14. Dolly
DOLLY
I’m sitting next to Tucker at Ace’s baseball game.
I’ve had two days to think about everything that has happened.
I’ve felt the guilt about the fact that Karla was once my best friend and a part of me feels like I’m betraying her.
I’ve felt the insecurity because Tucker is who he is, and I’m not sure I can be the woman that he needs.
But there are two things that have kept me from running away.
One is Ace. I always want to be in his life, and the thought of not watching him grow up literally makes me sick.
The other thing that keeps me from running is Tucker. For a long time, I’ve been in love with him, but I never thought anything would come of it. Can I throw it all away because of fear, guilt, and insecurity? I don’t think so.
As if Tucker knows I’m daydreaming, he nudges me. “Ace is up.”
I scoot to the end of my seat and holler for Ace.
We watch as he gets two balls and then a strike. I holler out, louder than I probably should. “You got this, Ace. Nobody better, buddy.”
He stands a little taller, sucks in a breath, and when this pitch comes, he hits the ball over the shortstop’s head.
Ace rounds first, and it’s close, but he slides into second and is safe. I jump to my feet, screaming and pumping my arms in the air.
It’s when I realize I’m probably making a spectacle of myself that I look at Tucker, but he’s not embarrassed in the least. He’s smiling at me, ear to ear, looking at me with pride on his face.
“Did you see that?” I ask him.
He nods. “I did. He did good.”
I roll my eyes. “Good? That was awesome!”
He chuckles. “Yes, yes, it was.”
We both sit down, and I look curiously at Tucker. He carried our chairs again. I can tell he hates that I’m having to drive him around, but he’s not complaining about it.
He hasn’t touched me, though. Not once today or since he gave me all those orgasms the other night.
I know he’s doing what he said he’d do. He’s giving me a few days to come to terms with everything, and it may have taken me a while to get here, but I know that I can’t let this opportunity pass me by.
Even if it doesn’t last forever, I should enjoy it for however long he wants me.
I take a deep breath, and then ever so slowly, I slide my hand over to Tucker’s lap where his hand is lying. I grab it and lace our fingers together.
He gasps in surprise and then clenches our hands together.
He seems in awe as he looks at me. “Does this mean…” His voice trails off.
I lean over and kiss him right on the lips. I know the other parents are watching us, but I don’t care. If I’m going to do this, I’m going all in. When I pull back, I tell him, “This means that I want to be with you, and I don’t want to hide it.”
I kiss him again, and he whimpers when I pull away, breaking off the kiss. “But I think you should know something.”
He’s smiling ear to ear. “What should I know?”
I playfully smack him. “I’m serious. This is serious.”
He tries to hold back the smile, but he’s not very successful. “I know this is serious. Now tell me so I can kiss you again.”
I suck in a deep breath. I can do this. “I just want you to know that I love Ace?—”
He cuts me off. “I know you do.”
“And… there’s more. I love you too, Tucker Yates. I have for a long time, and well, I just wanted you to know that because, well, I don’t want you to hurt me.”
He leans toward me, taking off his sunglasses. “I love you too, Dolly.”
I gasp and look into his eyes. “You love me?”
He chuckles. “If you didn’t know that, then I’m really off my game. Yes, I love you. This is serious between us, baby, and I won’t be hurting you. I’m going to love you so hard that you’ll never ever regret loving me.”
We kiss some more, and I can hear the chatter behind me, letting me know that people are talking about us, but I don’t care.
When the game is over and Ace’s team wins five to one, Tucker picks up our chairs, and then we walk over to wait on the players. As we’re waiting, Tucker looks at me worriedly. “Shit, I’m sorry, Dolly.”
I raise my eyebrows. “What is it?”
He gestures toward the couple walking toward us. “I forgot that Gina and Tom were picking up Ace for a sleepover.”
I saw the bag that Tucker put in my car when I picked them up, but I just thought it was something he needed for baseball.
I look toward Karla’s parents and register the surprise on their faces when they see me. I’m holding Tucker’s hand, and my first instinct is to let go, but the fact that Tucker loves me gives me the courage to keep holding it.
They walk up to us, and I’m not sure what is about to happen, but I’m surprised when Gina walks straight up to me and hugs me. “Dolly, we haven’t seen you forever. How you doing, honey?”
Tom pats me on the shoulder and then shakes Tucker’s hand.
I stutter at the warm reception, which makes me wonder if Gina knows that her daughter and I are on the outs. “I’m good, Gina. It’s good to see you.”
Immediately, she starts in. “We’ve been so worried about Karla. Have you heard from her? She’s getting my messages, and I know she’s reading them, but she won’t return any texts or calls.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m sorry. I haven’t talked to Karla in over a year.”
She seems taken aback by that. “Oh.”
There’s silence after that, but luckily, Ace comes running up to us. “Did you see that hit?”
Tucker gives him a high-five, and I lean down to hug him. “I saw it! You did awesome, buddy.”
He is grinning ear to ear as he looks up at Gina and Tom. “Did you see it?”
Tom shakes his head. “No, son. We just got here.”
Ace’s face falls, and I hate seeing the disappointment in his expression. He looks at his dad. “Are they taking me out to dinner?”
Tucker tugs on Ace’s hat. “No, remember, tonight is the night you spend with your grandparents. We’ll go celebrate with pizza tomorrow night.”
Ace doesn’t look happy, but he agrees. “Okay. Grandpa, are you going to take me home early in the morning?”
He nods his head. “I sure will, buddy.”
I point to my car. “I’ll go grab Ace’s overnight bag.”
I pull from Tucker’s hold and walk to my car, happy to get away from the awkward moment. I grab Ace’s bag, and they’re walking toward me, so I stay where I’m at. Tucker and Tom are talking, and Gina has her arm around Ace’s shoulder.
I hold the bag out to Ace. “I’ll see you soon, Ace.”
“Tomorrow? Will you go to have pizza with me and Dad?”
I look toward Tucker, and he’s smiling. “You sort of have to. We have to celebrate that hit.”
I squat down to hug Ace. “Yeah, I’ll be there, Ace.”
He hugs me. “Love you, Dolly.”
I clench my eyes shut, savoring his words. “I love you too, Ace.”
He lets go of me, and after goodbyes, Tucker holds my hand until we get to my car, then opens the door for me.
I get in and watch as he walks around to get into the passenger seat. “Home?” I shake my head. “I mean, your house?”
He grips my hand. “Yes, home, and I’m hoping you’ll stay the night with me.”
My mouth falls open. “You mean—? You want to…”
He chuckles. “You have a dirty mind, Miss Dolly. I was talking about sleeping, but you obviously have other ideas.”
I feel heat rise in my cheeks, but he takes mercy on me. “I just want to be with you. No pressure.” He pauses, searching my face. “Stay the night with me?”
I want to, there’s no doubt about it. “Okay.”
Excitement spurs inside me as I drive to Tucker’s ranch.