Chapter 68 Derrick #2
“D.” Sienna jumps up and hugs me, tears streaming down her face. “I never knew that.”
“I know, you saved me. So, I never wanted to think about that dark time ever again. You gave me love, acceptance, and you made my dreams come true. You’re my guardian angel.”
“I love you, Derrick.” Sienna sobs as the rest of the girls give me hugs.
“Sorry, I actually didn’t mean to make it about me.
I know, first time for everything,” I joke.
“I’m caught up in the love and everything.
I did have a point in there somewhere. Oh, that’s right.
I wanted to say to you, Stacey, that nothing can ever replace your family.
Know that you aren’t alone anymore. You have your Dirty Texas family, and we’ll always be there for you, no matter what, through thick and thin.
” Stacey’s eyes glisten with tears. “It takes a village to raise a child, and this Dirty Texas village is going to help you raise the shit out of those teenagers. And gorgeous little Lockie, well, he’s young enough that we can mold him right. ” I smirk.
“Thank you, D. And thank you, guys, for coming all this way for us. I didn’t realize how much I needed all your strength until you got here,” Stacey confesses.
“To Stacey and Oscar,” I say, raising my glass.
“To Stacey and Oscar,” the rest of the girls say, joining in.
“You guys.” Stacey cries as we all hug her.
“We are family …” I start singing, and then the rest of the girls join in as we all hug each other.
Dinner is done, the kids have gone to bed, and it’s the crew sitting around the campfire. I’ve taken a seat with the boys near the fire while the girls are in the bathroom together. They didn’t want to walk in the dark alone to use it.
“I can’t believe how many stars there are,” Christian muses, looking up at the pitch-black sky, the silvery shiny stars lighting up the sky for as far as the eye can see.
“And it’s so quiet,” Finn adds.
“It’s nice,” Oscar states, sipping his beer. “It’s taken a while to get used to, I think I’m liking the peace and quiet.”
“Going to be a culture shock when you get back to LA then,” Evan adds.
“Yeah. There’s a part of me that actually isn’t looking forward to it, especially the constant media attention.
I haven’t had to worry about that here. The locals ran them all out of town for us.
” This makes the boys chuckle. “It will be good to be back with everyone again. I know I’m a grown-ass man, but it’s good having the parents around. ”
“They are great with Easton, and I know they can’t wait to help you guys, too,” Finn adds. “Look at them with Lockie tonight, it’s as if he’s already theirs.”
“Teenage girls, that’s going to be hard,” Christian adds. “I’m dreading the days Ruby and Sadie are that age. Hormones, man.” He chuckles, drinking his beer.
“Funny enough, the girls have been pretty good, except in the mornings when they fight over the bathroom, it’s like the fucking Hunger Games,” Oscar grumbles. “That’s why I made sure they all have their own bathrooms in our new home. No fighting in the morning.”
“How are you feeling about that, moving back?” Evan asks.
“I’m excited to get home, but also a little worried. You know, about the kids. They have all been so adamant that they want a fresh start. What happens if it fucks them up and makes things worse? I worry that I’m going to mess up.” The boys go quiet and stare at Oscar.
“Fuck, man, you sound like a parent already.” Axel slaps him on the back.
“You’re doing the right thing, putting those kids first,” Christian adds. “If things don’t work out, then you can always come back here or somewhere else.”
“Like your farm in Malibu,” Finn says.
“There are enough parents around if you need help. I mean, they have all been through the teenage years with all of us, and they seemed to have survived.” Evan laughs.
“I never expected this to be my life. I’m now the guardian of five kids. I’m buying a fucking farm. I’m obsessed with chickens and gardens and shit. I haven’t even thought about The Paradise Club,” Oscar confesses.
“Wow,” Axel says to that.
“I know, right?”
“See, I told ya, pussy-whipped man. Best feeling in the world,” Christian says cockily.
“Remember those times, you three.” He points his beer bottle at Finn, Axel, and Oscar.
“You used to make fun of Evan and me, and now look at you all.” He smiles.
“You’re fucking practically royal and about to pop out twins.
” He points at his brother. “And you.” He turns to Finn.
“You fell for your best friend’s sister, such a cliché, and knocked her up. ”
“And knocked her up again,” Finn adds.
“Issy’s pregnant?” Oscar gasps.
Finn nods, a huge grin on his face. “The girls picked it up earlier, so they already know. It’s only early.”
“Oh, man. Congratulations.” Oscar gets up and hugs his best friend and brother-in-law. “I’m going to be an uncle again.”
“Sienna’s pregnant, too,” Evan adds.
“What the fuck?” Oscar gasps.
“What can I say, fellas? I have potent swimmers.” The boys all flip Evan off before congratulating him.
“Are they always like this?” Charlie whispers to me.
“Yep,” I tell him as he sits quietly sipping his beer.
“And you, Oscar. The one who never believed in marriage or kids or settling down.” Christian smiles smugly.
“You’re now getting married and have an instant family of five.
You are doing the school run and braiding hair.
I think we’re going to be coming to you for advice soon. ” He tips his bottle of beer at him.
“Okay, okay. I was wrong for giving you and Evan shit. I get it now. The love of a good woman does change you. And yes, I didn’t believe in all those things before Stacey, shit happens, and you soon realize what’s important in your life, and it’s her.
She’s my everything, and I don’t care that it makes me sound pussy-whipped because I guess I am, and I love it,” he states confidently, raising his beer high.
“Hell, yeah,” Christian calls out. “To being pussy-whipped.” The boys cheer and hold their beers high in the air.
“I’m dick whipped,” I add, which makes the boys laugh.
“You certainly are.” Charlie grins.
“Welcome to the family, Charlie,” Christian says, pointing his beer at us.
“Guessing there is still one Dirty Texas man that hasn’t technically fallen yet,” Evan adds. The boys look confused by his comment. “He’s an honorary member of Dirty Texas,” Evan adds.
“Me?” I question.
“Yep.” Evan smirks.
“You’re telling me I’m a rockstar by proxy?” I smirk.
“Guess so.” Evan grins.
“Fuck yeah.” I squeal excitedly.
“So technically, the last Dirty Texas member hasn’t fallen,” Evan reiterates.
“But I’m in love,” I tell him, to which the others cheer.
“No ring on that finger yet,” Evan points out.
“Yet …” Charlie smirks, which makes the boys all cheer again.
“I’m meeting his parents when we get back,” I inform my friends who all ooh and ahh.
“Are you two going to live together in LA?” Christian asks.
I shake my head.
“Not yet. We thought we should date a little longer before moving in, plus I don’t want to leave my sister alone,” Charlie answers.
“I told you she could live with me,” Jackson adds.
“I wouldn’t trust him around my sister either,” Oscar grumbles.
“You were worrying about the wrong brother, then,” Jackson bites back, which makes Oscar chuckle.
“Touche,” he says, raising his drink at Jackson.
“Now he loves me, because we’re family,” Finn adds. Oscar glares at him.
“Are you looking forward to moving to LA? Can’t imagine it’s as beautiful as Montana,” Christian asks.
“It’s different, that’s for sure, but Everly has way more opportunities in LA than Midnight Falls. She put her life on hold for me after the accident. This is my way of repaying her, plus, I get to be closer to my man,” Charlie says, grabbing my hand and kissing it.
“What is it your sister does?” Oscar asks.
“She’s an accountability coach. Basically, she has all these degrees in fitness, nutrition, and counselling, and she whipped me into shape when no one else could,” he explains, the boys falling silent.
“Is it hard not being in the military anymore?” Axel asks.
Charlie looks over at Jackson, and a silent conversation falls between them.
“It is. Just like earlier, you were talking about your band being brothers, that was what we were like in our team. Each one of them was our brother, and we were prepared to put our lives on the line to save each other.” Charlie fidgets in his chair, and I can tell he’s uncomfortable talking about it.
I give his hand a squeeze, letting him know I am here.
“It’s the main reason I started up my security company, for that exact reason.
When you have been living and working so closely with people in a high-pressure, insane environment that many people cannot comprehend what you have gone through or seen, it’s hard to come home and try to be normal again.
Because everyone has moved on with their life, but you are coming back to your normal world where nothing has changed for you.
It’s as if you’ve been gone overnight, not six months or more,” Jackson explains.
Wow, that must have been hard and a total mind fuck too.
Then Jackson launches into war stories that the boys would like. Charlie joins in, even though he is a little more relaxed, there is still a bit of simmering tension there, but it is interesting hearing his war stories as I’ve never heard them before.