23. Storm
Another day and I get to wake up beside this beauty. Heaven sure found a way to me. Guiding a light on my demons.
We’re on our way to Stevie and Frank’s for breakfast. I’m a bit skeptical about coming, given that the last time I saw Frank, he put me down and made me think I wasn’t good enough for my angel. I am good enough. Last night proves it. She accepts me for who I am. Faults, history, rumors. And I’m falling for her because of it, hating her despite it. She’s smart. She should know better than to get with a bum like me.
She holds my hand the seven-minute drive from the BnB to Frank’s house. I’ve never felt this normal holding someone’s hand before. Not even my ex, Leah. We’d hold hands from time to time, but not being able to hold Auden’s hand feels like torture. Not holding Leah’s hand felt like a relief.
When we pull up to Frank’s, she looks over at me and smiles. Her eyes are this bright ocean blue this morning, making my heart hammer wildly. Her hair is flaming red in the sunlight, framing her face like a halo. I have her full attention. Her smile breaks my heart knowing if I don’t get my act together, this won’t be my forever.
Christ, I will get my act together because she is my forever.
“You’re coming in, right?” she asks, there’s this innocence to her tone.
“I’m starving, what do you think?” I smirk. “You wear me out, babe.”
“No pet names,” she says, leaving a kiss on my cheek and making her way around the car. I laugh because she knows I won’t stop just by the grin on her face.
To my luck, Heath is still here with my brother and Maddison. It’s Wednesday, so it’s my day with him. My excuse to be here without anyone suspecting us. I’m not entirely sure how Frank will react once he officially finds out what I’m doing to his biological daughter he gave up twenty-four years ago. Not too happy I’d imagine.
I tap Auden’s ass as we walk into the house and make our way to the kitchen. She wrinkles her nose at me and all I want to do is kiss her, but we’re already in the kitchen and the entire family turns to look at us. “Auden,” Stevie says, bringing my angel into a welcoming hug. “And Storm, what brings you here?”
“Caught her walking on the side of the road. Couldn’t leave her stranded,” I lie, then smile. “I was also hoping you had room for one more.”
Stevie chuckles, pinching my cheek. I hate when she does that, but she’s been like a mother to me growing up. “Of course, dearie.”
“Uncle Storm!” Heath yells, then lets out a loud growl as he runs for me.
I grunt as he body-checks me. “Hey, big guy.”
“I didn’t know you were coming for breakfast. I thought it was only pizza night,” he says, holding my face and squishing it.
I plop him at the kitchen table and sit in front of him. “And miss out on a whole day with you? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Where’s Frank?” Auden asks, immediately helping Stevie make pancakes without being asked to. I admire that about my angel. She’s selfless and doesn’t even try to be.
“He’s in the attic. You should see how frantic he was when he thought he lost his old box of photos from when he and Bobbie-Jean were together.” Stevie snorts. “He’s been looking for the damn box for three days and managed to find it under Johnson’s crib.” Auden pushes her lips together, a soft laugh escaping her. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. I just never thought my birth mother’s name would be BJ,” Auden replies, looking over her shoulder at me.
Lloyd stifles a laugh. “Blowjob.”
“Right?” Auden says under her breath and giggles with Lloyd. I’m beaming and Maddison notices, but I don’t care. Auden’s perfect. She’s funny. She’s sexy. And she’s mine.
Johnson walks into the kitchen and raises his eyebrows at me before taking the jug of orange juice from the table. “What’s so funny?”
Stevie sucks her teeth, swatting a spatula in the air. “They’re laughing because of Bobbie-Jean’s initials.”
Lloyd and Auden start laughing again, proving how much these two are alike. And I can’t help but admire her even more for fitting in with the people I call my family.
Rick chuckles, eyeing me with a wink. “I like her,” he says to me, popping a grape in his mouth.
I scrunch my nose and bite my bottom lip. “Me too,” I whisper.
Frank trots down the stairs and smiles when he sees Auden with his family. I wonder if that thought ever crossed his mind. The wonder what his life would have been like if he kept her and raised her himself. Of course, he didn’t have the means to do it. No money or support. But when there’s a will, there will always be a way. I would have been there for my babies if I had the chance. Seeing what they look like other than through ultrasound must have been the worst feeling of Frank’s life. I don’t want to imagine it.
“There isn’t much, think it got lost in the move or her parents took most of it, but I have some pictures of her. And a letter she wrote to you when she was pregnant. I thought I lost it.” Frank places the shoebox on the table and taps the lid. “It’s a tradition in this town for the mom to write a letter to her baby and give it to them when they turn sixteen. Lloyd got his two months ago.” He smiles at the shoe box. “I have your letter if you want to read it. You don’t have to. I still haven’t read it. No, don’t read it.” He takes a shuddered breath. “Here, come sit and look through this with me.”
“Why don’t you do this after breakfast? Just the two of you can go through it on the porch,” Stevie suggests, handing Auden the last of the pancakes.
Auden brings breakfast to the table. “Sounds good to me.”
She smiles at me, squeezing my shoulder lightly as she passes and takes a seat beside me. She’s making it hard not to touch her. And she’s making it damn hard not to confess my feelings and ask Frank for permission to date her. But it’s not him I should be asking. It’s her real dad, the one who raised her.
“Funny seeing you here,” Frank says to me. “Don’t you only wake up after noon?”
“I didn’t work last night.” I clear my throat, that dread washing over me like I did something wrong. Like I’m about to get in trouble. “Saw this pretty lady walking over and picked her up.”
“Mm,” Frank grunts. I’m not sure if he believes me or not.
I don’t know why I’m paranoid about it. I really like Auden, and I enjoyed being able to hold her and kiss her in front of the people I’ve known all my life. Frank knows what happened with Leah, he knows my truth as to why I am the way I am. He judges me for it. Most people do. Use your words, not your dick, Rick said to me. You could have left her not cheated on her, Frank said when Leah and I broke up. No one understands that I wanted her to feel that hurt I felt. That’s why I did what I did. It didn’t make the loss any better. I still cringe at the words spat out at me by people behind my back. I’m not a bad guy, I’m misunderstood. Auden understands me. She knows me in so many ways that others don’t—well, she knows most of my darkness. I’m still trying to tell her about my past in a way that won’t scare her away. She told me about her dad and her sobriety. I didn’t want to open up then because it would sound as if I was trying to one-up her issues.
Soon, I’ll tell her soon. My everything deserves to know me for why I am the way that I am.
“How was the lunch at Stacy’s yesterday?” Stevie asks. “We couldn’t make it, unfortunately. Very busy day at the general store.”
“It was fun.” Auden smiles. “I must’ve had three helpings of her potato salad, it’s so damn good.”
Rick nods. “I ate so much one time, I got sick. Puke was everywhere.”
I grimace. “I remember that. You puked on my white shoes and laughed.”
Stevie passes me the maple syrup, dismissing the story. “Stacy said you were there, too, Storm.”
“Y-yeah, I was. Stopped by for a little.” I grin, pouring syrup on my pancakes. “You know I can’t resist her fried chicken.”
I can’t tell if they know about Auden and me or not, but I’ll beat around the bush as much as I can. When people understand us they’ll see that I haven’t tainted her. I never will. I’ve made her happy and no one can judge me for that. Auden’s smile is beautiful.
“We went to the drive-in afterward,” Auden adds.
“No way. I was there with my girlfriend,” Lloyd says, leaning forward to look at Auden. “The flowers sealed the deal, by the way.”
She pouts. “We could’ve had a double date.”
I don’t even look up at Frank, I can already feel his gaze shooting daggers through me.
“Double date?” Stevie asks, her eyes wide with interest. “I knew Stacy wasn’t kidding herself.”
Maddison points her fork between Auden and me. “Best not break her heart, Storm.”
“U-um, n-no, of course, not,” I stutter, clearing my throat. “I wouldn’t d-dream of it.”
“Ha! Someone got busted,” Rick sings, cutting up Heath’s pancake.
“Shut up,” I whisper.
“How long’s this been going on?” Stevie asks.
Frank is silent, staring between Auden and me.
“A few days,” Auden answers, smiling.
Lloyd laughs. “Heard about his rep and had to see what the fuss was about?”
She forks a strawberry into her mouth. “Nope, we got together before I even knew what his so-called reputation was.”
Rick kicks me under the table. “What’re you gonna do? She’s leaving in a couple of days.”
“We haven’t really discussed it yet,” I say, looking at Auden.
She laughs, biting her bottom lip as she looks at me. “We haven’t discussed much.” I finally look up and Frank scoffs under his breath. “But it’s been fun getting to know this town through his eyes,” she adds.
“As long as you’re happy,” Frank finally chimes in, making this entire thing that much more uncomfortable. Yet I’m so happy that our relationship is finally out.
I can finally kiss my angel and show everyone I know, how much she means to me.
My phone starts to ring as everyone eats quietly, the awkwardness filling the air like thick smoke. I look at my phone and see the name of the bar I applied to earlier. That was damn fast. Shit, my palms are sweaty and I’m just staring at my phone as the second ring chimes out. This is it. This phone call can decide my future with my angel.
“Just gotta take this, excuse me,” I say and get up from the table, quickly moving through the home. On the fourth ring, I answer. “Hello?”
“Is this Luke Bowman?” the man on the phone asks, sending a shiver up my spine. I’ve never done an interview before. Ross gave me the job right out of high school. I live and breathe bartending.
I got this.
I clear my throat. “Yes, it is. I go by Storm, just to let you know.”
“Nice to meet you, Storm. The name’s Gregory, I’m calling about the managerial position you applied to.” There’s clicking and typing in the background. “I see you didn’t attach your CV.”
I rub the back of my neck and shake my head as I pace the porch. Christ, why am I so sweaty all of a sudden? “N-no, I didn’t. I’ve worked at the same bar for a few years now.”
“I know, I called your one and only reference and he had some great things to say, Storm.” Gregory sighs, chair squeaks through the receiver. “I’m going to be square with you, we’re in a hurry to fill the position. Our manager was supposed to go on maternity leave in two months but seems like the doctors are pushing up her scheduled delivery date. I need someone in as soon as two weeks from now. Is that possible?”
Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit.
My life is changing. Things are looking up. Auden will be so happy that I’m doing this for her. I’m becoming the man she deserves.
“Yeah, that works for me,” I say, smiling and wiping a hand down my face to try and contain my excitement. “I’m moving in with my, um—” What the hell do I call her? “—my girl in a few days, d-do you need to meet me before making the final decision?”
“Once we make the final decision, we would need to meet and see your bartending skills. The job will require you to work both the business side of things and the bartending side of things.” Gregory clicks his tongue. “What’re your strengths and weaknesses?”
The front door opens and Heath runs out, wrapping his arms around my waist, sending an oomph from my mouth. “Uncle Storm, Uncle Storm, hurry up or your pancakes will get cold.”
Fucking Christ, of all the times to interrupt me.
I stammer, holding the phone against my chest. “J-just a second, big guy, okay?” I smile, clearing my throat. “Why don’t you go find the whipped cream and slather it all over my pancakes? You know how much I prefer that to maple syrup.”
Heath giggles, and runs back inside, emitting a sigh out of me as I fix the phone on my ear again. “I am so sorry about that, sir.”
“That’s not a problem,” he says, but doesn’t sound too convincing. “As I was saying, why don’t you advise me of your strengths and weaknesses, hopefully, your nephew isn’t one of them?”
I force an awkward laugh, running my fingers through my hair. “N-no, sir. He isn’t.” Clearing my throat again, then release a breath and look out at the willow tree. “I’m a fast worker, can make you anything you ask without any training—I don’t know if I need any training or not. Um…my biggest weakness is I smoke. I’m allotted five breaks per hour, but I always make sure I finish my orders before leaving for a smoke.” I’m not allotted that, I can come and go as I please, but he doesn’t need to know that.
Gregory’s fingers type on a keyboard again, filling in the silence that’s defeating. “If I ask you what’s in a whisky sour, what would you tell me?”
I smile because that’s too easy. I give him the steps, telling him how I prepare and serve it, and what I like to pair it with as an appetizer. I think he liked that because he chuckles. “Like I said, I know my drinks. And I’d flourish at this job.”
He hums on the other end. “All right, Storm. I still have a few other candidates to go through, but I will let you know by the end of the week.”
“I really need this job, sir. Is there anything you need on my end to help with that?”
He chuckles softly. “I’ll give you an answer soon, Storm. Thank you. And go enjoy those pancakes.”
He hangs up, leaving me more panicked than relieved. What if I don’t get this job? Of course, there are more out there. But I wanted to prove to Auden that I can do this. That I can better myself for her.
I sputter and drop my head back with my eyes closed. “This too shall pass,” I whisper to myself, releasing a deep breath.
I need my woman. As soon as I see her face, I know things will be okay.
Maybe finding this job will also help with Denny’s forgiveness. He’ll see I’m trying to better myself. He’ll see I want to move on.
I walk into the house and head for the kitchen, sliding into my seat beside her. She wrinkles her nose at me as I leave a kiss on her head. “Sorry about that.”
“Everything okay?” she asks, forking a strawberry into her mouth. I nod quickly, grinning at her and slide my arm on the back of her chair.
“There’s no whipped cream,” Heath groans with his mouth full. “So I put extra maple syrup on your pancake.”
I chuckle and look at my place. One fluffy pancake is swimming in syrup. This is going to be the most disgusting thing I’ll ever eat, but I’ll do it just to see him smile. “Excited for pizza night, big guy?”
Maddison shakes her head, looking over at me. “Not tonight, Storm.”
I frown, looking at her quizzically. “It’s Wednesday. Wednesdays are pizza night.”
She sighs, looking at Rick, then Frank. “I forgot he had plans tonight. We’ll move it to tomorrow night, okay?”
“Why?” I ask, leg tapping restlessly.
No, no, no. I was going to use tonight as my chance to tell Heath about the big change in my life. He’s my little man, he has to be the first person I break the news to.
Rick brings his coffee mug to his lips. “He has a sleepover at his friend’s house tonight. I completely forgot to tell you.” He waves his mug at Auden. “A lot has been happening, I should’ve told you over the weekend.”
I slouch in my seat, tonguing my cheek, and Auden slides her hand on my leg. “No worries. You have all day to hang out, right?” She smiles at me, then looks at Heath. “Maybe you guys can have a pizza lunch?”
I nod, looking over at her, and smirk. “Yeah, we have all day.”
But all I want to do today is take out my frustrations on her. Destroying that pussy and that mouth. But that’s not happening now. Nope, now I have to figure out a way to make her happy and make my nephew happy while trying to keep my life in order.