by J. L. Beck
“I’m done listening to you stick up for him. Sit down and think about what you did to get into this situation. Now you have no one but me to support you and that damn baby. What the hell were you thinking, Bridget?” He sneered, slamming a cupboard or two. My heart was breaking at his choice of words. The roaring of a motorcycle filtered in through the front windows and my heart leapt into my throat as I caught a glimpse of Reid pulling into the driveway.
“Reid’s here.” I hollered to my dad, who stomped across the kitchen and into the living room. His fists were clenched at his sides.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” He growled, going to the door before I could. Reid shoved off the bike and strolled up the sidewalk, his form oozing confidence and darkness. This was my knight, my protector, my future and not even my daddy was going to stand in the way of him, of us. I rubbed my clammy palms against my shirt before following behind Daddy. He pulled the door open, a scowling forming against his features.
“Parker.” Reid greeted him, a smile pulling at his lips the second he saw me.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Venom dripped from my dad’s words.
“I’m here for her.” Reid pointed at me, and my father’s eyes moved from Reid and back to me. Anger vibrated through him.
“You aren’t taking her anywhere, not after what you got her in to. She’s pregnant, Reid, and all because I trusted you to protect her, to watch over her, instead you let her whore herself out to anyone and everything.” Reid went from happy to angry in seconds, and I was stuck in the middle, my mouth hanging open at my father’s words.
“Whore? Did you just call your daughter a fucking whore?” Reid was toe-to-toe with my father and I knew a fight was seconds away from breaking out.
“If she doesn’t want to be called one, then maybe she shouldn’t act like one.” The words were barely out and Reid was slugging my father in the face, his fist colliding with his nose, a loud crunching sound filled the air.
“She’s mine, and the baby in her belly is mine. I’ve wanted her since she was sixteen, but I knew better than to cross that fucking line, but now…” Reid’s dark gaze lifted to mine as my father rolled over, cradling his nose in his hands. “Now, I don’t give a fuck. You can say whatever you want about me, but don’t say a fucking word about Bridget.”
I was a ball of emotions. Angry at my father, at myself, at Reid for having to put him in his place. I wanted this to go smoothly, not cause a big huge argument. I wanted my father to be a part of mine and the baby’s life, and I wanted him and Reid to have a friendship.
“You’re my best friend, Reid. How could you even do something as nasty as that?” Horror etched into my father’s features. Didn’t he understand love?
“It might be wrong in your eyes, but in mine it’s beyond fucking right. You’re my closest friend so I’ll let what you said go, but if you ever talk about Bridget, your daughter, my future wife like that again I will knock you the fuck out.”
“Reid.” I whimpered, wanting the moment to end. All I wanted was to be in Reid’s arms and away from the hate and anger.
“Marry? You can’t marry her, Reid.” I could see my father grasping at straws, trying his hardest to find a way to keep me here.
“I can and I will. She’s carrying my baby, and I’m going to do the right thing and put a ring on her finger, making her mine for as long as we both live.” Reid’s eyes bled into mine. My heart was aching, bleeding for him.
“If you do this, Bridget, you will never be welcome in my house again.” I watched as my father, the man that raised me, push up from the floor. He was angry right now, but eventually he would come around, he would have to.
“She won’t need to be welcome in your house. She has me now.” Reid stepped around my father and extended his hand out toward me.
“I have to get my backpack.” I moved toward the hallway, grabbing the bag I had hidden in the linen closet last night.
“You can’t do this, Reid.” My father was pleading with Reid as I reappeared.
“I can and I am. I love her, Parker, and if you can’t or won’t understand that, then that’s on you. When you’re ready, you can come and visit. Until then, stay the fuck away from us.” Reid’s words held a warning and my father stared at both of us in disbelief as we walked toward the door. My father didn’t say another word, not even as we walked out the door and toward the bike. As soon as we were out of earshot, Reid cupped me by the cheeks and pressed his lips against mine.
“I’ve missed you so fucking much, kitten, it’s not even funny.” He whispered between kisses. I missed him, too, more than he would ever know.
“Do you think he will be okay?” I asked, worry, and guilt eating away at me. I wanted to run back to Daddy and hug him, tell him I was sorry but I couldn’t. I was angry and hurt.
Reid grunted in response to my question.
“He just needs time to come to terms with what is going on and when he does everything will be okay. I’m done hiding my desire and need for you and if that hurts your father, then so be it. He’s my friend, and I respect him, but me loving you don’t have to hurt him.”
Reid was right, and even though I knew that, the tears still slipped from my eyes. I felt like I was losing a member of my family. The only person I have ever really had.
“Shhh, kitten. I’ve known your daddy for a long time. He’ll come around. He’s just a hard ass.” Reid assured me, releasing my face, and helping me onto the back of the bike. I adjusted my backpack and settled onto the leather seat.
“We’re going to need to get a minivan.” I joked, taking the helmet as he settled it into my hands. I slipped in on, feeling the tightness against my head. Reid examined it making sure it was snug and in place.
Where was his helmet?
“We will talk about that. I’m not sure I’m ready to rock a minivan yet but we will see.” He smirked, and butterflies fluttered in my belly. Reid. The dark knight. The man I craved and desired since day one was now mine.
“I love you.” I whispered, thinking he couldn’t hear me.
“I know, kitten, and you know I feel the same way.” He took the seat in front of me, bringing out bodies together. I wrapped my arms around his middle as he started the bike. I could see the front door of the house was still open, and a sadness clung to me. I hoped Reid was right that he would come around, eventually.
“Ready?” He hollered over the roar of the motorcycle. The engine vibrated through my thighs, sending pluses of pleasure straight to my core.
“Whenever you’re.” I squeezed him tighter, his scent, and the warmth of his body against mine calmed me. Everything was going to be okay so long as Reid was beside me.
EPILOUGE
One Year Later
REID
The phone rang and rang. Patience wasn’t a strong suit of mine but I stayed on the line, and thankfully there was an answer a few seconds later.
“Hello?” Parker’s tone was full of confusion and bit of irritation.
“Parker, hi. I’m not going to pussyfoot around this and ask how you’re doing and all that bullshit, because I knew you well enough then to make small talk. Come to dinner with me tonight at six. We need to talk.” I was straightforward and waited for his response as he sighed heavily and grumbled into the speaker.
“Where at? Usual spot we used to go?” He asked sharply.
“Yes. I’ll make reservations now for six o’clock. See ya then.”
Parker ended the call without saying goodbye and I shook my head. This wasn’t going to be an easy dinner tonight, but I had to do what I had to do. I typed the number to the restaurant into my phone and made the reservations for this evening.
Parker hadn’t come around when it came to Bridget and I, but he didn’t make any comments about us being together, and we never heard from him unless it was something that had to do with Ellie, mine and Bridget’s baby girl.
I watched Ellie as she laid on her pink soft fleece blanket sprawle
d out in the middle of the floor, playing with her toys and cooing. She had bright blue eyes like me and Bridget’s cute little button nose. I had never been happier in my life and I never thought the day would come that I’d be a dad, but here I was.
Admiring the beautiful little being Bridget and I had made together, a child of fate and pure love. She was everything and the longer I watched her, the more I thought about giving her brothers and sisters. I wanted more of our love running around and eventually making differences in the world around us.
“Do you think Mommy and I should give you a brother or sister next?” I asked her softly. It was just Ellie and I here during the day with Bridget gone at classes I made her enroll in.
Her education was important to me as was her happiness, and I was more than capable of caring for Ellie even if the shitty diapers made me gag. I wouldn't change any of this for the world. I was wrapped so far around both of my girls’ pinkies and I always would be. I’d do anything in my power to protect these two and to make them happy.
The day slipped by us in a breeze and it was nearing time for me to meet Parker at the halfway point. Bridget had just gotten home from classes and I was rushing to leave.
“Where are you going? Why the rush?” Her eyes widened as though she was thinking something was wrong.
“Oh, just a last minute business meeting I have to attend.” I hated lying to her.
“Business meeting? I thought your work was all done at home now?” She questioned.
“I know, I know. It is, but unfortunately the client wants to talk numbers over dinner and this is one of our biggest clients. I promise I won't be long.” I placed a soft kiss to her forehead and tilted her chin upwards leaning down to kiss her against the lips.
Then I walked over to Ellie who was lounging in her swing and I kissed her adorable chubby cheek.
“Daddy loves you, Princess.” I whispered softly, and she smiled a big gummy smile.
I kissed Bridget once more before rushing out the door and hopping onto my motorcycle.
After about an hour drive I finally pulled into the parking lot of the steakhouse and I saw Parker standing out front puffing on a cigarette.
Something I hadn’t seen him do since we were in the military together. I took a deep breath and let it out, prepping myself for the talk that neither of us wanted to have. I nodded at him since we’d made eye contact and I shuffled over, quickening my steps as it started to sprinkle.
Great. I rode my bike here so no matter what we’d or at least I would be stuck here until the rain stopped.
We walked in together, not even exchanging a word to each other. I was here for Bridget that was it. The hostess seated us with a smile leaving us to ourselves.
“What do you want?” Parker asked impatiently as soon as the hostess sat us down at our table, and I frowned, hating that my best friend and I were nothing more than acquaintances.
“First and foremost, I wanted to meet up and discuss you seeing, Ellie.” I paused, taking a sip of water from the glass in front of me. “I’m going to be taking Bridget out for a weekend away but we’ll need a babysitter, someone we trust, someone we know will protect her like she is theirs….” Parker and I might’ve had a falling out, but I knew more than anyone that Parker would protect his granddaughter with his life.
“Okay, consider it done. I’ll watch her. I have no problem watching my grand baby.” I smiled. I already knew he would say yes, the hard part was getting him to agree to letting me marry Bridget.
He licked his lips and eyed my hand where the tiny box was sitting. I placed it on the table in front of him.
“What’s that?” He narrowed his eyes on the small black velvet box and then looked up, meeting my eyes with a glare.
“That’s my promise to, Bridget, to my daughter, to protect and uphold my promise to be the man they both need. I want to make Bridget my wife, but I’m going to do it the right way.” I paused, my hands were sweaty, and my belly was nothing but knots.
“Are you asking me if I approve of you marrying my daughter?” There was a smugness to Parker’s voice that I didn’t like.
“Yeah, I fucking am, but not because I need your approval to do so, but because I respect you and care about you, and want you to know and approve. I’m not required to get your approval, your daughter’s old enough to make her own choices. But I would like for you to put hard feelings aside so I can have your blessing.” I withheld the disdain from my voice. I didn’t want this moment to turn ugly. I wanted us to be on good terms.
“Hey…” Parker called to the waitress. “Can you get us two beers please?” I exhaled, feeling as if I could finally relax into my chair.
When Parker turned his attention back to me he spoke, “I want you to know that my disapproval of you being with Bridget was out of fear. She’s my little girl, my baby, or at least she was…” He trailed off. I knew how he felt about Bridget, his heart beat started and ended with her, same with me.
“I’m not going to hurt her. Not ever. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not twenty years from now. She is mine. My forever.” I sounded possessive as fuck, but I was. What was mine, was mine and no one, not even Parker, was going to act like I would hurt, Bridget?
Parker smirked as the waitress sat two beer bottles on the table in front of us. “I guess I should be grateful that she found someone now, and that I didn’t have to endure the college days.” I couldn’t help but sigh at his comment. Picturing my sweet, naïve kitten in college, with a bunch of frat boys’ eyes all over her.
It made my blood boil.
“I would kill anyone who touches her.” I took a long pull from the beer my eyes never wavering from Parker’s. This was my best friend, the man that knew me inside and out.
“You’ve got my approval and my blessing. I just want to see you two happy, and of course, I want to make sure Ellie has a good life.” Parker finally spoke, and my body calmed, knowing I had his approval. Like I had said before I didn’t need his approval, but I wanted it.
“Thank you, you have no idea how much this means to both Bridget and me.” I could finally relax and enjoy the idea of engagement. I had wanted to marry my kitten since the day she told me she was carrying my child, but I knew that everything came with time.
“Just don’t let me down.” He mumbled around the beer bottle. We were okay now, not perfect, not happy, but in a place where we could agree to give Bridget and Ellie the best in life.
“I won’t, Parker. I never have before and I won’t start now.” I assured him. We ordered our food and made small talk the rest of the time. I plucked the ring up off the table before we said our goodbyes. I was beyond excited to have Parker’s blessing and it would be even greater when I saw Bridget’s face sparkle with excitement as I placed the diamond ring on her finger.
***
Our sweet baby girl cooed in the baby swing in the living room while I worked on dinner. My naughty little kitten would be home any second now and I wanted everything to be perfect when she walked in.
I moved between the kitchen and the living room checking on Ellie. She was a little thing just like her momma. I heard the sound of the garage door opening and knew Bridget was finally home, and just in time since Ellie had just fallen asleep. I tiptoed into the kitchen and lit the candles along the island and dining room table.
“Reid, what the heck…” Her soft voice was music to my ears, making my heart beat faster in my chest. Her eyes collided with my smoldering ones as she closed the door softly behind her. She looked around, her eyes scanning over Ellie in her swing before coming back to mine. I smirked, knowing she was all mine.
“I wanted to do something special for you, kitten.” I spoke in soft low tone as she walked toward me, reaching my hands out to grip her by her waist. She stood on her tippy toes and pursed her plump lips, leaning down to where my lips met hers we kissed. Every time was always as powerful as the first time our lips ever touched.
“Why’s that, babe?” She asked, a smile pu
lled at her lips and I wanted to kiss her again, but I didn’t. I returned the smile and slid my hand down to her ass, gripping it in my palm and she giggled.
That is all mine, this is mine. Forever.
“Because I love you. I want to take you out, just a little weekend getaway. We won’t be away from Ellie long.” I spoke, scanning her eyes seeing the wash of anxiety come over her as she thought about being away from Ellie for the first time.
I already knew she would be worried about daycare for the weekend, but I couldn’t tell her I already spoke with Parker about him keeping Ellie for us. The surprise I had planned for her burned a hole in my pocket. I was ready to make her my wife. Ready to make my family whole, and us becoming one would make it that way.
“Who will watch Ellie?” She was fear stricken, and I found it to be adorable. I brushed a few strands of her soft brown hair out of her face and stared at her in awe.
“Reid, who is going to watch Ellie? I’m not leaving her with some random babysitter.” She frowned, and I decided to finally answer her.
“Your dad is on his way here now. I wanna take you somewhere special so hurry up and eat dinner with me and then get your ass in the car.” I ordered. Her mouth was popped open in disbelief.
“How did you get him to come watch her?” She was flabbergasted, her green eyes swirling with curiosity. I couldn’t tell her I went and saw him the other night, not just yet.
“He might not be onboard with us being together, but he loves Ellie more than anything.” I guided her in the direction of the kitchen where I had a pan of baked ziti, her favorite meal, cooling. She smiled up at me as I got two plates out and served up the food. Well, she uncorked a bottle of wine, pouring herself a glass.
“I can’t believe we’ve been together over a year.” I lifted my eyes to hers as she brought the wine glass to her perfectly plump lips. I wanted to fuck her right here, right now on the table.
“I can’t either, kitten.” I mumbled, my mind drifting to other things, things that involved getting her naked and screwing her all over the house. I placed her plate in front of her before heading to my own spot on the other side of the table.