by Jiffy Kate
“Ms. Reed here didn’t believe an almost thirty-year-old would throw a tantrum like a toddler if I didn’t bring him back a gift, so we made a little wager.”
“Micah, you’re supposed to bring back souvenirs whenever you travel. It’s common knowledge. I’m just keeping up the tradition,” Deacon claims.
“Bullshit. You wouldn’t talk to me for a week if I came home empty-handed. Damn, maybe I should’ve kept the shirt for myself.”
“Don’t listen to him, Deke. I love giving people gifts, which is why I got you this Statue of Liberty snow globe!” She pulls the globe out from behind her back and holds it up like it’s made of gold or something. Deacon’s eyes glisten at the sight.
“You’re the best, Dani! Thank you.”
Watching Dani step on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek makes me jealous in ways I can’t even explain, and probably have no business feeling, but I can’t help wishing it was my skin her lips were touching.
Deacon waited around while Dani rented a car, just to make sure we didn’t have any problems, and is now following behind us as we drive home. I, of course, opted to ride with Dani, as if it were even up for discussion. When the three of us were standing at the counter, waiting for the car rental place to get the keys, Deacon shot me a knowing wink over the top of Dani’s head. I tried to hide my smile, but it was futile. Just her being here with me right now, in Louisiana, makes me feel like a kid on Christmas.
When we pull up to the house forty-five minutes later, Dani parks in front and Deacon pulls up right beside her.
“You’re gonna be in so much trouble for not telling Mama about this,” Deacon says, jumping out of the car.
“Nah, she’s gonna love me even more than she already does. This,” I say, pointing to Dani, “is my insurance policy for maintainin’ my favorite child status.”
Dani rolls her eyes and Deacon punches my shoulder.
The front door swings open and my mom walks out with her hands on her hips, staring us down.
“Micah Paul Landry.”
“Ha!” Deacon says, running up the steps and picking Mama up to swing her around. “I’m not the one who just got full-named.” He grins and places Mama back on her feet.
“Sheridan,” my mama gushes, double-timing it down the steps. “Sweetie, I’m so happy to see you!”
“I’m sorry your son decided to keep me being here a secret,” Dani says, falling into my mom’s embrace. “I told him he should call and let you know, but he’s a stubborn ass.”
“Oh, honey. You’re preachin’ to the choir. No apologies necessary. Besides, you don’t even need to call. All you gotta do is show up.” The smile my mom gives Dani is pure love. She and I have had several conversations about the beautiful redhead wrapped in her arms, and if Dani was of adoption age, I’m pretty sure my mama would be first in line.
“I think we need to have a cookout today.”
After staying up late last night playing cards with my family and Dani, I decided I was too tired to go to my own house, so I slept in a guest room. Truth is, I wasn’t ready to leave Dani yet. Even though we were in separate rooms, unlike our two nights in New York, I was at peace just knowing we were under the same roof.
I’m in the kitchen starting a pot of coffee when my mama walks in and declares we need to be social.
“A cookout? Okay. Who are we invitin’, and more importantly, what are we cookin’?”
“You and Deacon can decide what to cook and who to invite, for all I care. I just want to show Dani a good time, especially since she’s had a rough week. That girl needs a hefty dose of southern hospitality.”
I couldn’t agree more.
After Dani wakes up and we’ve all had breakfast, she and I make a trip to the grocery store for cookout supplies. Grocery stores in this part of Louisiana are different than other parts of the country. They have the usual foods found everywhere, but you can also find seafood, hard liquor, and delicacies such as cow tongue, alligator, and pickled pig’s feet. I’m having so much fun watching Dani’s reactions to all the things she finds, I almost forget what we’re supposed to buy for this afternoon.
Deciding to keep the party low key, we only invited a few close friends over for boiled shrimp and crab. I’m excited for Dani to share today with us, just hanging out and having fun, and I know she’s looking forward to it too, especially since Piper will be here. They’d already made plans to see each other before Dani’s next assignment, so it only made sense for Piper to join us. I’ll admit, I’m curious about her. She seems like she’ll fit right in, and I can’t wait to finally meet her in person.
As we turn down the last aisle to grab a few cases of beer, I stop short before nearly running over a lady picking up a case of wine coolers.
“Oh, hey, Micah! What are you up to today?”
Ah, Trisha Bradley. Sophomore year in college. She liked it when I pulled her hair.
“Hey, Trish. Not much, you?”
“Oh, I’m in town for a girls’ weekend and my parents are watching my kids. Wanna meet up later?”
She licks her lips as her eyes travel up and down my body. I don’t like it. And I really don’t like that Dani is witnessing it. I glance her way and watch as she cocks an eyebrow. Her nose scrunches slightly when Trish touches my arm, and I’m not sure whether she’s grossed out by Trisha or me, but I hate seeing that look on her pretty face, especially knowing I may have caused it.
“Yeah, I don’t think so, but thanks for asking. Tell Jimmy I said hey.”
When we’re out of earshot, Dani leans toward me and whispers, “Who’s Jimmy?”
“He’s her husband. I guess she forgot she was married.”
“How convenient. I have a feeling you make a lot of women forget they’re married, Micah Landry.” She nudges me with her shoulder before leading our buggy into the checkout lane, right up to Becky. The Hummer.
Damn it to hell.
Thankfully, Becky only says “hi” and “have a nice day”, but I swear, nothing gets past Dani.
“Is she one of your girls, too?” she asks in the parking lot. Her clipped tone doesn’t escape me.
I finish loading the groceries in the back of my mom’s SUV before answering.
“You ask that like I have a harem or something.”
“Well, if the condom fits . . .” She pauses. “You do wear condoms, right?”
Ouch.
I pull my baseball cap off and run my fingers through my hair before putting it back on. We’re still standing in the parking lot and the Louisiana sun is heating up the blacktop, causing sweat to run down my back.
My social life is obviously bothering her, and I’m not liking how she’s judging me.
“Yes, Dani, I’ve been with a lot of women, and yes, Becky was one of them, but it’s not like I have a group of girls waiting on stand-by for me. I like to have fun. I always have. I’m always honest with the girls I’m with, and for your information, I always wear a condom.”
She sighs and drops her hands from her hips down to her sides. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. And I didn’t mean to imply you mistreat the women you’re with, either.”
I open the door for her and make sure she’s buckled in before getting behind the steering wheel and turning the air conditioner on full-blast. The cold air cools my skin and nerves. When I turn to face Dani, she looks guilty and a little sad.
“Look, I don’t have a sob story . . . no built up walls around my heart or anything like that. I’ve had a great life and things have always come easily for me. I’m not overcompensating for anything. I just like to have fun. It’s never my intention to hurt anyone or lead a girl on, but I know it sometimes happens, and I’m not proud of that. The truth is, I’ve never been with a girl I’ve wanted more with.”
“I get it, Micah. You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong, because I do—or, at least, I want to give you one.” I take a deep breath and decide now’s as good a
time as any to lay it all out there for her. Shit or get off the pot, right? “I’ve wanted more with you from the moment you called me out on my shit on the way back to your motel room,” I say, laughing at the memory of a tipsy Dani in my truck. I look over, trying to judge her reaction, but I’m having trouble reading her expression. She looks over her shoulder at me, biting her lip like she does when she’s either trying not to cry or thinking about something really hard, so I keep going. “I know I don’t deserve you, Dani, but I want to. I need you to be patient with me, though. I’m trying to do things right. But this,” I say, motioning between us so she knows I mean us, “it’s all new to me.”
“Well, you know my story,” she says, turning in her seat to face me. “I’ve been in a committed relationship for four years.” She releases a deep breath, her shoulders sagging as she looks out the windshield. “I’m sure most people would say the last thing I need right now is to jump into a relationship with anyone. Or into bed.” She laughs. “Unless you’re Piper. She would suggest revenge sex.” She rolls her eyes, turning her gaze back to me. “I can’t deny the pull I feel toward you, but I don’t want you to be a rebound or revenge sex. I really like you, Micah Landry. And I know you have a past. And I’m okay with that . . . in theory.” Her smile is contagious, and knowing she likes me makes my head spin.
“So, we’ll take things slow,” I tell her, reaching my hand across the seat, wanting to touch her.
“Yeah. I mean, that’s normally how y’all do things down here, right?” She winks, and it’s adorable. I repeat slow over and over in my mind to keep from climbing over the console and kissing her stupid.
I want to taste her lips so bad it hurts, but not here. Not now. Slow.
We both sit there for a second, staring at each other before turning to look out the window. I know there’s a lot more that needs to be said between us, but that was a start, and I’m hoping we’ll have plenty of time to figure this out while taking our time to do it right.
Rolling up to the two-lane highway that leads back home, I see there aren’t any cars coming in either direction. When I give the truck a little extra gas, the back tires spin and squeal causing Dani to do the same.
“Stop showing off.”
“I’m just naturally this cool.”
Her laugh fills the truck and it’s a sound I want to hear every day.
Just a little before six o’clock, a knock on the front door interrupts our loud banter in the kitchen as we prepare the food for the boil.
“I’ll get it!” Deacon yells, swatting Cami’s ass with a kitchen towel as he walks by. She retaliates by throwing a half ear of corn at his head and the fight is on. He has her up and over his shoulder before she even knows what’s coming.
“Deacon Samuel, if you make a mess in my kitchen, I’ll beat you into next week!” My mom is shooing them out the back door when the knock at the front door grows louder.
Dani is shucking corn at the table and laughing her head off at the entire display. I shoot her a wink as I walk by, and she smiles even wider, shaking her head. Our normal playful flirting has turned a little more heated since our talk in the grocery store parking lot. I notice her watching me. I see her eyes grow dark, and I know what she’s thinking—or, at least, I hope I know what she’s thinking. I hope she wants me as much as I want her, or even a fraction of how much I want her. But more than that, I hope she wants to be with me, because for the first time in my life, I want someone for more than just a one-night stand or occasional hook-up. I want to be with her. I want her here with me on nights like this. I want to go to the grocery store with her. I want to take walks and sit and talk for hours. And all of that scares the shit out of me because it’s new and uncharted territory.
“Someone get the damn door!” my dad yells as he walks out of the kitchen carrying bowls full of crab legs and shrimp.
“I’ll get it,” I say, wiping my hands on the towel over my shoulder.
I run the rest of the way to the door and swing it open.
“Were you going to let me spend the night out here on the front porch?”
“Piper Grey?” I know exactly who she is, but as usual, I decide to give her a hard time.
“Of fucking course, the one and only. You have got to be Micah Landry,” she says, sticking her hand out for me to shake. Her shoulder-length brown hair and pale brown eyes are exactly how I pictured her—spunky and cute.
“The one and only,” I reply, shaking her hand and appreciating her tenacious grip. No one likes to shake a wet noodle.
“Where’s our girl?” she asks, poking her head around my shoulder. “As much as I like standing here talking to you, I miss the shit out of her.” She pushes me aside and walks past me like she owns the damn place.
Yep, I like her.
“Sheridan Reed!” she calls as she walks through the foyer.
I chuckle at the display, shut the door, and follow her into the kitchen. When I get there, Dani is out of her seat and wrapped up in Piper. The two of them are talking so fast, I can’t make out what they’re saying, but it’s obvious they’re happy to see each other, and seeing Dani so happy makes me happy. This is exactly what she needed.
My mom catches my eye from across the kitchen and smiles.
Yeah, I know, Mama. Mission accomplished.
The night is filled with good food, good friends, family, and lots of laughs. It’s a pretty typical Saturday night for all of us, but it’s a new experience for Dani and Piper, and they seem to be soaking it up.
Dani looks so content sitting in the chair beside me. The fire in the pit flickers, making her skin glow. Her red hair is piled on top of her head and her cheeks are a little flushed, probably from the heat. Her arm hangs over the side of the chair, stroking Jose’s fur. He’s just as content as she is, making no plans to leave her side.
And I’m now jealous of a dog.
“Thanks again for the amazing dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Landry,” Piper says, kicking back in a lounge chair beside Dani.
“What did we tell you about that Mr. and Mrs. thing?” my dad asks, quirking an eyebrow.
“Sam. Annie. Got it. Sorry.” She smiles, and I glance over to see Tucker watching her intently.
“I’m going to get something else to drink,” Cami says, standing up. “Anybody else want anything?”
My dad, Deacon, and I all call out for another round of beers. Dani and Piper say they’ll go with her to help carry them all. My mom follows behind, saying something about needing to put a few things in the fridge.
“So,” my dad says when all of the women are out of earshot.
“Go ahead, Dad. I know you’ve got somethin’ to say.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “I was in the kitchen earlier, and I overheard your mom and Dani talking about your trip to the grocery store today.”
I groan, afraid of what he might’ve overheard. “I swear, it’s like everywhere I go, there’s someone from my past.” It’s the truth. The Trishas, Beckys, and Valeries are everywhere; I can’t seem to escape them. And it scares me. What if my past keeps me from having a future with Dani?
“You can’t change your past,” my dad says as he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“That’s for damn sure,” Tucker chimes in, laughing. “And Micah’s got a past.” He scratches the back of his head, leaning back in the chair. I’d like to kick his ass.
“Like you don’t have a past, Tucker the Fucker.”
He picks up a loose piece of gravel and throws it at me, but I dodge it.
“But you want this, don’t you? Like really want this?” Deacon asks, eyeing me from across the fire. “You’re not just stringing Dani along like those girls, right?” He pauses, and my dad chuckles. “Because if you are, I’ll have to kick your ass.”
“No! Fuck no. I want this.” I stand up from my chair and pace in front of the fire. “It’s just a lot harder than I thought it would be. And I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.”
; “Listen, son,” my dad says, standing up and placing his hands on my shoulders to force me to look at him. “If it’s got tits or tires, it’s gonna require some work.” He looks me square in the eyes. “And I know you’re not afraid of a little hard work. So, if this is what you want, work at it. Show her you’re serious.”
Laughter coming from the back door causes us to shift gears. I know what my dad is saying is true. In his own way, he said the exact same thing my mom has been saying. She didn’t pull out the tits and tires line, but she said I’d need to work at it. So I will. I’m going to show Dani how much I want this.
“So, where are you from?” Tucker asks Piper when the girls sit back down. I turn my head to keep my smug-ass smirk to myself. I know where he’s going with this. He likes her. It’s so obvious the way he can’t keep his eyes off her and hangs on her every word.
“Who, me?” Piper asks, setting her beer down by her chair.
“Yeah, we know all about Ms. Reed, but not much about you. Are you from New York?”
“Well, my family is from Connecticut. I moved to New York for college. That’s where I met Ms. Reed,” she says, smiling over at Dani. Dani just shakes her head and laughs. She’s already grown accustom to Tucker’s suave ways. “Dani and I became fast friends. It’s pretty much been me and her against the world since.”
“Until you left me,” Dani teases. There’s a smile on her lips, but I don’t miss the flash of sadness in her eyes. She’s truly been missing her best friend. On the phone the other night when she told me she felt alone, I knew I had to change that. I had to show her she has someone . . . people . . . in this world who care about her . . . for her. It’s what made me jump in the car and head to the airport. I couldn’t get to her fast enough.
“Oh, Dani,” Piper says, reaching over and grabbing her hand. “You know I didn’t want to leave you.”
“I know. I’m just teasing.” She shifts awkwardly in her seat, obviously not fond of all the eyes on her. “Besides, if you hadn’t moved to Birmingham, I would have never had the chance to meet all of these awesome people,” she says, waving her hand around the fire.