Chapter 20
Cassie
I was rocking on the red porch swing on Jacob’s front porch.
I know what you're thinking.
Why did I have Jacob walk me down the aisle?
Because unbeknownst to me, right after I graduated, my dad had slipped.
He ended up getting so plastered that he had hit Paula.
She had left him. And divorced his ass.
And he was still drinking.
Also, when I had asked Jacob to walk me down the aisle, he had broken in tears.
And now, here I sit, with a glass of sweet tea as I just heard Krispin ask, “Grandpa, you were shot too?”
Jacob nodded, “I was dear boy. I was a tough man.”
Krispin nodded, “My daddy was, too.”
Jacob nodded, “Yeah, your daddy is tough.”
“I’m going to grow up and be just like him,” Krispin stated.
Jacob looked at me and lifted a brow.
I smiled, “Sounds perfect.”
***
Alec was gone on a different mission this time, and my phone just pinged with a text.
Operation Don’t Kill Us
Smoke – Umm.
Wolf – Don’t hate us.
Hyde – Fuck me.
Jekyll – She’s going to poison us.
Ice – Sorry, darlin’.
Ghost – Cupcake, I’m sorry.
Ghost – *picture of his eyebrows gone*
Me – Are you fucking kidding me?
Smoke – Shit.
Wolf – Fuck.
Hyde – Damn.
Jekyll – Shit.
Ice – All of the above.
Me – Someone better start talking. Right fucking now.
Ghost – Cupcake, it went like this.
Ghost – We made a bet with the team. We shouldn’t have.
I knew the team he was talking about.
Me – And?
Ghost – We lost.
Ghost – The losing team, had to shave off their eyebrows.
Me – And what was the bet?
Ghost – Plead the fifth?
Wolf – Yeah.
Smoke – Need to know basis.
Ice – You understand. Right?
Jekyll – Umm.
Hyde – I’m sorry.
Me – Tell me right now, this very fucking minute, or I will not send the care package you all asked for.
The minute I sent that, it came through.
Smoke – Who could drink more beer.
Hyde – Beer contest.
Ice – It was over beer.
Ghost – Who could hold the most beer and not puke.
Jekyll – I lost it for us.
Wolf – You asshole.
I shook my head.
Hyde – We still get the care package. Right?
Ice – Dude.
Wolf – Seriously?
Ghost – Fuck me.
Jekyll – Damnit, man.
I snickered.
Then that night, I added something to the care package and mailed it,
Alec
Two Weeks Later
My wife is the coolest.
The care package just arrived.
I handed out the candy, the books, the golf balls, the bags of beef jerky, and the batteries, along with the portable mini fans.
Then I stared at what was in the bottom. A gigantic bag of tootsie rolls. A bottle of fart spray.
And I started laughing, then I read the note.
Soldier Boy,
Leave these out in the burning sun, then put them on their pillows.
Your Cupcake.
PS. You have until you come home to me to have eyebrows again.
PPS. Krispin and I love you.
PPPS. Krispin wants Jekyll to show him how to skateboard.
They all looked inside and read the note, then I opened the bag, and they each grabbed a handful.
Eight hours later, the other team came pouring out of their tent, gagging and puking.
We all laughed, then high-fived.
Ice caught my eye, then he said, “It’s official. I’m cloning your wife.”
I sucker punched him.
He laughed.
Talia
Badass Chick Thread
Me – Fuck me.
Harlee – What?
Lila – Oh, hell.
Everly – You okay?
Tatum – What happened?
Cassie – What?
Me – I just thought about kissing Dominik.
Tatum – You know what that means.
Lila – Wait.... oh, hell yeah.
Harlee – I’ve had someone in mind for the longest time.
Everly – Wonder if it’s the same person... *giggles*
Me – Be nice, girls.
Harlee – Were you nice to me right before I got together with Carter?
Tatum – Did you offer to take Sage to get her belly button pierced when she was five?
Cassie – Didn’t you accidentally give Krispin that bottle of Fireball?
Harlee – Didn’t you buy Lola and Hattie that makeup... the makeup that you thought was cute and didn’t read it correctly?
Harlee – It was henna. Henna.
Me – Okay. Okay. Okay. Damn.
Harlee – I’ll get your date set up.
I’m going to fucking kill them.
Because sitting at the table that Harlee told me she had reserved... Was old man Hooper.
Jesus. Fucking. Christ.
He saw me, then he winked, “Thought I’d be a mess. Didn’t you?”
I felt blood creep into my cheeks, and then I nodded.
He chuckled, “Eh, I would probably still be had I not met Cassie.”
I tilted my head, “What do you mean?”
He smiled, “Never you mind. That’s between Cassie and me.”
Then I recalled the way he had looked at their wedding, and then... I smiled.