Chapter 42 – Phoenix
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Billy the butt biter
Phoenix
A few days after Christmas, we’re on the way to Pine Tree Falls, Jordie’s small hometown east of Dallas.
I’ve taken the entire week off work to deal with all this, but it’s fine.
All our holiday ads and commercials have been out since Thanksgiving, so I was basically just doing busy work until the end of the year.
I feel like some teenager about to meet his girlfriend’s parents for the first time. Jordie picked out my clothes for me since she knows her family better than me, and I’m wearing Abercrombie relaxed-fit jeans and a lightweight taupe sweater. Very casual. Not overdone. I’m just a regular guy.
Jordie and I sat down and talked to Reece together last night, telling her simply that we’re boyfriend and girlfriend now. Unsurprisingly, she was happy and said it was “lit.” Whatever the fuck that means. Jordie said it’s a good thing.
I knew my family would be pretty low-key about this, so I called each of them today to inform them Jordie and I are in love and it might hit the news soon.
They were all happy for us of course. Dad said he’d call Hale’s PR team to get them to draft a statement for when they undoubtedly get media inquiries about our relationship.
I pull off the country road we’ve been driving on and up a paved driveway. At the top of the hill sits a huge timber house with a stone fireplace on one side.
“It’s beautiful out here,” I note, looking around at all the pine and oak trees surrounding the property and giving it an air of privacy.
“It really is. You remember the game plan?”
“We’re meeting Juliette and Reno first to try and get them on our side. Then the rest of the family will come over.”
“Right. We’re going to divide and conquer. You’ll talk to Reno all man-to-man like, and I’ll talk to Jules. I honestly don’t think she’ll have a problem with it as long as I’m happy.”
“And Reno?” When she hesitates, I poke her leg. “Why’d you get the easy one and I get the huge guy that whacks people with a hockey stick for a living?”
I stop the car and go around to let Jordie out. She’s still laughing when I open the door. “You’ll be fine, Hale. Just compliment his goats.”
My eyebrows smash together. “Is that some kind of euphemism? Because I don’t get down like that.”
Before she can answer, the front door opens and two toddlers run out, a boy and a girl. Jordie sprints through the grass and grabs them up, kissing their little faces, much to their delight.
Reno and Juliette follow, both smiling at the sweet scene. Then Reno spots me, a look of confusion on his face. He stops to hug Jordie before walking out to the driveway to greet me.
“Phoenix, how you doing?”
“I’m good, Reno. You?”
He rubs a hand over the top of his head, his expression unreadable. “Good. Just wondering what you’re doing here with my sister-in-law.”
“I drove her up here,” I say vaguely. “You think we could have a chat?”
Suspicion clouds his blue eyes but he nods and gestures for me to walk with him around the side of the house. That’s when I see the paddock with two little goats in it.
Aha. I get it now.
“Nice goats. Are they pygmies?”
Reno’s face brightens. “They are. You want to meet them?”
I put some enthusiasm into my voice. “Of course I do. I love goats.” Not a lie but not entirely the truth either. The only goat I’ve ever been around was when I took Reece to a petting zoo, and that little fucker shit on my shoe. The goat, not Reecie.
We enter the paddock, and I’m introduced to Billy and Jean. Reno points at the larger one. “Billy is the male, and Jean is the female, in case you didn’t want to check their undercarriages.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “That’s something I try to avoid at all costs.” I let the animals sniff my hand before petting their coarse fur.
Reno leans against the fencing and levels me with a look. “Let me guess. You’re dating Jordie.”
“Yes,” I reply simply. “I am.”
He blows out a sigh. “Figured as much. It’s the only explanation for why you’re here with her.” Shaking his head, he grumbles, “I’m not sure how to feel about that.”
“She’s happy,” I say. “Isn’t that enough?”
Reno stares off into the distance for a long minute while I continue to pet Jean the goat. It’s oddly comforting.
When his eyes come back to me, his look is earnest. “I want her to be happy. Can I ask what your age difference is?”
“Nine years,” I say.
His nose wrinkles but only for a second. “I guess that’s not too bad. Jordie’s always been more mature, even though everyone else in the family acts like she’s still a kid.”
“She has a career, her own place, and pays her own bills,” I point out, and Reno rubs his jaw.
“Growing up in the sports world, especially at the level we play at… well, you grow up pretty fast.” His eyes narrow on me. “How long have you two been together?”
“We met in May, and I helped her with some contract stuff when she was looking for a new agent. Everything was strictly professional in the beginning but…” I shrug.
There’s no way I’m going to tell him she asked me to take her virginity and I complied, so I settle for, “There was a mutual attraction. We had some dinners together as friends and then decided we wanted to date.”
“I’m guessing if you’re here with her, it’s pretty serious.”
“As serious as it can get,” I confirm. “I’m in love with her.”
Reno’s gaze sharpens. “She’s not pregnant is she? Because if she is, you better start running before Bubba gets here. I got his other sister pregnant, and I thought he was going to kill me, even though we’re friends and teammates. And Jules and I are a lot closer in age.”
“She’s definitely not pregnant,” I assure him. “I just meant we’re thinking long term, and I plan to marry her.”
Reno’s lips twist to the side before breaking into a reluctant smile.
“Okay, Hale. If Jordie’s as happy as you say she is, I don’t have a problem with you.
I know she’s grown and doesn’t need anyone’s permission, but family is very important to her, and I don’t want to make it harder on her by not accepting her decision to be with you. ”
“I appreciate that, Reno.” I step closer and hold out my hand.
He shakes it, but his eyes hold a hint of warning. “Don’t fucking hurt her or it won’t be Bubba you need to worry about.”
My gaze doesn’t waver. “I won’t, and if I do, I’ll drive myself up here so you can beat me with a hockey stick.”
His lips twitch. “Fair enough. Now let’s go inside and see what the girls are up to.”
I’m a little relieved. That was easier than I thought. As we turn to go inside, I feel a sharp pain on my backside. I snap my head toward Reno, rubbing my right butt cheek. “Dude, did you just pinch my ass?”
He frowns for a second before whirling around with his hands on his hips. “Billy! Did you bite our guest?”
The male goat grins. Literally grins with big, crooked teeth before trotting off.
Reno grips my shoulder and turns me around, bending to inspect my ass. “Sorry about that, man. It doesn’t look like he tore your jeans or anything. You all right?”
“I’m fine,” I say with a chuckle. “Just a nip.”
He stands. “Seriously, I’m sorry. He’s never bitten anyone but me. With the kids, he hops around and plays like a goddamn puppy, but for some reason he thinks my ass is tasty.”
“Apparently mine is too. I feel like you and I are bonded now or something.”
Reno shakes his head as we walk toward the house. “Don’t push your luck, Hale. You’re still on thin ice with me.”
The meeting with the rest of the family goes better than expected.
Or at least there's no melee, and I’m pretty sure that’s because Reno had a talk with Bubba outside before the big family meeting.
Xander isn’t here because he’s studying for some big exam he’s got coming up in the new year, but the rest of them are all here.
Both fathers, Reno, Bubba, Juliette, and Bubba’s wife, Holly.
Reno’s mom has the kids upstairs while we talk, and I patiently answer all the questions they throw at me.
Well, everyone except Bubba, who remains quiet.
The man has scowling down to an art form, and if his eyes were laser beams, I’d be toast. Through it all, Jordie holds my hand and gives me encouraging squeezes.
Finally she asks, “So is everyone satisfied, or are we continuing the inquisition about my love life?”
“I think he’s too old for you,” Bubba grumbles, speaking for the first time from the chair across from where we’re seated on the couch.
“He’s younger than you,” she shoots back.
That takes him down a notch, and he crosses his arms over his chest. Jordie adopts the same posture, and they engage in a stare down. After a tense silence, her brother heaves out an aggrieved breath.
“Fine. I know you’re a grownup now, and maybe I’m having trouble coming to terms with that.”
Jordie relaxes her own posture and replies, “Well, that’s a you problem. Not a me problem. And we have bigger things to worry about than your sullen attitude.”
All attention is on her now, and I grasp her hand, letting her feel my support. This is what she’s been most worried about.
“The reason we decided to tell everyone now is because our relationship is about to go public.” She pauses. “Because I’m being blackmailed.”
That throws the room into an uproar with everyone yelling questions at once, wanting to know who and why and if she’s called the police.
Jordie holds up a hand, and eventually everyone settles down. “They want a quarter of a million dollars or they’re going to release photos of me and Phoenix to the press.”
“What kind of pictures?” Emmett, her biological dad growls, shooting me a look.
“Not that kind,” she assures him. “They have pictures of me arriving at Phoenix’s house, hugging, a few kissing shots. In the photos, we’re obviously a couple. The blackmailers think the press will paint it as some kind of illicit affair and it will tarnish my reputation.”
“That’s fucking bullshit,” Bubba snaps. “You’re an adult capable of making your own decisions, and you’re not doing anything wrong.”
Holly turns her head slowly toward her husband, giving him the side-eye for his obvious change in attitude. “Really, Bubba?”
He lets out an annoyed sound before giving his attention back to Jordie. “Do you know who’s blackmailing you, hon? Because I can pay them a fucking visit.”
“It’s…” I put my arm protectively around her shoulders, and she swallows hard before finishing. “Delphine.”
And that’s one way to quiet a room.
Eyes dart side to side, gazes colliding and then flittering away.
After a moment, Bubba speaks up again. “Delphine, as in our…” His voice tightens into a strangle, as if he can’t quite say that last word aloud.
Jordie nods, staring down at her hands twisting in her lap. A tear escapes and plops onto her thumb, and fuck, I hate this. I hate that she was taken advantage of. I hate that she has to make this admission to her family.
Her voice comes out quiet and small, something I’m not used to from my strong, fierce girl. And I hate that most of all.
“I thought she wanted to get to know me. I thought she loved me.”
“Oh, honey,” Juliette cries, and I force myself to let go of Jordie so her sister can pull her into a tight embrace.
“I feel so stupid,” she sobs, and my heart is in a million tiny pieces.
Juliette rubs her back. “You’re not stupid, Jordie. That’s what she does. She’s a manipulator.”
Emmett comes to kneel beside his daughter, taking her hand and squeezing it.
“If you’re stupid, I’m a complete idiot.
I married the woman twice.” He kisses Jordie’s hand.
“She had me convinced she’d changed the second time around.
That she wanted to stick around. That was obviously a lie, but I wouldn’t change my decision because it gave me you and Xander. ”
Jordie sniffles and nods. “She told me you and Pops threatened her for child support, and that’s why she never came back. Because she didn’t have the money to pay you. I didn’t know what to believe.”
The muscles of Emmett’s jaw clench. “Well you can believe that part, because it’s true.
” Jordie looks at him in shock, and he swipes a tear from her face.
“But we had good reason.” He glances over his shoulder where Bubba is sitting, still stunned.
“Why don’t I let your brother tell you the story since he was the one there. ”