“Mom, it’s different between me and Meadow. We have a history and it’s not good.”
“Gee, Blue, I guess you missed the part where Maggie took years to work things out with Bryant. Then, there was Petal and Luka. When they finally worked things out there were high speed chases and ambulances scattered about.”
“Damn it, Mom,” I snap and get slapped in the back of my head for my trouble.
“Don’t sass me, Blue Moon Lucas. I brought you into this world and I can make your life miserable until you’re out of it. You listen to me. We’ve never let bullshit gather at our feet when it’s the two of us and I’m not about to let it start now. Whatever is between you and Meddie is strong. You may have kept it from your brothers, but I saw the love you had for her when you were in school, and I alone saw your pain when it fell apart. Don’t be stupid. If you want her, get her.”
I close my eyes. I’m different than my brothers. I don’t run from my mom when it comes to this because she’s right. I let her see my pain when I lost Meadow. She knows me better than anyone—including my twin.
“What do you expect from me, Mom? Meadow made it clear years ago she didn’t want me anywhere near her or her son.”
“Then, change her mind.”
“How do you figure I do that?”
“You’re inventive, Blue. Figure it out. I’m tired of giving you a push. I’m too old for this shit. Besides, if you don’t get Meadow, Parker will.”
“Parker?” I growl, surprise barreling through me like a bullet.
Parker plays baseball and is damn good at it. He’s had an injury and is working on Green’s new team, but word is, that’s only temporary while he heals. He’s younger than I am, less fucking jaded and probably everything a woman like Meadow would want.
Motherfucker.
“He’s tired of being single. Seeing Mikey get his happy with Violet has him thinking,” she adds, talking about Parker’s little brother. “Parker wants a good woman. Meadow definitely fits that bill.”
“The fuck she does. Meadow deserves a man who loves her, not one who sees her as good enough because he can’t find someone else,” I bark.
“Perhaps, but I know Meddie is drowning and there’s not another man stepping up to help her. Parker’s a good boy. He’s got a shitty name, but he could be good for her.”
“He’d hurt her.”
“Maybe, maybe not. There’s one thing I know about Parker, though,” she says walking to the steps so she can go join the crowd.
“What’s that?” I mutter, almost afraid to ask.
“He’s already making plans to make his move. He’s not going to overthink it to death,” she answers and then walks away without bothering to look back at the destruction she’s caused.
I’m left alone, staring out the window, and watching Meadow laugh and talk to Parker.
Fuck.
38
Bryant
Two Weeks Later
“Your vulva’s carpet was wet,” I laugh, unable to stop myself as Maggie tells me why Ida Sue delivered a box of razors, shaving cream, gift certificates to the new spa in town, and a bunch of hair removal products to the house this morning. That box had Maggie’s name on it. I got a bag with my name on it, too. She pushed them at me and ran off saying she had to order some flowers for Parker to give Meadow. She seemed really anxious. I didn’t even know Parker had an interest in Meadow, but I’m one hundred percent sure that Blue isn’t going to like that at all.
Maggie almost had a cow when she opened her box of junk from Ida Sue, and I haven’t gotten the courage to open mine yet.
“Go ahead and laugh, mister. It’s going to be your job to teach him how to say the word Volvo correctly because his teacher just bought a brand new one and if you don’t….”
“Shit,” I mutter.
“Exactly. Now, I’m kind of scared. I mean, this is my mother we’re talking about here, but tell me what’s in your bag.”
“I’ve been trying to not do that because I can tell it’s a book, and I’m scared of finding out the subject.”
“Quit being a wimp and look. The best way to handle any of Mom’s surprises is to do it quick. It’s kind of like ripping a band-aid off. You know it’s going to hurt, so you have to quit putting it off and get it done.”
I give her a frowning look and she kisses me. I deepen the kiss, unable to keep from it. Two weeks of being married to Maggie have been the happiest in my life. I still can’t manage to wrap my head around the fact that I finally am married to the woman I love. This time is different, too. We’re more adult, yes, but that’s not it. The love is deeper. We’ve lived through hell, and somehow, we’ve managed to come back to one another. When I look in Maggie’s eyes I see the same resolve to fight and never let this go.
When we break apart, I rest my forehead against hers and just take a moment to appreciate the gift of being here with her after all of this time.
“I love you, Maggie May.”
“I love you, too, but you’re stalling.”
“What? Have you no faith in me, woman?” I ask, my voice fake-sounding as I feign outrage.
“All the faith in the world,” she says, not joking along with me, instead looking me straight in the eye. I kiss her again, mostly because I can’t help from it. “Now, show me the book,” she breathes when we break apart.
I groan but pull the book out. It’s a hardback edition with the picture of scissors and shears on the front that look like they might be at war with one another. The title is what makes Maggie erupt in a fit of giggles, however.
“How to Score in an Overgrown Jungle,” I read aloud. On the cover, Ida Sue has a sticky note that reads, ‘just in case’.
“Oh Lord,” she cackles. “My mother is insane.”
“Damn, Maggie, there are pictures,” I tell her, because I was stupid and let curiosity dictate the fact that I should know better than to investigate anything Ida Sue does.
“No way!” Maggie cries wrestling for control of the book.
“You really don’t want to, sweetheart,” I try and warn her. She ignores me and yanks the book deeper into her lap, and I wince as I watch her face. Depending on her reaction, I may never have sex again.
“Oh my God, that woman looks like she gave Cousin It on the Addams Family a perm and then trapped him between her legs…”
“I was thinking a giant Chia Pet, but—”
I stop when Maggie’s cellphone rings. She kisses my forehead and runs to the kitchen where her phone is chiming away.
This is her last day off work. We dropped Terry off at school and have pretty much just been lying around the house discussing what comes next. I’m thinking of joining the team that Green has formed. The pay is nowhere near what I get now working for a pro team. That’s a down side, but the up side would be that I’d be able to be home every night. I wouldn’t have to travel with the team. To me, it’s worth the cut in pay, and it’s not like I’m hurting for money. I’ve socked a lot away over the years. My grandparents left me some money, too. Maggie works, but I want her to feel secure enough that she never feels pressured to work. It’s a discussion that we don’t have to have right away, but we do need to have it soon so that I can make that clear to her.