Chapter Thirteen. #2
“That’s an unholy grin, if I ever saw one,” Jody stated as she leaned on the doorway.
“Wow.” She looked amazing. Skintight jeans, a cropped top, knee-high boots, and a sweater over her arm. Jody’s makeup was light; she’d never been one for it. Her hair was loose, but I spotted a band on her wrist in case she needed it.
“You cleaned up well,” Jody teased, and I nodded.
“You’re stunning,” I stated sincerely, and she was. Jody grinned and blushed.
“Come on, let’s go before we get mobbed by my grandchildren,” I said. I loved those little fuckers, but not right now. No cockblocking Grandpa!
Jody
I was grinning as we parked up. This used to be our spot before we moved in together. It was a great view over Rapid City and the Black Hills.
“Not been here for nearly two decades,” I commented, and Magic smirked.
“It’s how we often ended our dates.”
I sobered. “Is that what this is?”
“It’s what I’d like it to be.” Magic laid his cards out like he usually did. “How would you feel if it were?”
“I’m not sure,” I replied honestly. “Is this because of the twins?”
“No, Jody, I never stopped loving you, hated you sometimes, but always loved you.” Magic stared out over the vista below. “I messed up and lost everything. So damn confident that I had everything under control, and I was tightening my grip, and it was slipping through my fingers.”
“Oh, that’s a familiar line, Leia!” I teased, and Magic began laughing.
“We saw that film so many times, you could quote it. I always thought it was Luke, but it was Han you lusted after.”
“Come on, Harrison Ford in that outfit, what red-blooded woman wouldn’t desire him?”
“Apparently, every female aged ten to ninety did,” Magic said grumpily.
“I don’t know how I feel about dating. Vulcan was a huge part of my life, and he’d want me to be happy. But my happiness was him and the kids. Now it’s just the children. Even though Vulcan and Kanon have been gone for two years, and Aster a few months, I’m trying to find a balance.”
“Does that have to be alone?” Magic asked.
“No. You can’t replace Vulcan, just as he couldn’t replace you.”
Magic turned towards me. “I don’t want to step into Vulcan’s shoes. Jody. I’d like to create my own future with you and the children.”
His lips met mine, grazing them gently. A shiver ran through me; they were so familiar despite the years between us. I leaned into the kiss as Magic pulled me closer. A small moan escaped as Magic nibbled my bottom lip, and I opened.
This, my body remembered – this sensation of being alive.
My hands clenched on his Henley, and Magic’s musky scent of sandalwood and pepper surrounded me.
The kiss deepened as I plastered myself to his chest. It was broader, firmer, and I began exploring as Magic plundered my mouth.
Our tongues met, grazed, and electricity shot through me.
Heat pooled between my legs, my nipples puckered, and my skin tingled wherever Magic touched me.
“Magic,” I whispered against his mouth.
“Never thought I’d taste these lips again,” Magic murmured and kissed me once more.
When we finally broke away from each other, Magic held my eyes. “I won’t push Jody, but I want everything I lost. You, us, the tribe of children you come with.”
“You’re insane.”
“Well, we always knew that,” Magic quipped, and I laughed. This felt good. Familiar despite the years. Was there a chance for us again? Time would tell.
Magic
“Fire in the hold!” I bellowed as Jesper lobbed a grenade.
Lars cursed and threw himself aside as Oskar went the other way. The grenade blew, and glitter exploded everywhere.
“Pretty!” Laila said and then shrieked as another exploded, and she got splattered with paint.
It had been a week since the date with Jody, and she’d asked me to watch the tribe as she headed into town.
I’d happily agreed, although I didn’t think Jody had this in mind.
The kids fuckin’ loved it—even Laila was having a blast. The glitter grenades were painted a lurid purple, so they knew they were safe.
“Can I use that?” Jesper asked, pointing to the grenade launcher I’d brought. I’d spent the week in my arms room adjusting weapons to be kid-friendly.
“Sure.” I showed Jesper how to load up and let the boy go nuts.
“What can I have?” Jerrik asked, ducking a missile.
I studied him, and Jerrik waited patiently. “Here,” I said, handing him a repeating crossbow and a magazine with twenty bolts in it. Jerrik grinned and raced off.
“And me?” Henrik inquired. I handed him a paintball gun, and the kid ran off whooping. Laila came over and collapsed next to me as the boys waged war on each other. She didn’t seem bothered being covered in paint.
I tossed a grenade in Lars’s direction and watched as it went ‘Boom!’ and Lars shrieked. It was just a sound grenade, but his reaction was worth it.
“That’s mean,” Laila murmured, but grinned.
“Stick with me, kid.” I winked. “I’ve a few nasty ones.”
“Yeah, that might be wise,” Laila replied.
I waited until Oskar neared and then launched one with two black stripes. It detonated, and a faint mist rose from it. Oskar gagged and turned green. Jesper, who’d been close, also heaved, and I laughed.
“What was it?” Laila demanded, giggling
“Stink bomb,” I cackled. Lars was laughing and pointing, so I threw another. Lars took to his heels but didn’t move quickly enough, and it exploded. A wail like a banshee erupted, and Lars yelled and covered his ears.
“These are so cool. How did you design them?” Laila asked. Happy to talk to my daughter, I began explaining.
Viggo raced by as I was describing how to empty the gunpowder, and I offered him the beanbag launcher. He took it, looking a bit puzzled until he fired a beanbag at Oskar. The small bag exploded, and Oskar was covered in gunk and goo.
“Holy shit!” Oskar gasped and launched into a Danish rant.
“Wait for it,” I whispered to Laila and Viggo. Moments later, Oskar whipped his tee off and gagged. “I added the smell of rotten eggs and food to it.”
Viggo roared with laughter as Laila giggled.
“Is that a cattle prod?” Laila asked as Jesper snuck nearer.
“Not quite. Ever experienced a static shock? It’s like that. I don’t think your mom would appreciate me giving you full-powered ones.”
Laila let Jesper creep closer and then shocked him. Jesper yelped and ran off. “So damn cool. Can I keep this?”
“I was going to give it to Lars and Oskar to scare off wannabe boyfriends.”
“Nah, I don’t like boys,” Laila said.
“Good! Stay that way,”
Laila grinned. “I prefer girls.”
“Then they can chase potential girlfriends away,” I replied without blinking. Laila beamed warmly, and I knew I’d just passed a test. “Is Jody aware?”
“Of course. The whole family knows; it’s not an issue.”
“Hell no. Has anyone given you grief about it?” I demanded, bristling.
“No. Nobody at school knows. Not because I’d be bullied, but I don’t like them enough to share. There is one girl, but she’s kinda out there.”
“In what way?” I asked, loving this. Laila was confiding in me.
“She’s out as a lesbian but acts up. She’s full-on goth, and I think it’s playing into a role and not because she wants to be.”
“That’s a shame. Nobody should be uncomfortable with who they are. If you wish to come out publicly, that’s your choice, fuck what anyone has to say,” I stated.
Laila nodded. “Mor said the same. Back in Denmark, they were more accepting of the LGBTQ community. Here, it seems awkward to be myself. Could just be me.”
“If you feel like that, there’s a reason for it. I can’t say what, but clearly you’ve picked up on something.”
“Yeah, Far would tell me to do as I want, like you are, but something worries me about that school,” Laila admitted.
“Is there a problem?”
“We’re outsiders because of our accents and being born in Denmark.
There were comments telling us to go home and that sort of shit.
But nothing I could actively say is bothering me.
I think the kids act younger here than they do in Denmark.
They’re so immature. Worrying about their car, hair, makeup, or what boy likes them.
I mean, grow up. High school isn’t the be-all and end-all. ”
I laughed at Laila’s disgust before I realised where it stemmed from.
Grief fuelled her words. Laila had learned the hard way that there were more important things in life.
Unsure if I was overstepping, I reached out and placed an arm across her shoulders, leaving the choice up to her.
Laila leaned into me for a hug, and I happily obliged.
“Someone explain what the hell is going on?” Jody snapped. I turned just as Jesper hit her with a grenade, and Jerrik got her with a stink bomb.
Jody fixed her evil eye on me, and I cringed.
“Hi!”