Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
B oon
Kinsley looked like a Disney princess all grown up in her prom dress.
It was a deep blue with sparkles all over it.
The neckline dropped lower than I’d have approved, but Mom somehow overruled me when I voiced my opinion.
I had to admit, with her hair curled, makeup done professionally, and the sky-high heels, Kinsley looked like the prettiest woman I’d ever seen.
Tatum must have thought the same thing because his gaze hadn’t left her since he got here, corsage in hand.
The boy’s cheeks had gone crimson at first glance.
He kept pulling at the neckline of his suit whenever I got near.
He and I already had a talk earlier this week about the kind of behavior I expected from him tonight.
Pretty sure I’d put the fear of not just God, but a pissed-off father, in him. Enough that he’d behave himself.
I snapped some photos of them with my cell phone, sending them off to Cassie as she’d requested. Mom got the good photos on her digital camera. Just as they said goodbye and headed for Tatum’s truck, I put my hand on Kinsley’s shoulder.
“Hey, Tink, got a second?”
She spun around, stepping away from Tatum to offer me a sweet smile. “Yeah, Dad?”
My eyes started burning and I had to sniffle back some congestion that appeared all of a sudden, but I was able to get words out. “You look beautiful, sweetheart. But who you are inside is even more incredible. I’m proud of you and I love you. More than words can say.”
Her face went soft, and I noticed her eyes were as glassy as mine. “Thanks, Dad.” She tipped her head toward Shae’s house. “And I’m proud of you too. My brother’s lucky to have you as his dad.”
I couldn’t get words past my clogged throat, so I just pulled her into a tight hug. I held her there a moment, remembering how she wouldn’t even look at me at the beginning of the school year. We’d come a long way. It gave me hope in my abilities to be a father to my son.
And then the two kids were off, making memories I hoped would be good ones. When Tatum’s truck disappeared around the corner, I looked back at Mom and headed up the porch steps.
“I’ve always known parenting was hard, but I didn’t expect this part to be hard.”
Mom smiled at me, then rested her head on my shoulder as I slipped an arm around her waist. We stared at the empty spot where Kinsley got in the truck.
“You blink and suddenly they’re gone. You have to hope you raised them right.”
I sighed, chest heavy. “That’s what has my gut twisted. I don’t think I did raise her right.”
Mom pinched my back. I yowled with pain but she didn’t apologize. “Cassie did a good job with her and you haven’t been so bad yourself, Boon.”
I fake-gasped. “What is this? A compliment from my mother?”
She spun in my arm, looking up into my eyes.
Hers were lined with wrinkles now, but just as fierce as when we were misbehaving little boys.
“You didn’t deserve compliments about your parenting before.
But you do now. I see how you are with her and it makes me proud.
Now go make me proud with Shae. Do the right thing. ”
I put my hands on Mom’s shoulders. “I’ve already asked her to marry me and she said no. I’m trying to prove to her that I’m in it for the long haul.”
Mom’s eyes narrowed. “You ever stop to think that maybe she just needs to know you love her?” Then she whacked me in the stomach with the back of her hand and walked off, muttering under her breath.
I huffed, but maybe she had a point. I thought about it, all while getting dressed in my tuxedo.
I’d worn this thing a few times over the years when I got invited to swanky fundraisers, always dreading putting it on because it meant a boring night of kissing ass and smiling.
But tonight, I wore it with pride. I was taking my woman to the prom she never got.
Shae answered the door, and I immediately choked on the words I had planned.
Her auburn hair was down and curled with just a section pinned back with a sparkly clip on one side.
Her emerald-green dress made her porcelain skin shine.
Her breasts were propped up and the waistline of the dress highlighted the baby bump before falling in waves to the floor.
She could have been cast in a remake of Bridgerton in this dress, all feminine curves and fancy attire. Conspicuously missing were her glasses.
“Boon,” she said demurely when the silence went on a little too long.
I held out the corsages I’d gotten her, one that would go on her wrist and the other to pin to her dress. She took the clear carton and stepped back. I coughed, my brain screaming at me to get my shit together.
“You look stunning, Shae.” I stepped forward and cupped her cheeks with both hands.
I wanted to slide my fingers into her thick hair and press her against the door to kiss the hell out of her, but I also didn’t want to mess up her hair and makeup.
She’d clearly taken the time to look extra special tonight.
“I can’t wait to show you off at the dance.
Can’t wait to spin you around on my arm proudly. ”
Her cheeks flushed from my words, just reinforcing the fact that no man had ever done a good job complimenting this woman the way she deserved.
I’d spend the rest of my life making sure it was done right this time.
I took the carton from her hands and slipped the flowers onto her wrist. I didn’t even stab her or myself getting the other corsage in place at her shoulder.
“There.” I held out my elbow and she slipped her hand through. I bent at the waist and rubbed my hand over her belly while I talked to the baby. “Don’t kick Mommy tonight, son. Let her have a night of fun, okay?”
The sound of a car pulling up her driveway came at just the right time. Our heads lifted, looking out the front door to see a black limousine waiting for us like a modern-day horse-drawn carriage.
Shae gasped. “Is that for us?”
I straightened, walking us out the door and making sure it was locked behind us. “No, it’s for you . I told you this was the re-do you deserve. Doesn’t every girl dream of going in a limo?”
She was still staring as the driver I’d hired stepped out and held the back door open for us with a tip of his hat. “I, um, I guess I would have settled for a vacuumed-out car.”
I helped her into the limousine, tucking the long material of her dress inside by her heels. “And that’s where you went wrong. You always deserved the limo.” I shut the door and nodded my thanks at the driver before heading around to my side of the limousine.
We held hands in the back row all the way to the dance, except for the couple of minutes where Shae explored the limo, opening cubbyholes and checking out the mini fridge.
She was like a kid at a new playground and it was delightful to see.
Shae had always intrigued me, but seeing her belly rounded with my baby was doing strange things to my gut.
I was inappropriately turned on every time I looked at her, even if we were in the school gymnasium during an assembly.
It was like my brain had returned to its caveman factory settings, gloating over impregnating his mate.
The old theatre in downtown Blueball was alive with lights and people tonight.
The prom committee had pulled out all the stops with string lights in the trees lining the street, an actual red carpet leading into the space, and attendants on hand to help the ladies in their finery.
One of them opened Shae’s door when our limo parked at the curb.
She stepped out, and I hustled around the back end of the vehicle to rescue her hand from Coach Johnson’s beefy one.
“Wow! Look at you, Shae!” he boomed.
Shae smiled at him but quickly tucked herself against my side as I came around. “Thanks, Coach. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
I pushed on her back, leading us up the red carpet. Coach Johnson wasn’t subtle about checking out her backside which pissed me off. The guy had zero regard for how to treat women, which was concerning with him coaching a football team of impressionable young males.
“It’s all the tuna!” he hollered after us, roaring with laughter.
We left him behind and swiveled our heads left and right taking in the theatre.
It had truly been transformed for prom, almost unrecognizable with all the glitz and glamour added.
Shae and I skipped the food table, not wanting to trigger any remaining morning sickness.
I had a plastic bag with her favorite crackers in my pocket just in case she got queasy, but we weren’t taking any chances.
We said hello to students as we swept past to where the teachers and chaperones were huddled.
The kids all looked amazing in their suits and dresses.
I loved how so many of them gave Shae hugs.
She truly was someone special. Even the kids knew it.
I kept my arm around Shae the whole time we chatted with fellow teachers. She never left my side either. It was like both of us didn’t want to be anywhere but together, neither of us afraid to be seen as a couple in front of our peers. It was about damn time Shae got comfortable with that concept.
Before long, Shae was shifting on her feet and I knew we had limited time to enjoy ourselves before her feet and ankles gave out. I buried my head in her neck and kissed that spot she always loved so much.
“Let’s dance, lovebug,” I whispered.
She lifted her head with a shy smile. “I’d love to.”
I felt like a spotlight was on us as I held her hand and led her to the dance floor.
Students parted ways for us, having somehow made us unofficial royalty now that we were a couple.
I spun her into my arms suddenly and Shae gasped, face lighting up with happiness.
I held her tightly, our baby between us, swaying to the love song that spoke of a forever kind of love.