Understanding rolls through me. That’s why she’s said no every time I’ve asked her out. She’s afraid to reach for the proverbial brass ring because she already had a hold on it and it was ripped from her grasp, causing a loss of my own to resurface that mybrain has a hard time contemplating. I shut those memories down because right now, it’s about her, not me and my fucked-up past.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Marge suggests, thankfully changing the subject. “Looks like Buddy grabbed an extra so let’s grab a few chairs and see what today’s special is.”
“Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, green beans, and apple cobbler,” Buddy states.
“Good to know,” Marge replies.
It may not have been a date in the typical sense but eating lunch with Shelly while her stuff dried wasn’t too bad, all things considered. I helped her get it out to her car and took a chance once again.
“Shelly, would you like to go for a ride with me?” I ask.
Wind therapy may not cure everything, but for me, it settles my mind even if it’s temporary, and I’m hoping it can do the same for her. Since I’ve got a mountain to climb, it’s better to take it one step at a time, so that’s what I’m gonna do.
“I can’t today,” she replies. “But I think I’d like to do that sometime soon. Do I need to get a helmet?”
“I’ll grab you a helmet, you just worry about dressing to protect your skin. What about tomorrow? We can grab something to eat afterward.”
I watch her look down and take a deep breath before she looks at me and states, “I’m a hot mess, Abyss, but I’d like to go. Just…can you be patient with me? Because I’m kind of scared right now.”
“Don’t need to be afraid of me, Shelly. We’ll take things nice and slow, okay? I know you haven’t told me everything, and that’s okay, whenever you’re ready. Just know that from the moment I met you, I was captivated, and that has only grown stronger.”
Wide eyes stare up at me as she whispers, “Really?”
“Really. Now, I’m sure you’ve got other things to do today since you’ve got a ball buster for a boss, so I’ll let you get on with it. Be careful driving and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Before I can think about it further, I lean in and kiss her forehead before I walk away.
Tonight’s gonna be a beer night, I can already tell. I don’t look back, but I imagine if I did, I’d see the shock on her face at my words and actions.
“You seem to be in a pretty good mood tonight,” BamBam says as he approaches the table I’m sitting at, a beer in front of me.
“Life’s looking up,” I admit. “Shop’s busy as hell, our other businesses are helping keep the coffers full, and outside the shit that Doc’s looking into so we can see what’s going on, all is well.”
“She finally said yes, didn’t she?” BamBam asks.
“Yeah, taking her for a ride tomorrow after work then getting some dinner. It’s gonna be a long road, brother, based on what little she’s shared so far, but I’m in it to win it,” I reply.
I don’t share about the news articles I found. Truly, I feel kind of bad that I checked into her because it’s her story to tell, not mine to ferret out. I also need to be mindful that her loss may have happened several years ago, but she’s had to live with that painful reminder every single day. Still, despite that, she didn’t shy away from coming to the family barbecue where a ton of kids were running around.
“That’s good, brother. Livy really likes her, says they’ve got a lot in common,” BamBam says.
“I think she needs a few good friends and Livy’s one of the best women I know,” I tell him.
“Yeah, she is,” BamBam replies, grinning at me. “Don’t forget, we’ve got church on Friday.”
“Good, maybe we’ll hear more about the situation that Doc mentioned.” Thank fuck it’s not tomorrow since I’ve got a date with Shelly.
“Wanna play some cards?” BamBam asks, looking around to see who else can join us.
“Sure, why not?”
I grin as I reach my room, three hundred dollars in my pocket thanks to my brothers’ inattention. Gotta admit, I might not take advantage of the club girls, but when they got up on the little stage we have and started dancing on the pole, the only one besides me who didn’t pay attention was BamBam.
He’s got filet mignon waiting for him at home, and I’ve got one in my sights, so ground chuck is no longer on the menu.
Stripping down, I head in for a quick shower so I can rub one out to thoughts of the woman who I’m going to make mine. Once I’m done and have cleaned myself up, I hit the bed and as sleep claims me, I fall asleep with the beautiful green eyes of my woman on my mind.
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
