CHAPTER SIX #4
Grant hasn’t taken his eyes off me. I don’t think the word glaring is strong enough for what he’s doing right now.
He points his finger at me and spouts off.
“I don’t give two shits that you’re a cop.
What I do give a shit about is the fact that you’re too old for her and she’s too young to settle down.
She’s got career plans, and they don’t include a baby out of fucking wedlock.
I tell you what you’re going to do. You’re—” I interrupt him because he’s assumed a lot of shit, and I won’t have him thinking badly of Kinsley.
“First off, her career plans are still going to happen. She has found her calling running the tutoring program, and if she wants to keep working after the baby is born, I have no problem with that. My mom worked when I was growing up, and I’m not some asshole who thinks a mom can’t work.
Second, I know I’m older than her, but fuck if eleven years is that big of a difference, especially when your daughter is mature and has a good head on her shoulders.
And fucking finally, although since you didn’t know about me yet, I might not pass judgment that harshly about it, but who the fuck said she’s going to have our baby out of wedlock?
She doesn’t know this yet, because I haven’t asked her since I thought it was important for us to meet each other’s families, but I already bought a ring and plan to propose soon.
” I think if steam could come out of someone’s ears like the bulls in cartoons, it would be billowing out of his ears.
“I know you’ve had a big shock today, finding out not only that your daughter is pregnant, but that she and I have been dating for months, but you should know I don’t care what you do.
I’m not going anywhere. She’s an amazing woman and the one I plan to spend the rest of my life with.
I know you mean the world to her, and your opinion means a lot to her, but I won’t have you making her doubt herself.
It’s up to you to handle your relationship, but you better get used to me being around, ‘cause I ain’t going fucking anywhere. ”
I cross my arms and wait for him to speak.
He gets up in my face even closer, still glaring at me like I’m the enemy.
“You hurt my little girl, you break her heart, and cop or not, they won’t find a piece of you anywhere.
Get me?” I keep eye contact with him. “I get you. I will never intentionally hurt her. Can you say the same with how you’re acting right now? ”
I hear Jon or the other man in the room, whose name I don’t know, make a slight gasp at my response to Kinsley’s dad, whose name I just now realize I don’t know.
Her dad huffs and makes a slight nod, I think, to acknowledge the fact that I just called him out.
He moves to the door and leaves the room without another word.
The older man comes up to me and puts his hand on my shoulder and looks between me and Jon.
“Son, that was mighty brave of you. I’m honestly surprised Grant didn’t come after you when you called him out.
That tells me that he knows deep down you’re right.
Knowing that he’s gonna end up coming around ‘cause he’s never been able to deny his little girl anything, I’m gonna shake your hand and welcome you to the family.
We’re loud and crazy, but we’ll have your back.
Names Jonah or most of this lot calls me Pa.
” I shake his hand, and we all head out of the room.
I make a beeline for my woman. Time to meet the rest of the people in her family.
We sit and visit with her brothers and some of the other guys in the club for a couple of hours. I know some from town and back in high school, but some I’ve never seen before. Her brothers bicker just like mine do. I swear, listening to them, if I closed my eyes, it could be Cash, Way, and Willie.
Somehow, the conversation turns to them asking about my family, and I mention my brothers. Saxon pipes up, “Wait. Cash Wood is your brother?” I nod. “Yeah, he’s one of my brothers.” Samson chimes in, “We know Cash. Well, we knew him in high school and have seen him around town on occasion.”
One of the other brothers—I think he was introduced as Jeremiah—jumps into the conversation.
“Wait, you said he’s one of your brothers.
How many do you have?” I finish my sip of beer and answer him.
“I’ve got three younger brothers. Cash, Waylon or Way, and Willie.
” Jeremiah’s eyes go big. “You're Willie Wood’s big brother?” I nod and wait for him to say more because he doesn’t look like he’s done speaking.
“Willie’s a friend of mine. We knew each other in high school.
Fucking ridiculous sentence he got. I know what he did was wrong, and he had to serve some time, but still.
I mean, I know the whole actions have consequences thing, but I think he got a really raw fucking deal on that.
” He won’t get an argument from me on that one.
Saxon, who seems to speak up as often as Cash does, throws in his two cents to the conversation.
“I remember reading about that. That judge he got is a fucking joke. His kid got into drugs and overdosed like twenty years ago, and ever since then, he’s thrown the book at anyone with any drug charges that comes into his courtroom.
I mean, I do get that you have to do the time if you do the crime, but he takes it to the extreme.
That judge gives new meaning to the phrase ‘the dildo of consequences rarely arrives lubed.’”
Beer spews out of my mouth and my nose. From the sounds around the table, I’m not the only one with that reaction.
Kinsley is patting my back and glaring at her brother.
“Saxon, that was crude. What kinda phrase is that?” Damn it.
I’m gonna have to watch when I take a drink around him like I do around Cash when he gets going.
It’s a good thing I love her, because I wouldn’t willingly agree to have another brother like Cash for just anyone.
The conversation shifts to another topic, and we spend another hour or so hanging out before saying our goodbyes.
As we leave, I watch her dad watching us, but he doesn’t come over to say goodbye to Kinsley.
I don’t say anything since I think I’ve said enough today, but for her, I’ll go confront him if needed.
I know she’s a daddy’s girl, and them not talking for a long period is going to bother her.
Just like with everything else in life, I’m gonna take care of what I can to make her happy.