CHAPTER SIX
I’m questioning your brother’s sanity. I thought Mayson was the level-headed, smart one, but come to find out he’s a DC man. Makes me have to rethink everything. I mean Batman over Captain America? Enough said.
~Text from Cade to Hanna~
Cade
The last twenty-four hours have been a shit show.
We lost because one of the refs has to be on the take.
There’s no other way it could’ve happened.
Coach is requesting a formal review. That’s how blatant it was.
That team is made up of a bunch of assholes.
I’m pretty sure that’s where Zack actually belongs.
If that was the only thing, then that would be bad enough, but weird shit has started to happen.
I got home late last night after our flight was delayed.
On the porch was a delivery. That in and of itself is not odd.
I’m a frequent buyer from the Zon. It makes it easy to get my protein powder and my toilet paper.
What can I say? I don’t like shopping if I don’t gotta.
Only the package on the porch wasn’t something I ordered.
I thought it might be something from Hanna, but she was on the phone with me and assured me she hadn’t sent anything.
I opened it, and that only left me with more questions than answers.
Inside the package was an early-edition comic, featuring one of the first appearances of Captain America.
No note or anything, just the comic, which I know had to cost someone a pretty penny.
Yes, I might be slightly nerdy and know such things when it comes to collectibles of the first Avenger.
My front door camera only caught my normal delivery guy dropping it on my porch.
As if that wasn’t odd enough, when I went to work out this morning, in my locker in the locker room was a letter with no postage, return address, or name of who sent it. To top it off, the note was weird, with a capital W.
Cade,
You know you’re better than that superhero because you’re real. I also know you need a real, whole woman. Just open your eyes and the right one, your very own Peggy, is right there waiting for you to grab on and not let go.
I know that didn’t come from Hanna, but what the fuck?
I’ve gotten a few fan letters here and there, but nothing this…
creepy? I don’t know what to make of it.
All I know is that it’s weird. Maybe it’s a one-off.
All I know is I’m not gonna focus on it, but on the fact that I’m heading to pick up my woman and bring her back with me.
I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but I already don’t sleep great without her next to me.
I’ve got a good two hours of driving ahead of me and a potentially awkward dinner with Hanna’s parents at the end of that drive.
Time to crank some music and enjoy the road.
I turn on my playlist and let the music fill the space.
Tom Petty’s I Won’t Back Down fills the air.
A fitting song for what I’m about to take on.
Hanna’s dads might be intimidating, but I’ve never been one to give up, and that ain’t gonna start now.
Two and a half hours and about three dozen horrible drivers later, I pull into the long driveway at Hanna’s parents' place. It’s the kind of country home that just gives you the feeling that some good family meals and great stories have been told on the porch and within its walls.
I know I’m not going anywhere. I meant what I told Hanna yesterday, and every day I’m more convinced she’s the one for me.
I also know how close she is to her parents, and I would hate for there to be tension between us.
But I’m still not backing down. Stubborn as a horse’s ass is how my mom has often described me.
What can I say? I come by it naturally, and if you knew my parents even a little bit, you would agree with me.
I’m excited for them to arrive in a couple of days for their visit.
They make a long weekend of it since Dad doesn’t like to take a lot of time off work—though each trip they’ve been adding one more day, so this time will be almost a week.
I think Dad’s enjoying the fishing he can do almost year-round, and Mom loves the way this area embraces coffee.
I know Mom and Hanna are gonna get along, and I think Dad will like her.
Hell, she and Emma text all the time now.
Emma’s even threatened that if we were to break up, she’d keep Hanna and drop me. So much for sibling loyalty.
I park my truck behind one of the many pickups already parked.
I will say, living in this part of the country, my bigger vehicle doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb, which is nice.
It’s also helpful when the terrible drivers in little cars like to try and cut off the trucks.
Those cattle guards aren’t actually for the animals in these parts. Well, mostly not.
I get out, and the noise from the porch gets my attention.
I look over and see my girl with a big grin on her face.
She’s not running down to me, which tells me she’s not trusting her sight right now.
I make it to the bottom of the stairs before she launches herself at me, trusting that I’ll catch her.
Her having that trust in me is humbling.
Before I say anything, her lips are on mine, and the world settles around us.
I break the kiss after a minute or so, and our foreheads instantly touch.
I have a smile on my face that I couldn’t wipe off if I wanted to.
“Hi to you too. That’s the kind of welcome a man could get used to.” I get a big smile and an eye roll for my trouble. Hanna gives me another quick kiss before she finds her voice.
“I missed you. I know it’s only been a few days and I don’t want to seem too clingy, but well…I wanna be honest too.” I move my head so I can look her in the eyes.
“Don’t ever apologize for telling me how you feel.
I missed you too, gorgeous. Now, I’m gonna set you down, and we’ll go inside.
I’m going to let your parents grill me so they can see just how much you already mean to me and just how serious I am about us.
” Hanna sighs and slides down me as I hold on ‘til I know she’s got her footing.
“Alright, but I warned them all to be nice. You have one thing going for you—Asher likes you, and he rarely likes anyone. He’s here claiming it’s just ‘cause Mom cooked a big meal, but really it’s only the second time I’ve ever brought someone for dinner, and he wants to watch it all.
He swears me and Mayson are the nosy ones, but he’s nosier than both of us combined.
” She takes my hand, and I follow her inside, being smart enough not to wade into that sibling dynamic.
Years of noogies from Emma were lesson enough.
Hanna calls out that I’m here and her mom, Anna, is the first to pop her head into the hallway. “Welcome, Cade! Dinner is just about ready if you want to come into the kitchen. Most of the crew is already loitering around in here when they should be setting the table in the dining room.”
I may not know Hanna’s mom very well, but I know that tone of voice, so survival instinct has me asking, “Do you need any help with anything?”
Anna gives me a big smile and reaches up to pat my cheek, like my grandma used to do. “Well, aren’t you just the sweetest? My boys could learn something from you since they still aren’t moving their butts.” The sounds of people scurrying around follow.
A voice speaks up as I trail behind the women into the kitchen. “I’ve already put plates out, and Daisy’s got the napkins!” Still holding Hanna’s hand, we walk into what must be an ongoing argument.
Asher is standing in the middle of the room with his hands on his hips, glaring at his husband as a little girl, who I’m guessing is Daisy, comes darting into the room.
“Uncle Logan and me gots the table all ready, Gramma!” She stops right in front of Asher and looks up at him with her hands on her hips.
“Uncle Asher didn’t help. That means he don’t get dessert, right?
” She moves her head to look at Anna and her dad, who’s standing at the fridge.
Hanna’s head hits my arm as she tries to stop her laughter. Mayson’s got a shit-eating grin on his face as he answers Daisy. “That’s your grandma’s rule. If you choose not to help, you choose not to have dessert.”
Daisy nods, telling me that’s something she’s heard multiple times.
She turns and starts to skip out but leaves the room with a parting shot.
“That means both Uncle Asher and Daddy don’t get dessert!
I gonna put the chairs together so I get free desserts tonight!
” Hanna’s told me all about her niece, the spitfire that she is, and that she’s still working on the th sound.
I think she seems to be doing just fine getting her point across.
A voice from behind me speaks up. “Well, the princess has spoken, but how’s about we all move our asses and go sit down so we can enjoy this amazing meal your mom has made.
” A hand comes down on my shoulder, and I look over and see Jackson looking at me.
“Let’s go eat. We’ll have that conversation afterward.
” I ain’t scared, but he did try to make that sound just a tad ominous, didn’t he?
**********
I lean back in my chair and sigh, my stomach fuller than it’s been in a long time.
“That was one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
Everything was so good!” Anna gives me a big smile as others around chime in with their praises as well.
I mean, roast beef, gravy, blistered green beans, buttermilk mashed potatoes, layered salad, and some of the best homemade rolls I’ve ever had.