18. CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 18
SIERRA
A month after the charity gala, I’m in my office on an early Friday afternoon and as I’m finishing putting the candles on Brook’s cake, a happier than I can remember Ky pokes her head into my office. Her beautiful diamond ring sparkles on her finger. Last night Leo proposed and I had helped him pick out the ring, knowing what she would like. It hasn’t been all that long since they got back together, but in respect to them, it was five years in the making. All their family and closest friends gathered together in a restaurant when he texted us that she said yes.
My uncles came up to celebrate as well. I introduced them to Kason, although they didn’t have as much time to talk with the engagement celebration taking place. I think they liked him, but I know Uncle Mark will have more to say on the matter. This is the first time they’ve met someone I’m dating, so I’m sure he will be grilling him.
Leo’s friend, Nash, was there, and I’m happy they were able to repair that friendship. He’s even working for Knight Industries now. Leo’s sister Sophie, who I was once friends with years ago, was there as well. They all seem to have moved on from the betrayal that split them apart and crushed them all in different ways. I noticed the looks passing between Nash and Sophie, and I just know there is something going on with those two.
I give Ky a smile I know doesn’t reach my eyes when she asks, “Are you ready for me to bring Brook in?”
“Yeah. Just need to light the candles.” Ky studies me then walks into my office, shutting the door behind her. Taking a seat on my sofa, she pats the empty space beside her. I already know she won’t let me brush her off, so I sit down next to her.
“What’s going on? I know you’re excited to be celebrating Brook’s birthday, but I can also tell something is weighing on your mind. Out with it.”
Kason had another preseason game this week. With the couple times he has been away, I hadn’t realized how much I would miss him, but when it’s a mere couple of days, I feel like I can’t breathe without him with me. I’m lucky if I sleep a total of three hours without him next to me when he’s away. I didn’t think I was capable of this feeling but I know I love him. I haven’t told him yet because that would break the last wall against all my vulnerability I’m holding onto. Outside of when he yelled at Meegan and said he loves me, he hasn’t said it again either. He doesn’t need to though. I feel his love whether it’s in his touch or in his eyes.
I take a deep breath and give Ky my honesty. “It’s Kason. I miss him so much when he’s away. I don’t know how it happened, but I love him and I’m a little scared to tell him.”
There. I’ve laid it all out. If anyone knows me, it’s Ky and she understands why admitting this is a big step for me.
She gives me a knowing, soft smile. “I know you love him, and I can see that he loves you too. The way you look at him, as if he’s your everything, you’ve never looked at another man that way. Never even came close to wanting more with anyone else. ”
She’s right. No man has ever made me feel the emotions that Kason evokes in me. “Am I that obvious?”
Ky takes my hands in hers. “To me, yes. I remember coming to your apartment before Manda had her stroke. Kason came into the room, and your eyes lit up as soon as you looked at him. You acknowledged how Manda and Mom always talk about everyone having ‘the one’ might be true and how you might not ever be able to walk away like you have in the past.”
I nod. I remember that day too. I never believed in their ‘the one’ theory, and I was slowly coming to the belief that it might be true.
Ky continues. “You said he was special to you. I remember thinking how great it was that you were letting your walls down or letting him tear them down piece by piece. I also remember thinking he must have had to use a sledgehammer because you had them built so high and thick. You are one stubborn woman when you want to be.”
I nod again because I know she’s right. Only a man as strong as Kason could have broken them down. No, that’s not right. It’s the man himself. He is the one man who could have done it.
“He’s special to me. The season officially begins soon, and he’ll be traveling more often. I don’t know how I’ll get through it because I miss him so much when he’s gone so often. This will be his last weekend free before his schedule gets insane, and I’m taking him to officially meet my uncles tonight.”
“I’m so happy to hear that. This is a big step for you, and I can’t tell you how proud I am of you.” I know she is and this is one of those times that I’m glad to have met her after my mother passed. Her friendship was one of the best things to come after I moved in with my uncles.
“I should probably tell you that, um, well, we’re headed to the Poconos tonight as well and we’re planning to stay the weekend.” With the worry in her eyes, I know she’s concerned and that this was not a planned trip. Then I remember Manda’s stroke from weeks back. I thought she was doing better. At least, she was fine last night at the restaurant after the engagement announcement.
I tighten the grip on her hands. “Oh no, did something happen with Manda?”
She shakes her head. “No. She’s still doing well, but we were stopped by Leo’s mom last night as we left the restaurant.”
His mom? I thought she had been out of his life for the past ten years.
Ky goes on to tell me how stunned Leo was to see her. How his mom begged him for the opportunity to explain what happened. Now they plan to meet with her tomorrow, along with Sophie. This family has been through so much.
“I hope this meeting will help bring Leo and Sophie some closure. They deserve it,” I say and squeeze her hand in comfort.
Her shoulders slump. “Leo had so many triggers from her leaving, so I think it will take him time to come around even if she has a reason for leaving them. Though I can’t for the life of me think of a reason good enough that would ever have me leaving Riley.”
Sometimes moms leave though, whether they mean to or not. I don’t voice my thoughts to Kylie. This isn’t about me and my feelings about my own mother.
Just then, Marisa pops her head through the doorway. “She’s coming, is the cake ready?” I quickly jump from the sofa and start lighting the candles. As I light the last one, Brook comes in and the three of us yell ‘surprise’ and sing happy birthday to her.
When it sinks in that we are celebrating her, tears form in her eyes even while a smile lights up her face. “Thank you all so much. I can’t remember when anyone last celebrated my birthday with me.” Then she amazes us all by giving us hugs. This is the first time she has touched or allowed us to touch her and it warms my soul .
After we finish sharing some cake, Ky leaves and Marisa goes back to work in the rec center. I’m glad to have some alone time with Brook because I have a present for her.
Standing, I retrieve the small, wrapped box from my desk and set it down next to her again. “I got you a little gift. Every girl should have something special when she turns eighteen.”
Her eyes glisten as she retrieves the box and swallows hard. I know she’s trying to hide her emotions as she always does. Hesitantly, she unwraps the gift and opens the box. Inside is a silver cat pendant with a diamond for the eye. It’s not a big stone but it sparkles brightly.
“Oh my god. It’s so pretty. Thank you, Sierra,” Brook whispers before she asks, “Will you help put it on for me?”
“Of course.” I pull the necklace out of the box and Brook turns and moves her hair to the side. I fasten it, and it’s then I notice an old bruise on her upper right shoulder. It’s faded and more of a yellow tint. Not being able to stop myself, I touch it gently and ask, “Brook, what happened here?”
My mind has me believing the worst with all that I’ve seen over the years with some of our youth being in abusive households, but I can’t assume she’s dealing with it in her own life.
She lets her hair down and quickly faces me. “Oh, nothing. I just tripped over my own feet and fell down.”
I want to believe her, I really do, but I think about her demeanor and how she hasn’t connected with others. It’s only in the past few weeks that she can have full length conversations with me and Ky. Still, I can’t assume this bruise is anything other than what she says it is. However, now that she’s eighteen, she is no longer a child. If she were, I would be mandated to report it if I believed she was abused in any way.
“I-I’ve got to get going now.” Brook rises to her feet and heads to the door. She places her hand on the knob but looks back at me. “I really appreciate the necklace. Thank you again.” She’s smiling so big, and I hope to god it’s genuine.
“You’re welcome,” I respond, then, just to remind her, “You have my number. Use it whenever you need to talk to me.”
She nods and leaves. Again, I hope it was her clumsiness, but I can’t let the thought go that there’s more to Brook’s home life than she has let on.
An hour later and no sooner had I wheeled our luggage through the living room to Kason’s front door, than he’s walking through it. The second he spots me on the other side, he rushes to me and lifts me. I wrap my legs around him, and he kisses the hell out of me.
How am I supposed to make it through a season with him gone on the road for away games when I can barely be away from him for hours?
I wonder if anyone would notice if I packed myself up in his suitcase? I giggle at the thought, and he pulls away.
“What has you laughing?”
“I’m thinking I should stow away in your suitcase?” I try to be serious, but I can’t help smirking.
He shakes his head with a smile. “Baby, as small as you are, that would still be a tight fit. Besides”—he palms my breast in one of his hands—“these puppies would need a bag of their own.”
“You did not just say that?” I feign outrage. Truth is, I know I’ve been blessed, or cursed, with an ample bosom.
“I did. I love your tits.” I know he does, he also loves fucking them.
I smack his cheek in humor. He peers down at the luggage. One of which is his. “Did you pack for me? ”
“I did and for me too.” Most of my clothes now reside in what was once an empty closet in his room. We spend almost all of our time together here, and Kason seems to like having my stuff here. He even cleared out a couple of dresser drawers for me so for the most part, I live here. I still have my apartment, but I only stay there when he’s away. I miss him more when I try to stay in his place without him in it.
He sets me on my feet. “Is there time for a quick shower before we get on the road?”
I want to say no because I want to see my uncles, but how can I deny the man a shower?
“Hurry, I want to get there before it’s too late.”
“Hurry? You know I hate rushing with you when I get my hands on you.”
Silly man. There’s no way I’m joining him. We’ll never make it there if I do. “You’re showering alone so we can make it there today.”
“Really?” His eyebrow lifts in challenge. “Are you sure?” His tone is tempting me. His voice is deep and husky, making me start to reconsider following him to the shower.
He drops the duffel bag he brought in with him, staring and daring me to change my mind with his heated stare. His hands reach behind his neck, gripping the collar of his shirt. He brings it up and over his head before dropping it on the floor next to his bag. His killer abs are on display, and I want to lick the grooves of each one.
Kason studies me closely as I clench my thighs together, knowing damn well that I’ll be joining him if he takes this much further. And as I thought, he proceeds to tempt me with more of his fine body. Slowly, he removes his sneakers and socks, winks at me, then he hooks his fingers in his shorts and removes his boxers along with them. They join his shirt on the floor. In front of me stands one fine specimen of a man with his penis erect and dripping pre-cum. I lick my lips, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by him .
He fists his cock and gives it a couple of strokes before throwing his head back with a groan.
That’s it. He wins. There is nothing hotter than my man masturbating in front of me. Creeping up to him, I cover his fist with my own. My touch has him looking back down at me with a smirk on his face. He knew I couldn’t resist him.
Removing my hand, he cradles me to his chest before turning and climbing the stairs and taking me to the shower.
Just as he always intended.
I’m excited for my uncles to really get to know Kason but I’m also anxious. I’ve never brought any guy home to meet them, so this is important. I look over at Kason as he drives. He doesn’t appear nervous at all. I wonder if he realizes how important this moment really is and how special he must be to me that we are taking this trip at all.
He’s wearing shorts and a T-shirt with a football cap backwards on his head. I’ve never seen him wear one before but he looks so…cute in it.
He looks over and gives me that charming smile of his, the one with the dimples, and I melt. This man is everything to me. I’m not as nervous as before to express my feelings to him. Out of the two of us, he’s never held back how he feels.
I make a promise to myself that after this weekend, he will never have to wonder how I feel about him. I’m going all in with him. He’ll know everything about me, and he will know that I love him with everything I have and everything I am. The thought of handing myself over to him no longer scares me .
I look down at our linked hands on the console and rub the pointer finger of my other hand along the veins and muscles of his forearm. God, even something as simple as his forearm I’m attracted to. I definitely have it bad for him.
A thought occurs to me then. If my mother felt even half for my father as I feel for Kason, I might be able to understand her loneliness because I know that if he were no longer mine, I would sink even deeper than she had.
Instead of letting the thought of my mom invade this space, I spend the rest of the drive learning more about football. I’m going to attend his first home game soon and will be sitting in a box along with other players’ families. I hope to understand enough about the game so I don’t make a fool of myself. Kason explains the game in a way that helps me understand it, so it makes me a little less worried that I’ll say something wrong.
Directing Kason onto my street, I say, “Turn right on Lincoln, then it’s the second house on the right.” He does as directed and pulls into the driveway, right next to my Uncle Mark’s SUV cruiser. The sight of it brings a smile to my face. Uncle Mark was on second shift today so I wasn’t sure if I would see him, but it’s looking like he made a trip home during his shift to be here for our arrival.
My childhood home was designed by my uncles and is a testament to each of their personalities. It’s a log home, but the front also has a chateau inspired stone entrance that adds a little flair and makes it stand out amongst the other log houses of its kind. Although it was the three of us, the inside the home features three bedrooms, three baths and a half bath and a loft.
When I first came to live with them, I stayed on the main floor. As I got older, they allowed me to make the loft mine. It was perfect because it came with its own bathroom. It was a space used by Uncle Mark’s family when they visited. However, when I was thirteen, I asked to move my room upstairs and they agreed. They even let me redecorate it to something more, well, me .
We climb out of Kason’s Range Rover, retrieve our luggage from the trunk, and climb the stairs to the front door. Even though my uncles briefly met Kason recently at the engagement party, this time will be on a more intimate, personal level. “You ready for this?”
“Absolutely,” Kason states with confidence, not an ounce of nervousness visible in his demeanor.
Opening the door, we enter, but my uncles aren’t in the living room.
“I’m home,” I yell and within moments, my uncles are coming out from the kitchen to greet us. When I see Mark in his officer’s uniform I feel unease slip in and wonder if he came home in it to intimidate Kason.
I hoped this was going to be easier but judging by his stern face, maybe not.