Nine

  “My mind just went to a dirty place, and it doesn’t feel right thinking about those things while being here around all of these young bucks.”

  I bite my lip.

  “We could always take this conversation somewhere more private. Maybe the limo.”

  “Say no more.”

  He grabs my hand and pulls me toward the exit.

  We are practically running toward the limo and laughing all the way there. I almost feel like a teenager. We climb inside and slam the door closed. Trig raises the middle partition as I move in close to him. He pulls back.

  “Wait!” he says.

  I lean back.

  Trig reaches into his tuxedo pocket and pulls out a little black box.

  “Uh. Um.” A terrified feeling comes over me.

  He laughs. “It’s not what you think it is.”

  I sigh in relief. I don’t know how to be a wife. It sounds like too much responsibility. I’m barely learning how to be a girlfriend.

  He opens the box, and there inside, shines a beautiful emerald ring.

  “I love you, Nine. You’re the only woman I want to be with, and with that being said, I want to give you this beautiful ring…for your birthday.”

  I laugh. He had me going for a minute.

  “It’s not my birthday,” I smile.

  “No, but its Angelina’s birthday.”

  I dig through my clutch purse and pull out my passport. I quickly search for the date.

  He’s right. It totally is my birthday. My paperwork has Angelina’s birthdate marked for today. I laugh when I think about it. It’s confusing to have to start over with a completely new persona after all these years. I guess I need to become a little more familiar with Angelina’s data as well as Mike’s. It’s been hard to remember to call each other these new names that both of us dislike. We try to use them out in public, but if it’s just us talking to each other, we still use our old familiar names.

  I look down as Trig slides on my ring. I stretch out my fingers and examine it. The color is mesmerizing.

  “I hope you like it,” he says.

  “I love it. Thank you.”

  He leans back against the seat and studies me.

  “Do you want to go inside? Maybe do a little more dancing.”

  I consider it, and then I look at Trig in his suit, and I strongly believe I’ve got my fill of prom. We got dressed up, and we danced. They crowned us, and now there is only one thing left to do. I suck on my bottom lip and slowly shake my head.

  “No, I don’t.” I look at him with fuck-me eyes. “I want you to give it to me so hard I won’t even think of killing you for all of this tonight. That is what you said, right?”

  He licks his lips and looks at me with naughty eyes.

  “As you wish, but the only thing I want to see you wearing is that ring.”

  “I’ll leave on the heels for good measure, if that’s okay with you.”

  “You’re a very bad girl,” he says, as he leans forward

  “Come here. I’ll show you how bad I can be.” I motion for him.

  He drops to his knees in the limo and crawls over to me. He grips my waist, and with force, pulls me to the edge of my seat. I watch as he trails four fingers down my neck and chest and then to my stomach. Suddenly both of his hands move to my knees. He hooks them underneath each one and yanks me into him. I gasp.

  “Lucky for you, I know how to handle a bad girl, and it requires hard punishment.”

  “Handle me then,” I whisper into his ear.

  He lays me down on the seat and ends the night with hair pulling, name screaming, limo rocking, make you walk funny the next day type sex, and that’s what I call one hell of a prom night.

  Chapter 13. You Just Messed With the Wrong Pride

  Three and half years ago, Trig took me to prom, where we had mind-blowing sex in the back of a limo. Nine months later, life delivered us a little surprise named Mya, and she is exactly like her father.

  “Mommy, did you meet Daddy on the beach?”

  “No, baby. I didn’t.”

  “Did you meet him in a restaurant?”

  “No.”

  “Where then?”

  Her curious brown eyes look up from her coloring book. She blinks at me with those long black eyelashes as she waits for me to answer. A series of life events flashes through my mind and I can’t even answer her. I look over at Trig for help. He just shrugs as if to say, you’re on your own. I take a deep breath and pace myself.

  “I was staying at a hotel, and I fell really hard and hurt myself. I was in so much pain that I was yelling. I didn’t think anyone would ever come. I thought I might die laying there. That’s when Daddy rushed over and saved me. That’s it. That’s how we met.”

  She looks at me wide eyed. I see the crayon in her hand fall to the table.

  “Wow, you must have really hurt yourself. You should be more careful next time.”

  She pushes her chair back and jumps down to the floor, but not before grabbing her coloring book and crayons. I look back to Trig who has his hand over his mouth.

  “She’s a spitting image of you,” he says.

  “She sure didn’t get my personality though. That’s all you. She’s too calm to be a three-year-old. She’s always handing out grown-people advice. It’s crazy. Last night she told a man at the grocery store to avert his eyes, because her mother was taken.”

  Trig chuckles. “That’s my girl. She’s just looking out for you like I do.”

  “Great. I get two watchdogs for the price of one.”

  Trig walks up and snarls into my neck. I giggle and try to pull away.

  “I’ve been thinking about what you said last night, and I think you’re right, maybe we should just do it.”

  “Do it, as in get hitched?” he asks.

  “Mya is getting older. She’s starting to ask a hell of a lot of questions. I feel bad for lying about half of the stuff I do. I want to make it legit. She can be part of the wedding. I really feel like I might be ready.” I pause. “Are you?” I ask nervously.

  Trig rolls his eyes.

  “Baby, I’ve been ready. I’ve been waiting on you.”

  “I know. I just don’t want to be like my parents.”

  He puts his hands on my shoulders.

  “You’re nothing like them. Look at you. Look at Mya. You’re a great mom, and that little girl is happy. There’s no comparison. ”

  I blow out a gust of air in an attempt to stop the mom waterworks that I can feel building up. Trig has managed to open up the tender part of me since I met him, and Mya, well she just tore a big-ass hole through my heart. I never knew I could love someone the way I love my daughter. When I found out I was pregnant, I cried for a week straight. I was terrified that I would ruin her. I didn’t think I could be a good mother, but the minute she was born, I couldn’t put her down. I barely let Trig hold the baby, that’s how much I was in love with her. Everything came natural and my goal as a new mom was to give her the best life possible. I would give her the one I never had growing up, and with the money we make from Krackle Photos, it wouldn’t be hard.

  The business has been booming since we opened it three years ago. I’ve been focusing more on boudoir photos and my work can be seen in magazines, on book covers, and across the world. Trig likes simple photo shoots at gatherings, and together we kill it. We have jobs coming in left and right. Apparently, we’re the best around, and the people who hire us are primarily rich tourists that the locals suggest. The locals recommend us because Trig and I do a lot of charity work and community service. What better way to put some of that old blood money to good use, right? We made so much cash the first year from photo shoots that we took some illegal money and mixed it with some legit money and purchased a family home off the beach and a black Lexus SUV. Things couldn’t be better.

  I’m stuck in thought when I feel something pulling on my hand. I look down to see Trig on one knee. I shake my head, because I’m not sure if w
hat I’m seeing is happening.

  “I don’t have a ring, but we can immediately take you down to the jeweler and get one.”

  I clamp my lips in excitement.

  “Will you marry me, and we can officially be Mr. and Mrs. Krackle?”

  Suddenly Mya pokes her head in the kitchen door.

  “Do it,” she whispers, and then disappears behind the wall.

  I laugh.

  “Marry me. Love me. Consume me, baby.”

  Mya pokes her head out again.

  “Do it,” she whispers louder. This time she throws a crayon at me to get her point across. “You don’t want me to throw another,” she shouts.

  I give her the mom stare. She challenges me with her eyes. This girl does not back down. Maybe she does have a little of me in her. I look back at Trig.

  “Yes!”

  He springs up and grabs me in his arms. He twirls me around and kisses my cheek.

  “Mommy said yes, Mya,” Trig shouts.

  “It’s about time,” Mya says from somewhere in another room.

  We both chuckle.

  “We’re getting married,” I say, super excited. “This is crazy.”

  “It’s too late to change your mind. Mya heard you say yes.”

  “I wouldn’t dare.”

  I look at him unsure of what steps I need to take.

  “Do I buy you something? I don’t really know how this works. That sounds so bad.”

  “We can pick out rings at the same time.”

  Trig grabs both of my hands and kisses the top of them.

  “We do this together. We always have and we always will.”

  Mya marches in with her pink purse slung over her shoulder.

  “Are we going shopping or not? I just put my shoes on and I’m ready for the mall. I have a date at Build-A-Bear. A unicorn is waiting for me. We can’t be late.”

  I look down to see that she has both of her shoes on the wrong feet. I walk over and bend down to fix them.

  “Don’t you think you have enough stuffed animals?”

  “But Mom, this one is really special. He’s purple and has polka dots everywhere. He’s magical,” she whispers.

  “Every time you buy one, it’s magical,” I whisper back.

  “This is a celebration. Let the poor girl have a purple and polka dotted unicorn,” Trig says, while tossing popcorn in his mouth.

  “Yay,” she shouts, and jumps up and down. She runs over to him. He swoops her up in his arms.

  “But first we have to go buy Mom something magical.”

  He kisses her on her forehead and sets her down.

  “Okay,” she yells, and runs for the door.

  I roll my eyes at him. He gives that girl everything she wants. To use the word spoiled would be an understatement.

  “What? You heard Mya. He’s magical.”

  “Yeah. Okay. You spoil her, you know that?”

  “She’s Daddy’s girl. What else would you have me do, babe?”

  I shake my head and grab my keys. Trig and I walk toward the door to see Mya standing impatiently next to it. You would almost think she had to pee the way she was squirming to get out. Trig grabs her hand and out we walk. I look back at our beautiful house, and for just a slight second I remember everything it took to get here. Trig looks at me.

  “Are you ready?” He nods to the car.

  “Yeah. I am.”

  We get into the car and Mya immediately asks for my phone and ear buds. These little kids today can work electronics like no tomorrow, but they sure don’t know how to do the dishes. I hand it to her and within seconds, I can hear Sponge Bob blasting through the earbuds, so I know she can’t hear me.

  “Trig,” I say.

  “Yeah?”

  His eyes are focused on the road.

  “I don’t want to lie to her anymore. She keeps asking me, if your name’s Mike and my name’s Angelina, then why do we call each other Trig and Nine. Every time she sees the scar on my side or the scar on your arm, she wonders what happened. I just feel like I’m always lying to her about something. I don’t like it.”

  “You’re protecting her.”

  “I’m still lying.”

  I look back at Mya. Her eyes are glued to the screen with not a care in the world.

  “One day she’s going to be a woman, and one day she’ll understand, but right now the only thing she wants is a polka dot unicorn and her mom and dad to be happy.”

  He reaches over and squeezes my hand.

  “You’re right,” I say.

  “I know I’m right, and I know you probably better than you know yourself. This is just nerves. Mya is fine. Stop stressing.”

  “This is why I’m marrying you. You’re like my own personal therapist.”

  “I thought you were marrying me because of my good looks and my big—”

  I throw my hand over his mouth. He laughs.

  “There is a child in the car, Mike.”

  I use his secondary name, which makes him laugh even more.

  “I was going to say big heart. What did you think I was going to say?”

  “Oh, I know what you were going to say, and it wasn’t heart.” I smirk.

  We pull up to the mall, park, and go inside. Mya is dying to get over to Build-A-Bear, but I know once we go in, it’s going to be hours before we come out. We find the closest jeweler and enter the shop.

  “Good morning. Can I help you find something?” a sales clerk says.

  “Engagement ring,” Trig replies. “I’ve proposed about ten times, and she finally said yes today. Winning!”

  I elbow him in the side, while I keep a smile on my face. The woman chuckles.

  “Well, congratulations. Let me show you our rings.”

  “My mom likes diamonds,” Mya adds.

  “Well, then she’ll love these over here.” The woman points to a select area.

  We trail behind her and stop at a glass counter, where she makes her way around to the other side.

  “That one is gorgeous,” I say, leaning over the glass.

  “Which one,” Trig questions.

  I point to it, and then let my eyes bounce around to the different styles. I still keep drifting back to that one ring. It’s a three-stone princess cut diamond ring that has me sold already.

  “I really like that one, baby,” I say.

  “Get it then,” Trig responds.

  “Would you like to try it on first?” the sales clerk asks me.

  “Yeah. Can I ask the price first?”

  She reaches in and grabs the ring. I hold my breath while she pulls the little white tag out from inside it. Oh how the tides have changed. I used to spend money like nothing when I escorted, and now I find myself watching how we spend our income. This is family life though.

  “This one is eight thousand.”

  She hands it to me, and I slide it on my finger. It’s a little loose, but damn, it’s pretty.

  I look at Trig and I expect him to make a comment about the price, but he doesn’t.

  “Ring it up,” he says instead.

  “Did you not hear the price?” I whisper, as I take it off and hand it back to the woman.

  He ignores me and stares at the sales clerk.

  “Would this be all?” she says to him, completely ignoring me.

  I feel like I’m not even here now. What is happening?

  “I like this men’s band, but I’ll be back closer to the wedding date to get it.”

  I lean into Trig. “Eight grand! That ring is really expensive.”

  We make good money, but not even I’m comfortable spending that much on jewelry.

  “Do you like it?” he questions.

  “I love it.”

  “Then don’t worry about it.”

  He turns to the woman, and they start talking about some upcoming sales that are happening in the next few weeks, and how the band he wants will be half off then. I turn to Mya.

  “I think Daddy has lost his mind.�
��

  “Maybe that’s what love does to men,” Mya says and looks away.

  I chuckle and grab her hand.

  “Baby, come here. She needs to size the ring, send it out and then we can pick it up in about a week.”

  I walk over with Mya in hand. The sales clerk is holding a giant ring with a bunch of smaller rings attached to it. She looks at a few sizes and then holds one up. I slide my finger in, and it’s a perfect fit.

  “Size 6. I know my fingers,” she says with a smile.

  We fill out some paperwork and I see that the final balance says five thousand dollars. I’m thinking there must be a mistake, but who am I to correct her.

  “Thank you for your deposit. You can pay the remainder when you pick it up. We’ll give you a call when it’s ready.”

  We exit the store, and as soon as we turn the corner, I ask him about the receipt. “That ring was eight thousand dollars. The balance said five thousand. That’s got to be a mistake, right?”

  “I offered up three engagement photo shoots for her to giveaway to customers, if she took off three grand. I said she could use it as an incentive to get shoppers to spend a little extra money. She loved the idea.”

  “You are brilliant,” I say, and kiss him. “I almost passed out in there when I heard the price.”

  “It’s just money; we can’t take it with us when we die. You might as well have the things you enjoy on this earth while you’re here.”

  “I have you, and Mya, and that’s really all I need.”

  “So you don’t want the shiny diamond ring I saw you drooling over?”

  “I didn’t say that I didn’t want it.” I smile.

  Mya pulls us toward Build-A-Bear. Her little legs are going fast and hard to get there. She stops when she comes head to head with the purple polka dot magical unicorn model at the front of the store.

  “It’s you,” she whispers.

  Trig and I stare down and watch as the craziness unfolds. She reaches into the box and grabs a flat clothed unicorn out. She holds it up to her heart and talks to it.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll bring you to life, little guy.”

  She takes off to the stuffing guy while me and Trig sit down to watch her. I look at him staring at his daughter and it’s beautiful. He watches her like a lion does a cub, and I know he’d kill anyone that got near her. I take this moment to break some interesting news to him.