Tulsa

by S. L. Scott

  How can he even ask that? I now understand that even though he’s always been cocky, it doesn’t mean he thought of himself as marriage material. When he proposed to me, there wasn’t even a choice. I knew my answer was yes in that instant. But we’d only known each other for six weeks, so his question is valid.

  Why did I say yes?

  And the answer is quite simple when I really stop to think.

  He loved me. I wasn’t the county beauty queen. I wasn’t the lead singer of Faris Wheel. I wasn’t the smart-mouthed bad girl ready to be reshaped. He loved me. I was, and am, just me, Nikki Faris, and he believed I was enough.

  “There are many answers to that question, but essentially it’s because you took the time to get to know me. You validated me, Tulsa. I feel cherished for the first time. I knew my heart was safe with you.” I smile at him and kiss him softly on the lips. “But then . . . it’s also because, in every way, you make sure I get mine before you get yours. And I’m not just talking sexually; although there is that, too.”

  He looks back at me, the moonlight showing a twinkle in his eyes. “Getting you off gets me off.” His gaze follows the curve of my body. “But for real. You didn’t even hesitate to marry me. Why?”

  “Because I’m in love with you.”

  He turns back around, so I move to his side of the bed and lean my chest on his back, resting my chin on his shoulder. With my arms around his middle, I whisper, “I’ve never been so comfortable to be myself than I am with you. It doesn’t matter if we’re singing mindlessly to the radio or publicly making out at monuments around the country. I can crack stupid jokes or argue a point, and you let me without judgment or contempt, competition, or the need to belittle me. With you, I can have opinions that matter. To most men, I’ve always felt as if I was just a pretty face.”

  “Your opinions matter to me.”

  “I know because you don’t just tell me how you care about me. You show me.”

  “Selfish confession coming. I like going down on you because I like the way you react to me. It’s like the first time every time when we’re together.”

  “No one’s ever done it before.”

  He looks back at me. “No one?” I shake my head. “That’s crazy. Watching you come is as good as coming myself.”

  “I know that now, thanks to you.”

  He reaches behind him and holds my back, keeping me pressed against him. “Just like men, women are sexual beings.”

  “Oh, I know. Trust me. I’ve said some horribly naughty things about you to Lauralee. And you’d never want to be exposed to the thoughts I have about you. My mind’s a really perverted place when it comes to you and those veins.”

  He moves his forearms in front of him and gives them a twist, checking out those sexy things. “Your obsession with my veins should concern me.”

  “Should?”

  “I’m not worried.” I finally see the smile that melts me when he spins around and, in one quick motion, anchors me beneath him again, exactly where I love to be. “Your fascination with all parts of me turns me on.” I love the weight of him on top of me, and I realize something else I hadn’t understood until now. I am his equal. He calls me his queen, but I am his equal, and because of that, I feel both adored and safe. I’ve never felt more secure than I do when I’m with him. “Now about those horribly naughty thoughts of yours . . .”

  Shutting the front door, I flip through several keys until I find the one that fits the lock. I turn it and then memorize the number on the door, so I remember which apartment is Tulsa’s when I return.

  I round the corner of the building to where he parked last night but then stop. Dark hair. Fake tan. Super short skirt and cowboy boots. A woman leaning against the Bronco looks up, adjusts her hat, and smiles. “Hi,” she says, waving as if she owes me an explanation. “I’m just waiting.”

  “Waiting for what?”

  “A friend. It’s only ten, so I thought I’d wait here until he’s up.”

  As soon as I notice The Crow Bros hat she’s wearing, my friendliness fades, and my claws come out. With a hand on my hip, I snap, “For Tulsa?”

  “Yeah?” she replies with hope in her eyes until the poor thing catches on to what’s really happening. Her gaze flows behind me as it all becomes clear. “Oh. Are you and him . . .”

  I hate jealousy. I hate the feeling. I hate the defensive mode it puts me in, but I really hate when women turn against each other when it can be avoided. I take a deep breath and try to release my annoyance. Walking toward her, I reach out to shake her hand. “Hi.”

  A smile replaces the stray cat look in her eyes as she takes my hand. “Sassie with an I-E. So you know Tulsa?”

  I’m tempted to say Nikki with an I, but I don’t. “I’m Nikki. Yeah, Tulsa’s still sleeping.” Taking a step, I visually scan the truck from tires to mirror, kicking the rubber like I know what I’m doing. “I was going out for coffee.” Call me a masochist, or maybe I’m just caught off guard in a good mood, but I ask, “Want to come along?”

  Her head jolts back. “Are you serious?”

  Walking around the truck, I reply, “Sure am.” After opening the door, I step up and look at her over the top. “Hop in.”

  “Okaaay.”

  I unlock the passenger door, and she opens it. “It’s a big step up. There’s a handle to help if you need it. Cute skirt by the way.”

  “Thanks.” Before she climbs in, she asks, “Is this a setup? I mean, why are you being so nice?”

  “Because I think sometimes women are too mean to each other.” Leaning on the steering wheel, I add, “I assume you and my h-Tulsa have been together. Because I’m with him now doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a past. I’m also pretty sure I’m a surprise to you too.” I start the engine. “Hopefully that doesn’t make us enemies.”

  Not the happiest of surprises by the disappointment on her face. She climbs into the cab anyway and buckles up. “I was kind of hoping you were a visiting cousin or something, or maybe with Rivers.”

  I’m not sure what to say. Is there really anything more to say anyway? When I back out, I ask, “Do you know where a Starbucks or coffee shop is around here? I was just going to drive around until I found one.”

  “You’re not from Austin?”

  “Nope. California.”

  “Take a right out of the parking lot.” I drive, and she tells me to take another street, which appears to be a busier road. “Up on the right.”

  I see the iconic green and white sign and drive toward it like a moth to a flame.

  She says, “He used to have rules.”

  “Rules?” I ask, pulling into the drive-thru.

  Rifling through her purse, she pulls out some money. “I’d like a Caffe Americano.”

  “I haven’t had that before.”

  “Low in calories but packs an espresso punch. I’m careful about what I eat. I work too hard to stay in shape to blow it with meaningless calories.”

  When I first saw her, everything fake popped out, but I realize how wrong I was to judge her so quickly. She’s actually quite nice. I pay for the coffees. The company wasn’t half bad. “You mentioned rules earlier.”

  “No one is allowed to stay at his place. I’ve never even seen the inside.” She takes a sip, and adds, “You’re staying with him?”

  “I am.” I don’t feel guilty for telling the truth, but I wish there was something I could say so she doesn’t feel bad.

  So, as I trouble my bottom lip, she says, “You’re just his type.”

  “Really?” Visually, I’m opposite from her in so many ways. Hair color. Eye color. She’s much smaller than I am in height and definitely in amazing shape, though I’m more fit than most women. I’d wear that skirt, and we’re both tan, though I prefer a natural one to the spray.

  I guess maybe what ties us together is Tulsa. She says, “You’re really pretty, and friendly. I can see why he likes you.”

  Not quite sure what to say to that, I go with a si
mple “Thanks.”

  Parking in the same spot from earlier, I cut the engine and sit back. “Want to come in?” I know I shouldn’t, that Tulsa won’t be happy, but it seems rude not to ask.

  “I should go.” She hops out and shuts the door.

  I come around and adjust my purse across my body. “It was nice to meet you, Sassie. I’ll let Tulsa know you came by.”

  Swinging her boot over the gravel, she grins. “Don’t worry about it. You’re too nice, so I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

  I know what she means. It could go either way, and I don’t want to waste any of our day with petty arguments.

  “Have a good one.” She walks to her blue hatchback.

  “You too.” Before she gets in, I call, “Hey, Sassie, do you know where I can get a pair of boots like yours?”

  “I work part-time over at Cavender’s on South Lamar. Come see me, and I’ll fix you right up.”

  “Thanks.”

  As I walk back to the apartment, sipping my coffee, I realize how much things have changed. Or maybe I’m the one who’s changing.

  I could have shunned her or claimed Tulsa as mine, but I didn’t have to. She did nothing wrong, just like he didn’t. He has a past like I do. I don’t have a right to hold it against him.

  With a big, goofy grin on my face, I open the door, knowing that the man on the other side is my future and I’m his. Nothing and no one can change that.

  31

  Tulsa

  “How do we know he’s not coming around now just because we’re gaining fame?” I ask my brothers over lunch at a restaurant near Jet’s house. “And how’d he know we were back?”

  “It’s easy to track our whereabouts. It’s all over social media,” Rivers says. “As for why now . . . that’s been bugging me too.”

  Jet sits back, and says, “Some people will do anything for a share of something they don’t deserve.”

  Hannah closes her eyes, shaking her head. I’m not sure if it’s the topic of conversation or what, but she has no patience when she says, “Anyone that can stake a claim will eventually crawl out of the woodwork wanting a share of your earnings.” This is definitely a hot button for her. She sets her fork on the side of her plate and crumples her napkin. Her family put her through a lot over the years. So much so she doesn’t speak to her aunt anymore. “It’s unbelievable what people will do for money.”

  Jet covers her hand while looking at me. “People want their fifteen minutes of fame. How do we know what to believe with this guy? Just because he’s in a photo holding you doesn’t make him your father.”

  With a tortilla chip in hand, Rivers asks, “What if you just leave it? Do you think you can?”

  “It’s going to stick with me. It’s already fucking with my head.”

  “Here’s what I think. Something’s off about his story. He shows up out of the blue with nothing more than an old photo and the names of our parents. I’m going to do some digging.” After setting his soda down, Jet appeals to Nikki, “In the meantime, two days. That’s all you have before we fly to Chicago. Take my brother out and make him forget his worries.”

  That devilish smile shows up bright as a lit marquee on her face, drawing all of my attention. “If I want him to forget his worries, I won’t be taking him out.”

  Rivers chuckles. “She’s like a girl version of Tulsa. How is it possible they found each other?”

  I reply with a waggle of my eyebrows, “Kismet.”

  With her head on my shoulder, she laughs. The waitress brings the check, and Jet grabs it first. “My treat. Now go have some fun.”

  After we walk out, she lowers her sunglasses from her head to cover her eyes and spins with her arms wide open. “What do you want to do? Anything. Name it.”

  “Two days is not enough for all I want to do to you.”

  She responds with an elbow to my ribs. “You are the horniest guy I’ve ever met.”

  “It’s the company.” Grabbing her around the waist, she squeals when I lift her off her feet.

  When I set her down in front of my truck, she says, “We never talked about you getting arrested.”

  “The charges were dropped. What’s there to talk about?”

  “Just making sure you’re okay. I mean, I would have been scared.”

  I laugh. “It was nothing. Even if they didn’t drop the charges, what would I have been held for? Impersonating myself? She overreacted by calling security, but at the same time, I don’t know, I kind of find some relief in the fact that not just anyone is given a key to our rooms.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Also, they would have had to stun gun me fifty times over if you were being arrested. I’m glad Rochelle got you out of there.”

  “I was scared for you and worried.”

  Kissing her cheek, I say, “You don’t have to worry about me, darlin’. I can handle myself, but I appreciate the concern.”

  “I know you can.” Taking my face in her hands, she smiles while looking up at me. “Do you know how sexy it is to say my husband’s a dangerous criminal?”

  “Lord, woman, you have the strangest fetishes.” Opening the door, I nod toward the truck. When she climbs up, I slap her ass. “That ass is mine the rest of the day.”

  “And night,” she replies with a wink.

  Vixen.

  As we cruise down Lamar toward downtown, she stares out the window, and a tension that wasn’t there sneaks into the space between us. When I cover her hand with mine, I’m reminded of how small and delicate she is compared to me. Touching her seems to startle her from her thoughts. “Are you okay?” I ask.

  “You said your home is where I am, but seeing you here in Austin, I realize your life is here.”

  “My family is the only thing keeping me here. I love this city, but Jet’s moving. I’m pretty sure Rivers will go too. Is that what you’re worried about?”

  “It’s different here. You’re different here. Even though you’ve had this father thing sprung on you, you’re so at ease in Texas. I’ve always thought you were a laid-back guy, but here you’re not putting on a big show. It seems like you’re more at peace. It’s nice.”

  “I used to think this town was my comfort zone, but I’ve come to realize it’s not about the place. It’s about the people. Or in your case, the person. You’re my comfort zone. You make it easy to be me. The lines don’t work on you. The attitude isn’t what catches your eye.” I shrug. Looking away for a moment, I try to find the words I want to say. “I know you like this handsome mug, but when I talk, you actually listen. You care what I have to say when I’ve always had to fight to be heard. As the youngest, I thought the more showy, the better. Not with you. I can be quiet with you, and you’re happy to sit in the silence with me other times. So don’t be fooled just because I don’t have the stress of the tour riding me right now. I’ll be good in LA because I’ll be with you.”

  “I worry because I don’t want to change you, and I don’t want you to change for me.”

  “If I change, it will be for the better because I like who I am with you. Since I met you, we don’t have to go out and party to have a good time. I like that we exercise together. I like watching you on stage and seeing you when I come off. Movies in and room service have become something I enjoy because I’m doing it with you.” I squeeze her hand to my chest and then kiss her knuckles. “I’m a better version of myself because of you, Nikki.”

  “That’s what you do for me.”

  She winks and then one side of her mouth slides up. “See? Kismet.”

  Sexy know-it-all.

  Standing at the edge of Mt. Bonnell, I look over at Nikki. Her face is as bright as the sunshine. “Why are you smiling so much?”

  “I’m happy,” she replies. “I never imagined Texas looked like this. There are trees as far as the eye can see. Look how the sunlight reflects off the river below, and the houses dot the landscape.” Turning back to me, she lifts her sunglasses to the top of her he
ad. “It’s beautiful here.”

  “You’re beautiful everywhere.” She appears as relaxed as she’s dressed, wearing a tank top and cutoffs with her sneakers. Happiness looks damn good on her.

  When I catch her eyeing me like she likes what she sees, as she so often does, she says, “I like you in shorts. You have nice legs.”

  “Damn, woman. Don’t turn me on.” I adjust my package. “There’s only prickly bushes and rocks up here, and I’m not above fucking you in the brush.”

  She rolls her eyes but laughs. “So easy. Almost predictable at this point. I think the wind could blow, and you’d get hard and horny.”

  “And the problem is?”

  Raising her hands in surrender, she laughs even harder. “No problem here.” Draping her arm on my shoulder, she says, “I’m hungry after hiking. Feed me, dear husband.”

  I take her hand in mine, and we start back to the truck together. “I will never tire of you calling me that.”

  She pulls my hand, yanking me to a standstill. “Good.” She wraps her arms around my neck and raises her chin up. “Because I will never tire of calling you that.”

  The black cowboy hat should have tipped me off to the darkness that’s entered my life. With a large belt buckle, I know he didn’t earn at a rodeo, shining in the sun, Berk leans against the wall next to my door. And here I thought we’d fill up on lunch, then come home to mess around before taking a nap. Fuck him for fucking up my plans. “What do you want?” I walk past him and unlock the door for Nikki, guiding her inside. I won’t give him the honor of her presence.

  Worry is already furrowing her brow when I want nothing but for her to be carefree. I reassure her, “I’m fine.”

  I push the door closed enough to hide us from sight but left cracked open so she can listen if she’s so inclined. Knowing Nikki, because she loves me, she’ll listen. I cross my arms over my chest and look him straight in the eyes. “There’s no proof you’re my father. A photo means nothing. It’s your word against everything I was ever told, including my mother’s word.”