Chapter 46 Greyson #2
Emma drops her head again. “Ugh! Don’t remind me that you saw that, too!”
Everyone laughs and wanders into the house as I walk Emma to the stairs before letting her go. “Whatever you had planned, we’re doing it tonight. I don’t care if we need to fuck in the garage to have some privacy. I want to see what you have beneath here properly.”
I kiss her lips as she smiles and blushes slightly. When she turns to head up, I smack her ass, then join my parents and Lance while we wait for Amanda to come back down with Gracie.
A few hours later, while my mom and Emma are busy whipping up some fantastic dinner for us all, I pull Lance to the side. Farther away from Amanda and my father, who are playing with Gracie on the living room floor with blocks.
“How are things going with Amanda? You two seem quite cozy. I take it it’s pretty serious?” I ask him as I pass him a glass of bourbon and sip my own.
“It is. I never thought I’d be getting in another relationship after everything with Elaine. But Amanda is a godsend. One I never saw coming.” He smiles as he watches her. She looks up at him, feeling his eyes on her, and the connection that passes between them is palpable.
“Yeah, I’ve come to realize the most unexpected things in our life turn out to be the most beautiful ones.” I know what I’m talking about, I have two.
“I think my daughter would agree with you on that.” He smiles warmly.
“I’m going to ask her to marry me. Not tonight, but soon, and I’d like your blessing. But know that even if you say no, I still intend on marrying her,” I tell him, making sure my intentions are clear.
He chuckles and takes a sip from his glass. “I had a feeling this question was coming. Or not question since you’ll do it either way. But yes, you have my blessing. You’ve had it since the moment you stood up for her all those months ago.”
I nod, feeling settled. As much as I claimed not needing his approval, it still feels good to have it.
Soon we’re all seated at the dining room table eating chicken parmesan with a side of rice and green beans. Gracie sits at the head of the table with Lance and Amanda on either side, while Emma sits between me and her father, and my parents are seated beside Amanda.
“Oh, sweetheart, about that thing you asked me, I’ll have it delivered next week,” Lance whispers to his daughter, but I catch on to every word.
“What thing?” I furrow my brow.
Em turns to me with a bashful smile. “I asked my father if I could have his piano. It hasn’t been touched in years, so it will have to be tuned and looked over.
But I wanted you to have it.” She places her hand above mine.
“I know you don’t play often, but I wish you would. I love hearing you, Wolf.”
I kiss her temple. “Okay.” It’s not that I don’t like playing, I love it. But it always gives me this bittersweet feeling, making me question how my life would have turned out if I had chosen a different path. But I’ll do anything for my Bunny.
She beams at me before turning back to her father. “So Dad, have you decided on a house yet?”
She told me Lance was thinking of moving nearby to be closer to her and Cecilia and the kids. Cecilia may not be his daughter, but he treats her like one. Just like he treats Gracie and Dante like his grandkids.
“We have, we put in an offer this morning. We’re just waiting to hear back. It’s actually just one street over.”
“Wait, we?” Em looks from Amanda to her father. “You’re moving in together?”
Amanda giggles. “I’m keeping my condo for the time being, but we discussed it, and I think that’s what will be happening slowly. Your father thought it was important that I have an input on the house he bought.”
“Well, I’m happy for you guys. What about children? Is that something you’ve discussed as well?” I ask them, curiosity winning over.
Em instantly tenses beside me. It’s not that she’s against the idea of her father and his girlfriend having a child. It’s more the idea of having a brother or sister the same age as our kids.
Lance clears his throat and glances at Emma for a moment. “We have. But we’ve decided we’ll most likely adopt if we go down that route, which is highly probable. Amanda is still young, and it doesn’t feel fair taking away her chance of being a mother because she’s with me.”
“Wow, that’s going to be something. I don’t know how I’d feel having a sibling the same age as my child,” my dad speaks up, always with his unnecessary comments. I hear my mom growl at him.
“Actually, we’d prefer to adopt an older child, maybe even a teen.
They’re always the ones left behind because people prefer newborns, but they want a loving family just as much as any other.
And personally, I have no desire to change diapers and all that messiness that comes with babies.
Don’t get me wrong, I love babies, but I also really enjoy the part where we hand them back to their parents. ” Amanda smiles sheepishly.
“I think that’s very thoughtful of you two, but teenagers aren’t always easy to handle,” my mom informs them. And she’s right. I wasn’t an easy one, and I’m sure Em wasn’t either.
“Oh, if anyone can handle a teenager quickly, it’s Amanda,” Emma giggles.
“Back when I worked for her, she had this stern voice she would use. It would honestly scare me sometimes. There was no messing around when she brought out that tone and gave you that displeased look. She’ll do just fine with a teen. ”
“And yet I always found you sitting around with Cecilia and Steve,” Amanda adds with narrowed eyes, smirking at Em.
“Well, now you know what to expect from a teenager. You can thank me later.”
I lean over and whisper into Bunny’s ear. “You weren’t a teen, though.”
She smacks my chest. “Shh. No one needs to know.”
I pull back and laugh with a head shake. “Everyone does know.” I’m rewarded with an eye roll from her part.
“What about you two? When are you making us another grandbaby?” my mom asks, watching Gracie play peekaboo with Lance.
“I’d say by the end of next year,” I tell her, smirking down at my plate when Emma straightens in her seat.
“Woah! Let’s back up a step. How about we get married before even talking about a baby?” Emma interjects with a nervous giggle.
“I say by the end of the summer there will be a baby in the oven.” Amanda winks at me.
“No! Don’t be putting ideas in his head! I’m not Cecilia, no guessing games with me.” Em points her fork at Amanda.
“I just convinced her to stop using condoms, so there’s a good chance.” I shrug and chuckle when Bunny slaps my arm.
“Greyson! Our parents do not need to know that!” she gasps, then glares at me. “And no, there’s no chance. I’m still taking my pill every morning.”
Lance leans back in his chair to address me behind Emma’s back. “There’s an easy way around that. I once represented a man who had counterfeit birth control. It’s how he knocked up his girlfriend without her knowing. I can probably get you in touch with the person who got them for him.”
“DADDY!” Em shrieks while everyone laughs.
“What? I want more grandkids. I’m with everyone on this subject.”
She sighs, her head hanging back for a few seconds, then brings it back down and shoots daggers my way.
“No baby before a wedding,” she says through clenched teeth with her fork pointed at my face like a weapon.
“And if I somehow end up pregnant before the end of the year, you can say bye-bye to your balls, Wolf.”
“You do know it’s possible to get preg—”
“NO! Amanda, just shush! I don’t want to hear it.”
“Okay, so when’s the wedding then?” my dad questions.
“I was thinking Christmas, or maybe the day before. We’ll have to check when my schedule comes out.
But I thought we could do it back home at the lodge where we slide every year?
It’s beautiful during winter, and given it’ll be Christmas, there wouldn’t be a huge amount of guests since most of the team will be off seeing their own families,” I say.
They all nod as I turn to my mother. “Mom, you think you could call it up this week and ask if they have any availability during that time? We’d hire our own planners and all, we just need the room. ”
Emma gasps. “Greyson! What are you doing?! You haven’t even proposed yet, we can’t plan a wedding without an engagement!”
I kiss her cheek, then wink. “Don’t worry, Bunny. That will be coming, too.”
She rolls her eyes at me, clearly thinking I’m joking. I’m not.
“Oh! Can I plan it? I loved helping out with Cecilia’s. I’ve actually been looking to expand into weddings as well with my company. It would be great marketing,” Amanda practically begs.
“Of course. I had already thought of asking you.”
“I’ll call them when we get back to Toronto. But it might be expensive since it’s during the holidays,” my mom tells me.
“Budget isn’t an issue. Whatever they ask for, offer $10,000 over. That way we’ll be sure to get it,” Lance instructs my mother.
“That would actually be a perfect place to host your wedding. The lodge even has rooms for those who will be flying in for the occasion,” my dad adds with a nod.
“Okay, fine. Go on and plan my wedding without me. Just send me a text with the date and time, you know, since I clearly don’t have a say in this conversation,” Em huffs out, folding her arms over her chest and leaning back in her chair like a sulking child while frowning at all of us.
We all laugh at her comment, which makes her frown deepen. “Better be prepared to see that ugly dress coming down the aisle,” she tells me with a wicked grin.
She may act like she doesn’t like the idea of what I’m offering, but I know my Bunny.
She absolutely loved the lodge and all the snow and even made a comment about how amazing a wedding there would be.
And even though my girl loves planning events, I want her to enjoy her wedding, not be focused on every other detail.
So if I can plan some of it for her or get others to help, I will.
I clear my throat, now entering a more serious topic. “There is something I’d like to talk to you two about.” I look over at my parents, gaining their undivided attention.
“What is it, sweetie?” my mom asks with concern.
“As you all know, my current contract is up for renewal. When they offer me a re-signing deal, which will most likely be the case, or else I would have heard something by now about a trade, I’m going to ask for a no-trade clause. And I’d like you to move down here.”
My mother and father stare at me with huge eyes. “Greyson… we’d love nothing more than to be closer to all of you. But we still have our jobs back home,” my mom says delicately.
“I know that. I don’t mean this instant, but maybe in a year or two.
I know you’ve both drastically cut down on your hours and are looking into retiring soon.
I was hoping that once you did, you’d consider moving down here.
We could keep the house there for vacations and Christmas holidays to keep up the tradition,” I offer them.
“I don’t know, son. Everything we know is back in Toronto…” my dad adds hesitantly. I knew they wouldn’t be easily convinced. Their whole life is back home. It’s hard to just pack up and leave everything behind.
“I get that, but I have no intention of ever moving back. My life is here with Gracie and Emma. And eventually we’ll have more children; same goes for Aubrey.
She loves it here, and one day she’ll have a family of her own, most likely down here as well.
Don’t you want to be more a part of that? ” Yes, I’m playing the grandbaby card.
Em takes my hand, lacing our fingers together. “We would help you find a place down here and cover all the costs. Just think about it, no pressure. But we would really love to have you both around more often. I know Gracie would love that, as well as Aubrey when her time comes.”
Her expression then shifts with a hint of sadness.
“I can’t imagine giving birth without my parents there, well, my dad.
And with you two being a few hours away, it might not be possible to make it on time.
Some babies come quickly. Just look at Cecilia.
We never know when it can happen.” Oh, she’s good.
And judging by the look of regret that flashes through my mom’s eyes, I know we’ve convinced them.
“You’re right, I would hate to miss all my grandchildren’s births. We don’t need to think about it. We’ll do it.” My parents smile at each other, decision made.
Gracie starts to fuss in her chair, long done with her food and no longer interested in sitting at the table. “I’ll clean her up and get her changed,” Emma offers. She stands and bends at the waist to kiss me when I turn my head to the side and offer my lips.
My mom waits until Emma has gone upstairs with Gracie before speaking in a hushed voice. “Were you serious about the lodge?” Stars twinkle in her eyes.
“Yes.” I smile. I have every intention of marrying Emma this Christmas. I already have a ring. I’m just waiting for the perfect moment to propose.
The buzz of excitement around the table warms my heart as Lance leans over, patting me on the back. “Welcome to the family, son.”