“No fucking way!” I can’t wrap my head around the enforcer of an MC sitting in one of those massage chairs and getting his feet scraped and nails painted, not even for his daughters.
She’s laughing so hard now, she’s got tears streaming down her face and she can’t speak for a few minutes. “Me, Rae and Lily wanted to go and Dad got conned into it by Mom. He roped Braxton in because Lily wanted to go too. Can I just say that they were banned from the salon?”
Now my imagination is running wild. “How in the everloving hell did they get banned?”
“Um, lots of cursing I guess and there may have been a threat or two when they brought out that skin scraper thingie.”
“What are you talking about?” I inquire, because it surely can’t be as bad as where my mind is going. I’m imagining skin being ripped from your feet and blood dripping everywhere.
“It looks like a cheese grater with a handle.”
“And you willingly let them use that on you?” Now I’m horrified at the thought of someone scraping my girl’s skin off. It sounds almost like a fucking horror movie. “Tell me if someone tries to use that on you and I’ll put a stop to that shit really quick.”
“Would you like me to keep you on standby every time I go into the nail salon?”
“Doesn’t sound like a bad idea, we could maybe get walkie-talkies and I’ll be in the car awaiting your signal.”
“OH, I have a better idea,” I can hear the sarcasm in her tone, “maybe I’ll fly the bat signal and you can rush in and save the day.”
“Now you’re just being silly,” I tell her, “everyone knows that Superman is better than Batman.”
“Well, I actually prefer Wolverine myself. Maybe it’s because I grew up with some growly bikers, who wield their own brand of blades?”
“Jesus, so now I need to start carrying a knife so I can be a man of your fantasies?”
“Nah, you’re already that. But I do like a man who has sharp instruments.”
“Oh yeah? I don’t know about sharp, but my instrument could be considered armed and loaded.”
“Don’t you mean cocked and loaded?”
“Woman, if you don’t stop, we’re finding some place to pull over because there’s no way I can wait until the dead of night to sneak in to be with you.”
“Um, I think we’re sharing a room,” she says.
“In my mom’s house? Have you started using recreational drugs or something?”
“Well, she knows we’re having sex, so she may decide to go with the flow.”
“Can’t see that happening with your folks there, too.”
“Don’t burst my damn bubble. Your mom said something at Thanksgiving when we were talking and I mentioned that I don’t have nightmares when you’re with me.”
I hum because if she said that to my mom, then she’s probably right. Mom loves Maysen to pieces and feels as if she’s a daughter to her. And if she knows that me being near her prevents the nightmares, she’ll probably put me in my old room. That’ll be a bit...cozy...because I’ve got a full-sized bed and we’re used to a queen.
* * *
Maysen
Several Days Later
* * *
My man is a flat-out goof. I know he hates shopping but for me, he’ll suffer. What he doesn’t know is I’ll make it up to him when we get some privacy. “Maisy-Daisy?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we grab something to eat? My Wheaties were used up three stores ago,” he says, clutching his stomach for effect. His goofiness makes me giggle.
“We can eat, baby,” I reply. “I’m kinda hungry too and need a break.”
We head to the food court and begin the great food debate. I want Chick-fil-A because their peppermint bark milkshakes are now available, but he wants Subway. “What if we get subs and then grab milkshakes to go when we’re all done?” he asks.
“That would work because most stores don’t allow food or drink.”
Once we have our food and have found a table, he looks at me and asks, “How is your list going?”
“Other than yours, and no, I’m not shopping for you when you’re with me, I’ve got a few small things left for JJ. But I can always go with Danika tomorrow since your dad said he needed you to play tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you don’t wanna come and watch the game?”
“We’re going really early and I plan on driving in order to keep Danika on a time leash. Pete said the game is around two and we’re leaving at eight am. I’ve never seen a game of street hockey before and am excited to see you in action.”
“I’ve been playing in the games with Pete since I was fifteen years old. It’s a tradition that I’m hoping to pass down to our son.”
“So you’ve already decided we’re going to have a boy huh?” I can’t wait to hear how he answers this one.
“Yes, a son and a daughter and the only condition I have is that they both have to look just like you.”
“What if I want them to look like you?”
“Can you imagine a little girl with this face?” he asks, pointing his finger at himself.
“I don’t know, can you see a boy with mine?” I throw back at him.
“Maybe he should be a blend of us, we can’t have him too pretty,” he seriously debates with himself.
“A blend of us would be perfect. We’re going to make some gorgeous kids. With your good looks and charming ways and me with my clear skin and my brains, they’ll be the talk of the town.”
“Yeah it would. Wait, what about my brains? Hmm, your beauty and my athleticism. Shit if it’s a girl, I need to learn how to shoot.”
“Yes, you’re smart, but I was trying to give myself something a little extra for the boost. And you’re right, our kids will be unstoppable. Everyone will want to be us,” I gloat.
“Damn straight, we’re two lucky sons of bitches.”
“I won’t tell my mom how you really feel about her,” I tease him.
“I’d appreciate that, ma’am,” he tips an imaginary cowboy hat brim at me.
“C’mon, let’s go get our milkshakes and then we can hit the dollar store to grab paper.”
“Baby, my mom has at least ten thousand rolls of wrapping paper, and at least two thousand rolls of tape. She stocks up every year after Christmas.”
“You sure she won’t mind?” I ask.
“Positive. Trust me on this, okay? I’m ready to get to the house and kick back and watch a movie or two with my girl.” I was right and we are sharing a room, but he’s trying to be respectful and not have sex in the house. Our hot and heavy make-out sessions have left him with a case of blue balls and I’m suffering as well. Maybe tonight we can sneak out to the loft and recreate our first night together. Of course it’d have to be minus the picnic which sucks because I’d love to have another go around with some chocolate and fruit.
* * *
Hockey Game
* * *
I’m sitting in a lawn chair next to Grace who’s come prepared with a thermos of hot chocolate, and a tin of popcorn. Apparently, these games can go into multiple overtimes and she likes to have snacks at hand when the men decide to revert back to their childhoods and they call for replays.
“So you kids snuck in rather early this morning,” she says right as I’m taking a sip of my drink.
I sputter and nearly choke as she gives me a sly look. “You know y’all don’t have to sneak out to the barn. We’re on the other side of the house and besides, that particular barn door has already been opened.”
“Mom! Stop! Gross!” Danika hisses. “That’s TMI. I don’t wanna know about my brother’s sex life and definitely don’t wanna know about yours and dad’s.”
Grace’s laughter rings out and I can’t help but wonder if she’s added something to the hot chocolate. She’s not generally this open. I start to sniff my drink and she raises her eyebrows at me as I do. “Just checking,” I mutter in embarrassment.
“For what?” sh
e inquires.
“Uh, well, you’re such a private person, I can’t believe you’d say that without a little liquid courage.”
“Honey, I sat there with you two and had the talk, remember?” All I remember is how red she got and how she told us we needed to be careful, blah blah blah.
“Yeah, it’s one of those memories burned in my brain.”
“You should have been there when she had the talk with me,” Danika states. “Let’s just say, it’s a good thing I took health class because she was so mortified, she was barely able to say anything. Dad actually came in the room and taught me how to roll a condom on a penis by using a banana. Trust me, nothing is more humiliating that having your father inform you of how to make sure it’s secure.”
I start giggling at the image she’s given me and then say, “Well, my mom writes sexy books and had to tone it down because she kept wanting to use slang for things and I was confused! She was fixing to just throw in a porn flick when my dad stepped in and saved the day for me, as well, although he didn’t go as far as showing me how to use a condom. He was checking into convents for me until Mom reminded him that we weren’t Catholic. I still think he prefers not to entertain the idea that I’m having sex.”
“Most dads are like that with their little girls,” Grace admits. “Both of you should make note of that fact because someday, God willing, you’ll both be mothers and if you have a little girl, their father will become an overbearing, overprotective Neanderthal.”
“Shit, I’ll never get married then,” Danika says, “because Daddy doesn’t think anyone’s good enough for me. Do you still have the names of those convents?”
My laughter at her words has the men glancing over at us, puzzled looks on their faces. I wave my arms in a ‘get back to playing’ motion because there’s no way in hell I’m clueing them in to what we’re talking about!
The game finally ends but I couldn’t tell you who actually won because they kept saying this goal didn’t count or that one didn’t. Regardless, when I saw Maddox coming towards me with a huge grin on his face, I jumped up and ran to him. He picked me up and swung me around before planting a kiss on my forehead. “You having fun?” he asked.
“Yeah, it’s been very entertaining, to say the least. I’ll fill you in later,” I tell him, lacing our fingers together. We’re headed to a local Italian place that’s apparently the second half of the tradition. I’m looking forward to some good garlic bread.
Later that night, all curled up in bed, I relay the conversation I had earlier in the day with his mother about us sneaking in from our loft fun. “Was she high?” he asks.
“Nope, I sniffed the hot chocolate just to be sure because it definitely didn’t sound like something she’d say,” I reply.
“Well, do we wanna go for it?” he asks, his hands snaking under my night shirt.
I give him a look and he grins, his teeth flashing in the moonlight that’s coming through the blinds. “What do you think?” I reply, shimmying out of my bottoms. When he’s around, I’m hot and bothered, and if his mom said it was okay, well, that’s good enough for me.
A few minutes later, I realize that it’s good enough for him as well.
Maddox
While Maysen is ensnared in a wrap-a-thon with Danika, I go down to the barn and call Hatch. I’m not one hundred percent sure what his reaction will be, but I’m asking anyhow.
“Hello?” He’s barking into the phone and I wonder if this is a good time.
“Is this a good time, Hatch?” I ask.
“For what?”
“I need to talk to you if you’ve got time.” I’m stumbling through my words with nerves wracking my body.
“Speak.” His brash responses aren’t helping!
“I plan to ask Maysen to marry me and am calling to get your blessing. Keep in mind, I’m gonna ask her anyway, but I respect you enough to let you know.”
“She’s too young,” he states.
“I’m not saying we will run off to Vegas and get married next week. We both plan to finish school, but I want everyone to know what my intentions are towards her. And I want her to know that my words aren’t just that and that my commitment to her is true.”
“You know it’s a lifetime commitment, right? There’s no deciding down the road that you have to bail because things have gone sideways.”
“Hatch, I fell for your daughter when we were kids and those feelings have only deepened over time. She’s the reason I turned shit around when I was in high school because I didn’t want her to be embarrassed about my reputation.”
“You did run through a lot of girls back then. You sure about this? Because I’ve got the means to make you disappear.” His voice is terrifying me right now and I’m kinda glad we’re doing this over the phone, because I can just picture him standing there, chest out and arms crossed, glaring at me.
“Hatch, I’ve proven myself to you, the family and her many times over. You can threaten me all you want, but I’m not going anywhere. Not now, not ten years from now, not ever. I’m here for keeps.”
“I don’t mind the engagement, just promise me two things.”
“Shoot.” I’ll agree to just about anything as long as he says yes.
“One, you don’t knock her up before the wedding, that one’s very important. Two, no rushing into marriage, I want you both to be one-hundred percent ready before you meet at the altar. Agreed?”
“Yes, on both conditions. Neither one of us are ready for children, yet. And, I do want us both to graduate and set down some roots before we pledge our eternal lives to one another.”
“Fine, then I suppose you can ask her. But if she says no, don’t pressure her.”
“Are your fingers crossed Hatch? Because we both know she won’t.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, gotta go, good luck.” He hangs up the phone without even saying ‘kiss my ass’. Rude, the whole lot of them, I smile because it wouldn’t be them if they weren’t. Holy motherfucking shit, he said yes! Now, I have to plan the perfect proposal.
I go in search of my dad so that I can give him the heads up. I want to do this soon, the ring I purchased is burning a hole in my pocket. I finally find him in his office that’s attached to the barn. His head is hung over his checkbook as he pays bills. “Dad, got a minute?”
“Yeah, I can use a break. What’s going on?”
“I just got off the phone with Hatch.” I watch as his eyebrows raise but he remains silent.
“What possessed you to call him? They’ll be here in a few days.”
I pull out the ring box and place it on the desk, I open the top and face it towards him saying, “This is why I called him.”
“And what was his response? I know what mine would likely be, but I’m curious about his.”
“He gave me two conditions before he said yes and I agreed to them. I can’t knock her up before we get married and he doesn’t want us rushing into a wedding until we’re done with school.”
“Those are both excellent conditions if you ask me. I would say you two are too young, but anyone who’s watched you both over the years knows that this was coming at some point.”
“So, how should I ask her? I want to uh, well, I wanna propose in the loft. It’s,” I stammer.
Dad starts laughing at my awkwardness before he says, “I understand what you’re not saying, Son. Go ahead and get it all fixed up. I’ll take your mom and Danika out to the winter festival and stay the night so y’all will have privacy.”
I blow out a sigh of relief as I take the box back and slip it into my pocket. “Thanks, Dad.”
“We love her like she’s our own. Let me know if you want me to help.”
“If you could just help me figure out a reason to say to Maysen about why we aren’t tagging along, that would be great. I don’t want her feelings being hurt.”
“We can just say that you asked for a night alone with your girl. I think we should let your mom in on it th
ough, so she doesn’t chop off my balls.”
A small laugh escapes my mouth because my mom can be hell on wheels sometimes when she thinks one of her babies, which now includes my woman, will be upset or hurt in any way. “Yeah, let me send her a text to come in and join us.”
“Why do I have to be here for the conversation?” Dad asks me.
“You’re my protection from her hysteria.”
“Great, I get to deal with the overly emotional woman. Thanks for that, Son.”
“Anytime, Dad,” I smirk at him putting my phone away.
A few minutes later, Mom comes rushing into the office, “What’s wrong, what’s happened?” She’s flustered and I bite my tongue to keep my smart ass remarks to myself.
Dad, taking pity on her, says, “Your son here is gonna ask Maysen to marry him, so to give them privacy, you, me and Danika will be going off to the winter festival and spending the night.” I breathe a sigh of relief because he boiled it all down nice and easy.
“You’re doing what?” Mom asks me, giving me ‘the look’ that she perfected long ago.
“Going to ask Maysen to marry me. Mom, we love each other and I want Maysen to know what my intentions towards her are. I plan on us both finishing school before we get married.”
“Is this some caveman claiming thing? You need everyone to see that rock on her finger and know that she’s taken?” She places her hands on her hip and gives me her mom glare.
“No, Mom, it’s not a ‘caveman claiming thing’ at all! And like I told Hatch, it doesn’t matter whether anyone else approves, it’s mine and Maysen’s decision, although I’ll respect her father enough to wait until we’re done with school.”
“Wait, you called Hatch?” she asks, a dumbfounded look on her face.
“Yeah, I wanted his blessing but also told him whether or not I got it, I was gonna ask her.” Damn, why are all the parents being so fucking dense? It’s not like they haven’t seen this coming for years. Hell, I’m pretty sure that Mom and DJ already have the wedding planned, knowing the two of them!
Reclaiming Maysen Page 13