Chapter 33 #2
Wheeler’s family arrives a few minutes later. We make more awkward small talk over drinks by the fire on the porch. Wheeler sips a fake tequila and soda I made her that’s just soda with lime.
“So Wheeler’s staying with you here.” Preston lifts a finger in the general direction of the cottage.
“She is.”
“And how long have y’all been dating?”
“Long enough.” I sip my beer. Watch Wheeler laugh at something Haines says. “The minute I met your sister, I knew I wanted to date her.”
Preston chuckles. “Yeah. Right. Sure you did.”
“You sayin’ something?” I eye him.
“Just saying you didn’t know her then. Like, know her know her. She’s always been so…” Shaking his head, he tips back his tequila soda.
I hold my bottle in a death grip. “So what?”
“How do I say this nicely?” He squints. “She’s not an easy person.
Like, she’s a little off, you know? Just really hardheaded.
She wouldn’t even hear out my dad about going into law, even though he has really great connections at a bunch of big law firms and could get her a plum job, no problem.
She gave up a lucrative career to do what, make stupid cowboy boots for Barbie? ”
I see it: me calmly setting my beer down on the table. I’d push up my right sleeve a little bit more. Curl my fingers into a fist. Then I’d turn around and hurl that fist into this smug bastard’s face.
He’d cry.
I’d smile, satisfied I let him know exactly what I think of him talking about my girl this way.
Talking about any girl this way. Who the fuck does this kid think he is? God’s gift to the world, just because his parents are rich?
But decking Preston in the mouth would upset Wheeler, so instead I paste on a smile and say, “I know Wheeler pretty well. Just like I know the quality and craftsmanship of her boots is top notch. She’s smart, she’s capable, and she does amazing work. I’m proud of her.”
But Preston just raises his brows and rolls his eyes, letting out an annoyed breath. “Whatever you say. Good luck with that one.”
My turn to chuckle. “You know, it’s funny.”
“What?”
“You went to law school, right?”
“I did, yeah.”
“And now you work with your dad?”
Preston nods. “I’m the youngest partner in the firm’s history.”
I bet you think you earned that too, don’t you? When really it was handed to you on a silver platter.
“Congrats. But really, we should be congratulating your sister, because she’s going to make more money doing her ‘stupid’ cowboy boot thing than y’all ever will pushing paper behind a desk for ninety hours a week for the rest of your lives.
Because turns out that ‘stupid’ cowboy boot thing isn’t so stupid.
It’s actually really cool and really lucrative too. ”
Preston blinks, a pink flush working its way up his neck. “Dude, I’m not, like, attacking you—”
“But you are attacking Wheeler.” I put a hand on his chest. “And that’s something I’m not gonna tolerate. You understand me, dude?”
He blinks again. “Whatever.”
I pat his chest. “Good.” I turn to face everyone else. “All right, y’all. Time to eat.”
I look at Wheeler. Ready?
She looks back. Ready.
Everyone serves themselves in the kitchen, and then we head outside to sit at the picnic table. I notice Tim is slapping his leg, a scowl on his face.
“You all right there, Mr. Rankin?” I put my napkin on my lap.
“I’m getting eaten alive out here. Christ.”
I nod at the bug spray on the ledge of the window behind him. “Mosquitoes are starting to get bad. Help yourself to the spray.”
He doesn’t thank me, but he does grab the bottle and spray down his legs. I notice his movements are sluggish. Is he already drunk? He’s still scowling when he turns back to his plate.
Frannie frowns as she sets her plate beside Wheeler’s at the other end of the table. I’m sure she saw Tim’s face. We all have. His bad mood is a dark cloud that hangs over the meal.
I do my best to ignore it, making polite conversation with Haines. The light begins to fade. Dinner is delicious if I do say so myself. But dessert is even better.
“God, that’s good,” Wheeler says, spooning the last of her ice cream into her mouth.
Preston makes a face. “Since when do you have such a sweet tooth?”
She looks at me. My stomach drops.
Time to spill the beans.
Honestly, it’s kind of a relief. I’ve been waiting on tenterhooks for Wheeler to give me the go-ahead.
I clear my throat. “Funny you should mention that.”
“Duke and I have some news.” Wheeler drops her spoon and grabs my hand. It’s the first—only—time her palm’s felt clammy.
Frannie claps. “Oh my God! Are y’all engaged?”
“Mom! Jesus fuck, they’ve known each other for, like, a week.” Preston shakes his head. “Now let her finish.”
I wait for Tim to chastise his son for talking to his mother like that.
Instead, he looks blandly at me, his nose red from the tequila he’s been swigging like it’s his job.
“Preston, have a little respect, okay?” Wheeler says. “Mom’s just excited.”
“For what?” Preston tips back his empty glass, crunching loudly on the ice. “What’s this big news?”
If he was sitting next to her, I can tell she’d give him a hard shove. Is he the type of guy who’d shove her back?
“I’m pregnant.”
Dead silence. Frannie’s eyes look blank in the growing darkness. Preston stares. Haines fights a smile. Tim blinks. Blinks again. The fire crackles behind us.
Then, suddenly, Tim shatters the silence by banging his fist on the table and shouting, “Fuck! You gotta be fucking kidding me! What the hell are people going to say?”
There’s something about the way he spits out the words, his tone suddenly harsh and venomous and loud, that almost makes me jump. I don’t, because I’m not afraid.
But Wheeler is. She actually jumps, her shoulders up by her ears, body stiff, like she’s bracing herself.
Oh no.
No, no, no. She’s got nothing to be afraid of. Not when she’s with me.
“Tim,” Frannie says. “Please calm down. I’m sure that’s an explanation—”
“For what? Her having a fucking kid with a fucking stranger?” Tim stands, staring me down. “Where do you get the balls to—”
“Love your daughter the way she deserves to be loved?” I stare right back. “That’s how I was raised, Tim. I’d never, ever talk to her the way you just did. Same as I’ll never talk to our kids that way. No one deserves that kind of disrespect.”
“Dad.” Even Preston sounds nervous now. “It’ll be fine. I’m sure she’s not keeping it—”
“I’m keeping it.” Wheeler’s voice shakes, but she still speaks. “Duke and I made that decision together.”
Tim bangs his fist on the table again. “You wanna talk about disrespect? How do you think this is gonna look? You’re a stranger—”
“He’s no such thing.” Wheeler squeezes my hand. “Duke is my best friend.”
Frannie’s quietly wiping the tears from her cheeks. “Are y’all going to get married?”
“They’d better be!” Tim roars. “It’s the only way our friends won’t think our daughter’s a total—”
“Do yourself a favor and don’t finish that sentence.” My voice is deadly calm. I feel all eyes at the table move to me. Glancing at Frannie, I see her eyes glimmer with shock. They’re not used to Tim being put in his place.
Wheeler looks up at me. “Thank you.”
“Again, I will not tolerate that kind of disrespect in our home,” I continue, looking at Tim. His gaze simmers with barely contained rage.
“Dad, we haven’t talked about getting married yet,” Wheeler says carefully. “But we’re in love. Duke loves me like no one ever has. He’s a good friend—”
“And a shitty excuse for a man if he doesn’t put a ring on your finger.”
“That’s our decision,” Wheeler shoots back. “Baby or no baby, we’d be together. We’d be building a future—a life—together.”
“Never wanted something more,” I say.
“You.” Tim jabs his finger at me, spit flying from his mouth. “You’d best do what’s right here. I’ve got nothing to say to any of you until that happens.”
Then he turns, pushing back the picnic bench so that everyone on that side of the table lurches forward.
“Dad, you’re going to regret this tomorrow,” Haines says.
“Fuck off,” Tim replies.
Standing, I keep my voice even but loud when I say, “Sit down, Tim.”
He pauses, then looks at me over his shoulder.
“I’m not asking,” I continue. “Listen to what your daughter has to say to you. It’s important. She loves you, and she wants to include you in this very happy moment in her life.”
He looks at me. And looks. Jaw set. Nostrils flaring.
“You walk away now, you’ll never be welcome in this house again. Which would be a shame, considering this is where we wanna raise your grandbaby.”
Tim has the grace to look ever so slightly sheepish.
“Fine,” he says at last and sits back down.
So do I, and I calmly reach down to grab my napkin off the ground. “Another thing. You ever speak to my girlfriend that way again, we’re gonna have a problem. A big one.”
Tim waves his hand and mutters something.
“Did you hear me?” I ask.
He gives me a nasty look. “Yes.”
“Good.” I put my hand on Wheeler’s leg. “You were saying?”
Her eyes are full. For a second, I panic. But then she’s putting her hand on my leg too. She’s smiling—it’s a small one, but it’s still there—and it hits me that the tears in her eyes are happy ones.
Grateful ones.
Relieved ones.
Wheeler doesn’t need a protector. She’s strong enough to fend for herself.
But I’ll always come to her defense anyway. I’m her man now, and it’s just what I do.
It’s what I’ll do for the rest of my life.
“Thank you,” she says.
“Don’t need to thank me for making sure you get respect when respect is due, Blue.”
“Blue?” Haines’s lips twitch. “That’s cute.”
Everyone listens as Wheeler explains our decision to be together and to keep the baby. Frannie continues to cry, but Haines wraps her in a side hug and rubs her back. Preston keeps drinking, but really, who cares? He’s a lost cause. We’re never going to be close to him. Like father, like son.
To Tim’s credit, he sits until Wheeler is done talking.
“Good for you,” Haines says quietly. He raises his class. “Congrats, y’all. Duke, I gotta tell you, my sister—she’s different since she’s been with you. I mean that in a good way. She’s truly come into her own. You let her be herself, and she’s finally stepping into who she was always meant to be.”
“Oh yeah?” Wheeler laughs, even as she dabs at her eyes with her napkin. “Who’s that?”
“A badass, bighearted human who works hard and loves harder and isn’t afraid to go after what she loves.” He tilts his glass toward her. “You inspire me every day, Wheeler.”
Frannie nods. “You inspire all of us, honey.”
I wonder if she means Wheeler inspired her to leave a miserable man. Whatever the case, I couldn’t agree more.
I give Wheeler a nudge. “You inspired me too. And now look. We’re living the dream. Multiple dreams, all at once.”
“You’ve made so many of my dreams come true, baby.” Her voice is barely above a whisper. “Thank you.”
I’m crying.
Wheeler is crying.
Tim appears to be blinking back tears. I’m honestly shocked that I may have finally gotten through to him.
Whatever the case, everyone gives Wheeler a hug as they’re leaving a little while later.
Preston and Tim refrain from giving me hugs, but Preston does shake my hand.
“She seems happy,” he says. Then he trots down the stairs.
Tim keeps his hands in his pockets. “Don’t forget us back in Dallas.”
“We won’t,” Wheeler replies.
It’s not congratulations! or I’m so happy for you. But it is better than fuck off. And maybe, for now anyway, that’s a win.
Wheeler and I watch her family drive away.
“I hope they don’t get lost in the dark on their way back to the New House,” she murmurs against my shoulder.
“I got Cash lookin’ out for them.”
“Of course you do.” She lets out a breath and burrows farther into my side. “Thank God that’s over. It went just as badly as I thought it would. But also…better somehow?”
Chuckling, I curl an arm around her shoulders. “The right people are gonna be happy for us. The wrong ones—”
“We ditch the wrong ones. Even if the wrong ones are—were—family.”
I look down at her. “You really do know what you want.”
“I do now.” She hooks a finger into my shirt. “I want you, baby.”
I let her have me, all night long.