BIG HAMMER: Guy’s got it bad for you
YOU KNOW YOU WANNA: Told you so
THE BIG HAMMER: Wait a second?? If you have to bring Gage to family dinner that means your dad knows you’re dating? Isn’t that against the rules? Weren’t you keeping it a secret?
ALPHABET SOUP: Kinda hard to keep it a secret when it’s splashed all over The Gram
QUEEN OF SMUT: Truth. But you gotta admit that post was totally swoon worthy
Rocky shook her head as she slipped her phone back into the pocket of her Flash leggings, staring down at the yellow lightning bolts decorating the red material, trying to corral her scattered thoughts and emotions into some sort of order.
She knew the real problem had nothing to do with how her mom would inadvertently bring up wanting grandbabies, but if she didn’t use her friends to make her laugh, she would cry. She needed them to be her happy place if she was going to make it through the next six hours at the gym without turning into a basket case—that was the only reason she didn’t say anything about the breakup edict.
As if her father’s declaration wasn’t bad enough, she then had to sit there for almost an hour while they discussed the last few weeks of Vince’s training camp like he didn’t just ask her to dump her boyfriend for no other reason than “Because I said so.” She had never been so grateful to retreat to her own office for some alone time.
Pulling the sleeves to her black shirt so her thumbs could pop through the thumb holes, she tightened her ponytail and left the sanctuary of her office.
Maddey pushed through the doors of The Steele Maker, handing over the promised muffin, and, as if knowing caffeine was essential to process everything, she followed it up with another heavenly latte.
“I freaking love the crap out of you,” she said, cradling the paper cup to her chest.
“I know,” Maddey retorted, hopping up to sit on the reception counter.
A minute later the doors pushed open again, this time Beck and the guys entering.
“Did you tell them?” she asked Becky.
“What? And do your dirty work for you? No way.” Becky wore an evil smile as she leaned back on her elbows against the reception desk next to Maddey. “You think I wanted to miss the show?”
Sometimes she really questioned her ability at picking best friends. It was probably time to start accepting applications for new ones.
When she caught sight of her boyfriend—the boyfriend she was supposed to be breaking up with—the butterflies swarming in her stomach were for a completely different reason than the Survivor challenge masked as a family dinner later tonight.
Swaggering to the counter where she stood—yes, swaggered, the man oozed it from his pores like he did sweat during his workouts—he cast a quick glance around the gym and with the coast clear, hooked an arm around her waist, bringing her body flush against his, dropping a kiss that was more a brand than a kiss hello to her lips.
“Mmm, you taste good, babe,” he said loud enough for those around them to hear, before bringing his mouth down to her ear, whispering only for her, “Not that that’s something I haven’t said to you before.”
Hot damn.
The guy should come with a warning—will ruin your panties. Or in her case, she was double screwed since her friends were correct in that she wasn’t wearing any.
“It-It’s Lyle’s pecan pie latte.” Her words came out all breathy, as lust flooded her body. “It’s my favorite seasonal flavor.”
“Yup. It’s the best,” Becky agreed. “I think it’s described as better than sex.”
She watched Gage’s eyes flare at the words. Holy smolder, Batman. Things were creeping toward DEFCON 1 levels of needing a change of clothes.
“Challenge accepted.” His even tone promised more than the dirtiest words ever could.
How the hell do I give this up?
ON THE DAYS Rocky went into the gym early, Gage carpooled with the rest of the guys. For someone who grew up hanging out with mostly his cousin, assimilating into such a large squad was coming surprisingly naturally. He was sure it had a lot to do with a certain long-legged beauty with an ass that wouldn’t quit.
He was disappointed she didn�
�t wake him up when she left his place that morning, but seeing her smiling face when he entered The Steele Maker more than made up for it.
The first thing he did when he set eyes on his girl—after making sure the patriarch of the Steele clan wasn’t around—was claim the kiss he was deprived of earlier. As his tongue licked across the seam of her lips, he relished the taste of her. She always tasted delicious—a fact he could testify to because he’d spent almost as much time with his mouth on her body in the past week than not—but there was a lingering flavor of something sweeter.
Oh, shit.
The realization of what he did over the weekend hit him like an uppercut to the jaw. They were supposed to be keeping their relationship quiet. He shouldn’t even be kissing her at the gym, but he couldn’t help himself. But posting on his Instagram definitely wasn’t the smartest decision.
After coming to his senses and breaking the kiss, he noticed his girl didn’t look as blissed out as she normally did.
Hooking a finger under her chin, he tilted her face back up so he could see her silvery eyes.
“What’s up, Blue?” He loved the reminder of the dark hue in her hair.
Her bottom lip disappeared inside her mouth, her teeth sinking into the plump flesh, turning the edges white. He’d never seen her like this before and it was making him nervous.
“Well…I hope you didn’t have dinner plans tonight because we’re being summoned to a dinner at the Steele house this evening.”
Vince bent over in guffaws of laughter.
Rocky whipped her head around to lock onto her brother. “Oh, no. You too, jackass. It’s a family dinner.”
The way Vince’s face instantly sobered caused a niggling sense of nervousness in Gage’s body, but he’d met each member of the Steele family in the six weeks he’d been a member of The Steele Maker team. How bad could dinner really be?
Chapter Twenty-Six
At the front door of her parents’ house, Rocky stopped short from opening the door, causing Gage, Vince, Gemma and Becky to bump into her from behind at her abrupt action. With a fighter’s reflexes, Gage prevented her from taking a header into the door by wrapping an arm around her middle.
Shit, she was nervous. She couldn’t even bring herself to open the door.
“Blue?” His deep voice rumbled from behind her.
God, she loved that he called her that. It made her supremely grateful for the special blue shampoo she washed her hair with, giving her blue-black locks that little extra something to enhance the color.
“I want to apologize in advance for anything that might happen once I open that door.” Not to mention what she was supposed to do after, but she wasn't going to mention that part.
“It’ll be fine. I’m around most of your family every day. I promise I won’t run screaming from the room.”
No. But what would you do if you knew what my dad wanted me to do?
“Yeah, besides…” Vince’s words trailed off as he swallowed thickly. “It’ll be worse for me than you two. Now that you’re bringing a boy home, the moms are really going to put the screws to me. Asking me when I’m going to settle down with a nice girl of my own.”
Oh, Vin, if you only knew.
“Come on,” Gage prodded. “Open the door, Blue. They’re your family. They won’t bite.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. You haven’t met my mom yet,” Becky jokingly warned, so not helping the situation.
She pulled up her big girl panties and opened the door to the house she grew up in.
“We’re here,” she called out while they all hung their coats in the closet by the door.
“Perfect timing. The roast just came out of the oven,” her mom answered from the dining room tucked in the back of the house.
Reassured by Gage’s hand holding her own, she followed her brother and cousin down the hallway leading to the dining room. The television in the living room was turned on to a Blizzards game, the team playing in Dallas. She was too damn anxious to even check out how her friends were faring.
“Smells good, Mom,” Vince said, walking over to drop a kiss on their mom’s cheek.
“Thank you, honey. But I can’t take the credit. This was all your aunt’s doing.” Vicki Steele waved a hand over the spread laid out on the table large enough to seat twelve.
Becky, god bless her soul, took care of making introductions between Gage and her mother, Tracy.
The ten of them took their places at the table. Rocky sitting to Gage’s right so his dominant hand was free and not trapped between them. The feel of his right hand holding her thigh under the table grounded her.
She prayed Gage would still want to date her by the time the night was over.
Then again, if he didn’t, it would solve one of her dilemmas.
* * *
The meal was over and everyone was settling in with after-dinner drinks and coffees, and Gage still hadn’t been able to pinpoint what Rocky had been so nervous about.
Getting to witness his hard-ass trainers in their natural habitat at home was an experience in and of itself. Watching two people known to make grown men cry in the gym become utter softies when it came to their wives was more fun than he would have thought. He’d make a joke about them being whipped, but one, he wasn’t an idiot and liked his head firmly attached to his neck where it belonged, and two, he was coming to understand the effect the love of a good woman could have on a man.
He gave Rocky’s thigh a squeeze under the table, and when she tilted her head to look at him, he dropped a gentle kiss on her temple. Something was up. She had been off all evening and it was more than just being nervous over a meal with her family.
“You know, I just don’t understand why you didn’t tell us Gage was your boyfriend, Raquel. Having to learn about your daughter’s relationship status on social media, well now,” Vicki scolded.
He felt Rocky wince at the use of her full name.
“To be fair…I wasn’t aware of the status until the post either.”
A smile bloomed at the major side-eye she shot his way.
“She’s right, Mrs. Steele. I guess I never did actually ask her.”
“Oh, Gage. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Vicki or Mama Steele?”
He chuckled. “I still can’t believe your names are really Victor and Victoria.”
“Oh, god. Don’t remind them.” Vic rested his head on his upturned hand. “Do you have any idea how many times I was subjected to that movie because of it?”
“Victor Victoria is a classic.” Hope Steele, Gemma’s mom, said.
“Yeah, don’t knock it,” Tracy Reese warned.
Over the course of dinner, he had quickly learned where Becky got her take-charge personality from. The older female Reese worked at the hospital and raised her daughter as a single mom. There wasn’t room for bullshit with the woman.
“What did your family say when you told them you were dating your new coach’s daughter?” Tracy asked the hard-hitting question.
Rocky stiffened beneath his hand. The tension he had felt earlier now radiated from her body.
“Well…when they called me when they found out, they were more interested in the fact I had a girlfriend than who she was,” he admitted.
“You mean you didn’t tell your parents either?” Vicki asked.
“Excuse me,” Rocky said, pushing back from the table.
He frowned as he watched her practically flee the room. Vince wore a similar expression when he caught him eyeing the doorway.
“No, ma’am.” He hoped his manners would earn him a few points as he tuned back into the conversation. “My cousin, Wyatt, informed them, after calling me and giving me sh—, I mean wringing me out for not telling him either.”
“You have family nearby?” Vicki asked.
“Yes. Wyatt moved out here with his high school sweetheart Beth after she was accepted to the U of J. They’re married now and expecting their first baby in a couple of weeks. W
e’re close like these guys.” He indicated the Steeles still at the table, wondering how long Rocky would be gone.
“High school sweethearts,” Hope said, looking at Mick adoringly. Both Steele brothers had met or started dating their wives in high school.
“He’s your age?” Tracy questioned while slowly stirring honey into her tea.
“We’re only a month apart.”
The look Vicki sent her son across the table made him incredibly grateful to not be the recipient of it.
“When are you going to settle down and meet a nice girl?”
“Geez, Mom.” Vince sent his mother a what the hell look from across the table. “I’m only twenty-five, give me a break. It’s not like I’m the last of the Mohicans or anything.”
She waved him off, as if he was being ridiculous. “Still…you’re getting up there.”
“And that’s my cue. Excuse me,” Vince said, dropping his eyes to Rocky’s empty seat before pushing away from the table.
Gage spent the next few minutes talking about his cousin’s upcoming baby. The conversation continued to flow easily until Vince shouted, “HE SAID WHAT?”
ROCKY RAN TO the bathroom, slamming and locking the door before collapsing back against it, hand to her chest to keep her heart from beating out of it.
She couldn’t do it. It was too much.
Against all odds, she was falling in love with Gage. How the hell was she supposed to break up with him? She had asked herself that exact question a million times already and was no closer to an answer than she was that morning.