15. Hazel
Chapter fifteen
Hazel
A s we enter the dining room, everyone starts hooting and hollering. My face burns with embarrassment. I try to move out of the room, but Dexter's grip tightens around my hand and pulls me back into the dining room.
Looking around the table, I realize it's the whole gang. Everyone we love.
My dad sits at the head of the table, my mom to his right. Across from her is Ashley and her husband Simon. Ashley is grinning from ear to ear, but Simon is so engrossed in his phone, he’s the only one who hasn’t even noticed that we came down. I bristle a little, but I don’t want it to interrupt this joyous feeling, so I ignore him. At the end of the table sits Alex and Mateo.
I look back over my shoulder and see Dexter smiling so big that it even reaches his eyes.
Alex gets up as soon as we're both in the room and walks over to us, wrapping both of us in a hug. “It’s about time. Now that you're getting laid, maybe you won’t be so grumpy.”
Dexter’s smile drops and he glares at his brother, “Fuck off, Alex. Don't worry about my sex life."
Alex just laughs at Dexter and goes back to his seat. I grab Dexter’s wrist pulling him closer to me and whisper, "He's just trying to get under your skin. That's what siblings do."
"I know but that doesn't mean I have to like it."
We head to the empty seats between my mom and Mateo. We sit down to full platters of food on the table and my stomach lets out a big growl.
My sister laughs. “Well, it sounds like someone is hungry.”
Dexter takes that as his cue and reaches for the plate sitting in front of me. He stands up and starts piling my plate up with food, then sets it down in front of me. “Eat.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice; I dive in and eat like I haven’t had anything in years. Now that Dexter and I are back together, everything just tastes so much better. Everyone around me serves their food and starts to eat. I take a moment to take everything in and can’t help but feel the warm glow of happiness settle over me.
It's only been a few days but feels like it's been months since I've been in California, sitting in my apartment alone, not wanting to bring my family into my mess, hoping that my actions were keeping Dexter safe. I’m so glad that my sister forced me back home.
In such a short period of time, I’ve been able to reconnect with my sister, be here for my mother and commit to my soul mate.
I glance at Dexter and he’s talking with his brothers, whispering. I can tell by the stiffness of his body that he’s telling them what went down with his dad. I can’t even imagine what it must feel like to have you own dad betray you.
I know his family has always been complicated, but I never expected this. I always assumed the unknown texter was someone involved in The Wolves, which I guess in a way it was, just much closer to home than we realized.
“Hey, Hazel. Now that you’ve been home for a little bit, have you thought more about what you want to do for work?” Ashley pulls my attention to her.
“I’m not sure. I actually haven’t even thought about it yet.” I inwardly cringe, thinking about how tight money is about to get.
“I could use someone at the shop?” My dad has a coy look on his face, almost like he doesn't want to seem too excited for me to shoot him down.
I swing my head toward him, my eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about getting someone who could help manage the shop. I want to spend more time with your mother." He smiles at my mom as he grabs her hand and kisses her knuckles.
He’s always been a great dad; this is something I can give him. I can show him how much he means to me, and that I appreciate him.
“I’ll do it, Dad.”
He looks at me with narrowed eyebrows, as if he’s trying to read my mind or see if I'm lying. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I think it's a great idea for you to spend more time with mom. As you know I managed a doctor's office in California. I mean, who else in Rose Valley would be as qualified as me."
Especially now that I have Dexter back, I know how things can change fast, and I would never want to stand in the way of my mom and dad being together. If anyone deserves it, it's them. They've worked so hard since we were kids, now it's our turn to take care of them.
My dad softly smiles at me, “Well if you're sure, I won't turn you down. Why don’t you come by on Monday and you can start then?”
“You got it. Thanks, Daddy.”
Dexter’s phone rings, he pulls it out of his pocket and stares at the number on the screen with his mouth turned down. Who could it be? He leans over to me and presses his lips to my ear. “I have to get this. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Before I can utter a word, he leaves and heads outside. I take note to remember to ask him about it. And I can't help but wonder once again, who could be calling him?
I push back the never-ending questions that try to force themselves to the front of my mind and take in my family, enjoying their company.
Dexter comes back after a few minutes and rejoins all of us, not giving anything away. I open my mouth to ask who it was, but he shakes his head and mouths 'later.'
“Are you coming back to the gym to train clients tomorrow?" Mateo asks Dexter as he stabs at his steak.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. I'll only be able to stand and give directions because of the ribs." Mateo nods but it makes me bristle a bit. I'm not sure he's ready for that amount of physical activity.
I stand up and start to collect the empty dishes. "Oh, honey, you don't have to do that."
"Yes, I do. You cooked, Mom. I'll clean."
Dexter stands up next to me, "I'll help. You rest, Judy."
"Thank you. It's good to have you back where you belong," she says as she beams at both of us. It makes my chest fill with warmth. After everything that has happened, it feels like she's talking about both of us.
Dexter and I finish collecting the dishes and head toward the kitchen. I start to rinse the dishes as he stands next to me, loading them in the dishwasher as I hand them to him. After a minute of doing this in silence, I gain my courage.
"So, who was that on the phone?" I ask as nonchalantly as possible, not taking my eyes off the plate in my hand.
Shrugging, he answers calmly. "It was Zeev. He's the leader of the Wolves."
"What did he want?" I ask trying to keep my voice even.
"He wants me to fight for him, but I declined."
"Why did you decline?"
"Because my dad's involved with him, and I don't want anything to do with him."
I stop washing my dish and place it on the drying rack and turn toward him. "Will you fight anywhere else?
"No," he decisively says.
I let out a deep breath of relief. Thank God. I was not prepared to be a fighter's partner. It's too hard to watch him get hit and be hurt.
"Do you want to continue to fight?" I tentatively ask, crossing my fingers that he says no.
"I do, but I'm not willing to risk you. Besides if we want children, I shouldn't do anything to jeopardize myself."
"You want children?"
"Yes, don't you?"
I've always imagined us having kids together. But is it too early to be discussing this?
"Yes. But I haven't really thought that far in advance."
Dexter places the plate in his hand in the dishwasher. He moves toward me and grips my waist, pulling me closer to him and giving me a sweet kiss on my lips.
"Well, Sugar Lips, we need to start thinking about it. You're moving in with me, we're going to get married, and you'll be the mother of my children."
I cough, choking on my spit and I start to sputter, "You want to marry me? Isn't that a little fast?"
"It depends on who you ask. I don't think it’s too fast. I've been in love with you since I was a kid. If you ask me, it's been too slow, but we can take as long as you need. I just want you with me." His words make my heart soar.
I wrap my arms around his neck and whisper against his lips, "Yes, I'll marry you one day."
Dexter doesn't waste any time. He deepens the kiss and everything else around us just fades away. And all I can see is Dexter, my love, my future. I pull back from him, resting my forehead on his. "I love you."
"I love you too."