Chapter 8 Reece #3
“Hey there, Reecee Cup. I was wondering when we’d see you.
” She walked right to me with open arms and I snuggled into her embrace.
My dad had enlisted several women throughout Miller’s Pointe to help as sergeant mothers when he felt lacking with the knowledge I needed in order to understand certain changes in my life and Larah had been one of them.
“I’m a little behind but I had a bunch left over from last year so I’ve been okay. It’s good to see you too.”
“Oh I’m sure you were just fine or you would have marched yourself right on down here. A tree with no fireplace is a criminal offense in the Allen house.”
I grinned and nodded. “It is.”
She returned a smile and looked past me at Ro who was at my side. “And you must be the holiday houseguest?”
“Yes, ma’am. I guess I am.”
“You know who he is?” I asked and she nodded.
“I know what Mel told me and I think she might be on to something with this one. Definitely a looker. You, sir, are very handsome.”
She did a once over, surveying Ro from head to toe, and he played right into it, delivering that damn cocky smile of his.
“Thank you.” He tipped his hat and his smile deepened.
“Oh, you’re definitely one of those. Hang onto this one, Reece. I can tell he’s a charmer, and with that good bone structure and those kind eyes, the two of you together could make some pretty babies.” She tapped the side of my hip. “Might as well put these to good use.”
“How about we not talk about my hips and discuss the firewood I’m here to pick up.”
Larah laughed, seemingly unbothered by the fact that she’d paired me with a stranger with the indication of us starting a family together.
“Just wait until I tell my blockhead son that he really dropped the ball with you.”
“You dated her son?” Ro’s eyes turned on me and I rolled mine.
“In third grade and it wasn’t actually dating. He sent me a secret admirer valentine.”
Larah shrugged. “Life is simple here. I married Nixon because he bought me coffee.”
Ro seemed amused by our interaction and so did Nixon who walked up behind his wife and dropped a kiss on her cheek.
“I’m pretty sure the reason you said yes had a lot more to do with just me buying you coffee.” She blushed and it brought a smile to my face because they were cute.
“Maybe, but that’s how it all started.”
“It did,” Nixon agreed.
“Take note, cowboy, it’s all about the simple things.
Our girl Reece appreciates the simple things, so if you plan on appreciating her, then you keep that in mind.
” Larah flashed a mischievous smile in Ro’s direction.
“Nix, come help me get Reece’s order ready.
They’re pretty busy back there and I might need a hand or two. ”
He walked away with his wife but not before pulling her into another kiss. “I’m keeping my hands to myself until later, sweetheart. No sneaking off today. We’ve got too many orders for us to go missing, no matter how appealing the offer is.”
“Sorry about that. I guess everybody in town is invested in finding me a husband,” I mumbled more to myself than to him.
“I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It means they care about you and want you happy,” Ro stated with his eyes locked on me.
“True but cataloguing a stranger’s features, pairing them with mine to determine what our kids would look like, might not be the way to go. I’m pretty sure that will have a man running away, not down the aisle.”
“Depends on the man and I’d have to agree. We would have some pretty ass kids, Reece. You can’t rightfully deny that.”
“I’m not denying anything, but in order for that to be a possibility, you’d have to stick around.”
He moved closer, dropping his chin since his body towered over mine.
“I’m pretty sure we discussed that last night and I said I was.
” I frowned, not knowing how the hell to address the comment.
Was he insinuating that he was staying for me and open to having kids?
If that were the case, there were a whole bunch of steps between those two things to be considered.
Luckily I didn’t have to address either of those details because Larah yelled from the back to grab my attention.
“Reece. We got your order ready. Y’all come on ’round back so we can get it loaded.”
“I’m going to go through here so I can cover the invoice. If you just drive around the left side of the building, you’ll see a dock in the back. Park there and they’ll bring it out.
He tipped his hat and was on his way to the entrance moments later. I didn’t miss the cocky curve of his lips as he walked away. I immediately pulled my phone out and texted my girl.
Me: I’m pretty sure I just got an offer to procreate with Ro.
Wren: Uh, good morning to you too and bitch what?
Me: Good morning Now focus. Me, Ro, babies…
Wren: I’m royally confused. You’re not making sense. Use your words. I can’t call because I’m with Meleck and Amara. I’m pretty sure you don’t want them privy to details about your uterus.
Me: Meleck and Amara! Oh, that sounds cozy
Wren: It is but it’s also not the point right now. You…Ro…Babies!!!! Now you focus.
Me: Right, okay so cliff’s notes. I’m picking up wood from Lumber Lovers. Ro is with me. Larah did a whole thing about how handsome Ro was and between my features and his we could have some pretty babies.
Wren: What the hell And I’m assuming he wasn’t opposed?
Me: Unless I’m reading this wrong, he was not. I apologized to him for Larah being so forward and clarified that her assumptions about pretty babies would make a man run and he more or less said, if it’s the right man, they wouldn’t, then agreed that our kids would be adorable.
Wren: He wants you to have all his babiessssssss! I’m here for it. We can be Yelena and Shore. They’re both pregnant right now.
Me: I need better friends. You’re supposed to tell me not to jump to conclusions and to think rationally about all this.
Wren: I’m supposed to be your hype woman, Reece, and you’re supposed to be mine. I have to believe the universe wants beautiful things for us. Two fine ass men falling into our lives at the same time equals dual weddings and pretty chocolate babies. You can’t argue with fate, friend.
Me: You’re no help.
Wren: You texted me because you wanted me to encourage your foolishness. I fully support you procreating with that man because fine he is and my god babies would be beautiful. I refuse to be the type of friend who has to dress my godbaby up because their face is unfortunate.
I stopped at the door that led to the back of Lumber Lover’s and laughed harder than I should have. Wren had a thing about calling people ugly, so her go-to was their faces being unfortunate.
Me:
Me: I’m not prepared to handle your foolishness right now. I’ll call you later.
Wren: Love you too and let his choices be his own. You love to get stuck in your head about other people’s decisions. I’m not saying be all in but I am saying it’s okay to let things be what they are.
Me: Does that mean you’re accepting your own advice?
Wren: I am.
Me:
Wren and I shared everything, so I was immediately filled in after she and Meleck had a talk at Pancake House about feeling each other.
She was open to it but still not sure if she was willing to put herself out there like that.
After taking on the responsibility of raising Amara, her personal life was put on the back burner.
She had a lot to consider with opening her heart and life to a man.
At least Meleck confirmed how he felt while I was working off what ifs and assumptions.
When I stepped out back, I found Ro in conversation with Nixon.
They were smiling and engaged, both men nodding as they stood next to Ro’s truck.
The visual had me fast forwarding to future events, like how nice it would be for us together, tackling simple tasks like making a run into town to grab firewood.
I pushed the thought away and walked over, catching the tail end of their conversation. I kept quiet, listening to Nixon praise Ro about his rodeo career.
“I saw you a few years ago out in Vegas. That was a damn good ride and you had some tough competition.”
Ro smirked and nodded. “Yeah, didn’t know if I could pull it off. It was close there for a minute. Down to the last ride. I respect the kid though. He was good. Could have beat me too.”
“Came down to experience. You’ve been doing this for a while,” Nixon said, lifting his left shoulder in a one-sided shrug.
“I’m pretty sure you just called me old,” Ro joked, making Nixon laugh lightly.
“When you’ve got them young and ambitious on your heels, I have to call it like it is. There’s nothing wrong with having some age on you, but seeing as how I have you by at least thirty years, I can’t rightfully call you old yet.”
“Feels that way though. I’m trying to figure out what’s next. Didn’t think I’d be here this soon.”
Nixon nodded in understanding. “Life happens. When it kicks you down, you either stay down or get your ass up, take the damn thing by the horns, and show the world the man you truly are. Looks to me like you’re on the right path and I also think you know what’s next.”
When Nixon’s eyes shifted to me, my cheeks warmed with embarrassment because what the hell was going on with everybody in this town playing matchmaker.
Ro nodded and a ghost of a smile surfaced on his face when his eyes landed on me too. “You might be right. The loss doesn’t feel as ugly when the gain is that damn beautiful.” He winked at me then extended a hand to Nixon.
“Good talking to you. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
They shook hands before Nixon tipped his head to Ro. “You take care of our girl.”
“Sure thing,” Ro delivered with all the confidence in the world before he rounded his truck to open the passenger door for me while Nixon headed back inside.
Once we were settled and leaving the parking lot, I arched a brow his way. “Making friends?”
Ro glanced at me. “You have a problem with that?”
“Nope.”
“You have a problem with me hanging around for a while?”
“Uh uhn. Not at all.”
“You have a problem with the reason why I want to hang around for a while?”
“Depends on the reason?”
“You’re the reason, Reece.”
“Then nope, I don’t have an issue with that at all.” I grinned, making him laugh lightly.
“Didn’t think you would.”
He smiled arrogantly and shifted his eyes back to the road while I turned my head to the passenger window to hide my smile, deciding to do exactly what Wren said, let his choices be his own. I was just going to enjoy the ride and riding him was damn sure enjoyable.