Chapter Twenty-Five #4
She leans in closer, and this time I take a step back. The awkwardness between us becomes a little unbearable. “What if another has their eyes on you?”
I jerk my head back, widening my eyes. “Well, it wouldn’t be an issue because, as I said, my eyes are firmly set on Lyri. Just like I assume yours are firmly on Stylo… your husband?”
She edges closer again. Inwardly, I groan as her eyes focus on my crotch. Fuck me, she’s not even trying to hide it now. “Stylo and I have an… arrangement.”
I let out a loud laugh, more from shock than anything. “Well, I’m sorry, Annie, but your arrangement does not involve me. I love Lyri, and this shit… this is fucking inappropriate!” I push past her, and she doesn’t stop me as I make my way back down to the dining room.
What in the fucking fuck was that?
Lyric’s mother just tried to seduce me! That’s what that was.
What in the hell am I going to do about it?
I knew from the moment we arrived that there was something off about her. The way she treated Lyric, but still, there’s no way she could ever think I’d cheat. I don’t know what kind of arrangement she and Stylo have, but it’s not the kind of relationship I want to have with their daughter.
Their life is rock and roll and all the crap that goes with it.
Ours isn’t.
It’s as simple as that.
I storm back into the room, feeling like my footsteps are heavier than they should be for someone trying to be inconspicuous. Lyric’s concern crosses her features as I take a seat, folding my arms over my chest in annoyance.
“You okay?” Lyric asks, her brows furrowing as she looks me over.
I grunt in response before Annie saunters back into the room as if nothing untoward has just happened. “Who’s ready for dessert?” she calls out.
“Is it the family favorite?” Aria asks.
“Of course,” Annie replies as she heads off to the kitchen.
I need to calm myself down and act like nothing’s happened until I can figure out a way to tell Lyric what did happen in private. “Family favorite?” I ask quietly.
“Banana caramel pie. My gran used to make it for us all,” Lyric answers, hesitation in her tone.
She knows something is off.
So I pull my shit together and smile at her, my insides warming hearing more about the rest of her family. “I like hearing your family stories.”
Lyric links her hand with mine. “And I can’t wait to hear yours.”
“Stylo, can you help me with dessert?” Annie calls out from the kitchen.
Instantly, my back straightens.
What if she tells him about what just happened?
What if she twists the truth?
Fuck, I have no idea what this woman’s capable of.
Stylo stands, walking out to the kitchen as I sit here, sweating bullets. My knee bobs up and down, wondering what the hell she’s telling him. If Stylo thinks I tried to come onto his wife, he won’t want me around his daughter.
Is this all going to hell?
I stand abruptly. Lyric turns to watch me, stopping mid-conversation as the color drains from my face before I rush toward the kitchen.
“Chase?” Lyric calls out.
“Just giving your parents a hand, babe,” I yell back.
“God, he’s so fucking polite it’s sickening,” Clef murmurs as I reach the double swinging doors.
I take a deep breath, hearing muffled voices as I steady my shoulders, open the doors, and walk in, ready to defend myself against this lying scarlet woman.
The doors fly back, and I see Annie with her finger in Stylo’s mouth.
He’s sucking off some whipped cream. I shudder thinking I’m walking in on some weird sexual thing, and immediately I want to backtrack.
Sweat beads on my temple as they both raise their brows at me in question.
Annie pulls her finger from Stylo’s mouth, popping it into hers for a brief moment, then she places her hand on her hip. “Back for round two, Chase?” she asks.
I choke on thin air as Stylo glares at me.
She told him.
But she told him her truth, not mine.
“Stylo, listen—”
“No. You listen, Chase,” Stylo grunts, storming toward me.
I tense, thinking he’s going to hit me, but he stops short, gripping my shoulders with both hands, staring me straight in the eyes. I open mine wide, wondering what the fuck’s going on.
“I know what happened with Annie.”
I jerk my head back in confusion. “You do?”
“I do because I told her to do it.”
“What? Why?” My body riddles in a cold sweat as I try to figure out what the fuck is going on.
He cracks his neck to the side as Annie dips her finger into the whipped cream again, then shoves it into her mouth like she’s enjoying this bullshit. “I’m a father.”
And I’m confused.
“I understand, Stylo, but—”
“So, I need to protect my baby girl at all costs.” My body begins to relax a little as the cogs start shifting into place. “I’m not around a lot, hardly at all for her. When you called and told me what happened, I was grateful to help, but it also made me cautious of you.”
With my head still swirling, somehow I mutter, “I can understand that.”
“I had to make sure that if my Lyric was getting involved with a man, a man who went to jail and who had already caused her great pain, I could trust him not to be like Zane.”
My eyes widen as I glance at Annie. Her lips turn up, but not in a mischievous way, but more in a kind manner.
I’ve finally figured it out.
“You came onto me to see if I would take the bait. To see if I would cheat on Lyri?” I direct the questions toward Annie.
She dunks her finger into the cream again, then sucks it off, saying nothing.
Annie, the woman who I thought was trying to seduce me, was actually only trying to do right by her daughter. Guess I can’t fault her for that.
Stylo exhales. “I asked her to do it. Of course, if you’d made a move, she would have called it off to prove the point that you’re not worthy of our Lyri, but you proved us wrong. You stood your ground and fought for your relationship.”
I focus my eyes sharply on Stylo. “I will always fight for my relationship with Lyri. I’m not lying when I tell you how deeply, madly, and utterly in love with her I am.”
Stylo beams wide like he’s the proudest father on earth.
“Then, in that case, Chase… I give you my blessing to ask Lyric to marry you. When you’re both in the right place, I mean.
Feel free to ask her, because I know I won’t always be reachable for you to ask for my permission.
I’m giving it to you now, and you’ll have it when you’re ready.
Tomorrow, a month, a year, ten years from now…
no pressure, just know you have our blessing. ”
I let out a rough laugh, my chest swelling with so much pride it’s a wonder I’m still standing.
My arms wrap around Stylo in a firm pull, grounding me as my head spins from everything that’s just happened.
When I step back, there’s a genuine grin tugging at my mouth, and for once, I don’t try to hide it.
“Thank you… both of you. I know this wasn’t the usual way to earn a father’s blessing.
Hell, I’m not even sure if I should be flattered or slightly disturbed,” I say, a low chuckle rumbling in my throat.
“But if jumping through every insane hoop meant walking out of here with your respect, I’d do it again without blinking. ”
I glance toward the door, knowing Lyric is on the other side, then back to her parents, my voice grounded with certainty. “She’s it for me. She always has been. I feel it in every part of me. And knowing you both believe that now? That means more than I can explain.”
Annie strolls up with a grin that says she’s proud of herself before she pulls me into a hug. “Sorry about the flirting. We just had to know for sure.”
I wrap my arms around her, cordially and politely, but then her hands slide down to grab a full handful of my ass. I jolt, caught off guard, and both she and Stylo crack up like they’ve just won the damn lottery.
“Should’ve seen your face, cowboy,” she says through her laughter, stepping back with a gleam in her eyes. “Thinking you pulled the MILF… priceless!”
Now I get it.
These two? Full-blown chaos artists. The type who’ll prank their own daughter if the mood strikes. I can already see it, I’m going to be their favorite plaything for years to come.
But they’re underestimating me.
I smirk, roll my shoulders, and throw them a look that’s all challenge. “You two think you can win a prank war? Oh boy, we’re going to have some fun. Wait till I bring my friend Dax around, you two won’t know what hit you. This is war!”
Stylo barks a laugh, but Annie cackles louder. “Now you’re getting it, kid. You’re gonna fit in with us just fine, Chase,” Stylo chimes as the kitchen doors swing open and Lyric walks in.
“What’s the holdup? We need pie,” she demands while moving in behind me and wrapping her arms around my waist. My hands slide against hers as she snuggles into me while her mom grabs the two pies, one in each hand.
“Well then, let’s get this party started,” Annie announces, winking at me as we all walk back into the dining room.
What a turn of events.
Her parents plotted against me.
But I ended up with their blessing.
Now I know I can propose to Lyric, but at the right time. First, we need to move in together. All good things come to those who wait, and believe me, Lyric’s worth waiting for.
First things first—pie.
Then I will move her into my home.
Then I’ll get her a ring.
The things I’m going to do for you, Lyric Griffin.
Just you wait and see.
Because you’re mine.