33. Rocky
thirty-three
Rocky
I don’t know if Montana’s a good influence on Autumn or a bad one. I know it’s a double standard for me to love Montana in the same clothing that my sister wears. The difference is that Autumn is my little sister. I swear they’re both trying to kill me.
I begged for a brother, but as a kid I didn’t care about not being able to choose. When she was born, I begged my parents not to have another girl because there was only so much I could do for one let alone two.
Being a big brother to a sister is not for the faint of heart. I failed her once. I won't do it again. I would rather cut my throwing hand off than see my sister in that kind of pain again. I’m glad that Xander and Talon will be here with her next year. I won't ever be far, but in case she needs someone right away, they’ll be right there.
The restaurant that Montana chose is beautiful. It has a patio that sits right on the water, and there's a pergola with plants all around and white twinkling lights. Since it's October, there are heaters set up all around, and there is also a fireplace outside. The red brick of the building has vines crawling up and is just the kind of place these girls love.
Montana made a reservation, so we’re seated right away at a big round table that’s set up for Autumn. When I look over at Autumn, her eyes are shimmering with tears. She looks at Montana and gets up to hug her, and I see her whispering in Montana’s ear. Montana pulls away and smiles at her and kisses her cheek. Autumn sits between Talon and Xander, and Montana is between Talon and me.
The food is amazing. The dishes are served family style. That’s what we are though—one big happy and crazy family. I look at Montana and she’s already looking at me with a smile on her face.
“What are you thinking about, handsome?”
“Just how happy I am to see my little sister happy and loved.”
“She is, and I’m so glad to have come back into both of your lives,” she says with a shy smile.
I lean down and give her a soft kiss on her lips. In this moment, I know for sure that I’m in love with Montana. I just need to figure out a way to tell her that’s special. She is special and she deserves to know that.
“Get a room!” Xander yells out.
“Eww, that’s my cousin.”
“And my brother. Gag.” Autumn scrunches her nose in disgust.
“Oh, just wait till it's you guys, then we will see how it is.” I smirk.
Montana rolls her eyes and gets up to go to the restroom with Autumn. I watch them walk away and smile.
“You love her, don’t you?” Talon asks.
“Yeah, man. I do.”
“Good, but don't you hurt her, because honestly, Dylan was a shit boyfriend. You have the power to destroy her, and I’m telling you…if you do, I will end you,” he says with a stone-cold face.
“Two things. One: I’m glad she has you in her corner, and two: you don’t need to threaten me. I won’t hurt her. She has my whole heart.”
“Good. I like you, man, you’re a great guy. I’m glad she has someone who wants her for her, and not what she can do for them. I can’t wait to play Ohio. I miss some of the guys on the team, but I can’t wait to wipe the smirk off Dylan’s face. That fucker thinks he can get my cousin back,” he says with an eye roll, and I stiffen.
“What do you mean, Talon?” I say with an icy tone.
“He’s been talking about how he’ll get Montana back, and Theo told me that when they play us that some of the guys will try to pancake you. He’s delusional to think that she would ever want him again.”
“Fuck that, we won't let anything happen to you, Rocky,” Xander says.
“No, man, we won't. You are more than our captain and quarterback; you’re our friend, and we’ll protect you. That’s a promise,” Talon adds on.
“Thanks, guys.” I nod my appreciation.
The girls come back, and they sit back down. The waiter comes back out with a cake for Autumn, and we sing for her. It gets cut up and it’s the best red velvet cake with cream cheese icing I’ve ever had.
“Oh my gosh, who made this cake? I’ll need to get one for my mom's birthday,” Xander asks.
Montana and Talon look at each other and smile.
“Really? You like it?” Montana asks.
“Yes, it’s very good. Can you please let me know so I can order one? It’s my mom's favorite.” Xander says while eating the last of his cake.
“Sure, just let me know when you need it, and I'll have it done— I made it myself. Or you can ask Autumn because her cake designs are amazing,” she says with a shrug.
“My gosh, woman, if this man fucks up, I’m swooping in myself,” he says with a snicker. He turns to Autumn. “Would you be willing to make it?”
“In your dreams, Xander.” I pull her close to me and kiss the top of her head.
“Yes! I’ll see if Montana will help with the cake because my recipe isn’t this amazing, but I would love to make Jenna a cake.”
“I’ll give you the recipe, babe, call it ‘Montana’s red velvet cake.’ Just kidding.”
We finish everything and get up to leave because it's time to head out for the candlelight ghost trolly tour.
“Xander, I swear to sweet baby Jesus, it wasn’t even scary!” Montana throws a pillow at the six-foot-four buff football player who hates anything scary.
“No, you just had to scare me when I wasn’t paying attention!”
“How else does one scare someone, hmm? Please enlighten me,” she says with a laugh.
Autumn cuts in. “Thank you everyone for making my day so special. I’ve never felt so loved by friends before. Well, you guys are more than friends, you’re my family and I love y’all so much.”
As I sit here looking at everyone in the room, I’m honestly so amazed at the little family we’ve created. I hope my sister can meet other girls to have more friends but even if it's just her and Montana, I know she’ll be okay.
I’ve known for a while now that I’m in love with her.
I pull her with me to take a walk out back. It’s always been a favorite spot of mine.
When you walk out through the French doors, you walk into the all-seasons room with a fireplace and TV on the wall. Walking through that room to get outside, there’s a big pool to the left, and beyond the pool there are two big trees with white twinkling lights and lanterns hanging from them. Between the two big trees is a hammock with pillows and blankets. I sit first then pull her on top of me. She’s snuggling into me to take up my warmth and I pull the blanket over us.
We’re looking up at the stars when I take my thumb and pointer finger and pull her chin towards me and kiss her.
“You looked so incredible tonight. Do you think that the universe fights for souls to be together?”
“Thank you, and honestly? I’m beginning to think so. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m your everything,” she says as her eyes shine in the moonlight.
“That’s because you are. I love you, Montana.”
I tuck the hair that has fallen in front of her face behind her ear. She sucks in a breath looking into my eyes.
“But, why?”
“Why?”
She nods with tears in her eyes, then smiles at me. We both gaze at the beautiful full moon before locking eyes again.
“Why do I love you? It’s the way you make me laugh, and the way you call me on my shit. It’s in how you’re a friend to those you love, and in the way you smiled when I just told you I love you. How can I not? It’s how you want what’s best for me as a person and because of who I am. When I first met you, you didn’t bat your lashes at me because of who I am.” She scoffs and I swear I heard her quote Cher from Clueless . “I love how we can eat healthy but you’re also not afraid to eat a burger and fries. It’s the way you’d rather spend time at home than go out and party. You don’t ever have to work again if you don’t want but you want to do things that bring joy to others with your art. I love how you read your dirty girl books and light up when you tell me about them. It's how you protected my sister without thinking twice when you barely knew her. When someone asks me why I can give them more than one reason.”
She crashes her mouth to mine and that kiss pours her love into my soul without her even saying the words.
“I was not expecting you; I was not even looking but somehow you came into my life as if you knew exactly what I was needed. You fixed a broken heart that you didn’t break, in more ways than one. I tried to resist it, not wanting to let this begin. You show me every day that I don’t need to be scared to open my heart again. I was afraid of getting close to someone again and letting my heart get broken again. I’m giving you this power to break me, but I feel like I know I won’t regret it. I love you too, por vida.”
“Por vida, mi vida. I’ll always protect your heart.”
“Pinky promise?”
“Pinky promise.”