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They stood awkwardly on the porch for what felt like forever until Levi cleared his throat. “Got any sweet tea?” he asked, a hopeful look on his face.
“Full pitcher in the fridge,” Lorraine told him.
Levi, the rat, darted inside leaving the two women to stand on the stoop alone.
“I’m not normally such a temperamental old bag,” Lorraine blurted out.
“Ma’am?” There was no protocol for situations like this.
Waving her hand to the swing off to the side of the door, Lorraine began to explain. “I never wanted to be that mom,” she began as they sat. “The one who thinks no girl is good enough for her boys. My own mother-in-law was always that way. Even after the kids were born and after every tour Lucas came back from. She was what she was, and she didn’t like me.”
What the hell was Hayes supposed to say to that? You are?
“I know I came across that way on Sunday, and Hayes, I am truly sorry.” Her words were sincere, and her eyes pleaded for the girl to believe her.
“I have a feeling every mom, no matter their intentions, would likely come across that way at first.”
“When I saw you, I was completely taken aback. Levi has been different the past few months. He’s darker. Coiled like a rattler and ready to strike at any moment. I’ve been worried.” It was hard to keep a straight face at the accuracy of her words. “I can see from the shocked look on your face, you know what’s going on with my boy.” Hayes began to open her mouth, to say what she didn’t know, but Lorraine stopped her with a hand. “I know he’ll tell me. When he’s ready. I won’t ever ask you to break his confidence. That would be selfish on my part.”
“Mrs. Hogan, I don’t know what you want from me here.” Her words were blunt.
Lorraine grinned. “We’re going to get along just fine. You keep being honest like that, and we’ll be great friends. Don’t placate me just to keep the peace. You’re in a family of boys now, and they’ll try and run roughshod over you every chance they get.”
“Okay.”
“He’s watching us. Shall we make him sweat a bit?” his mother said. Hayes nodded.
She had to agree, they were going to get along just fine.
They were trying to kill him. He knew it. Leaving them alone had been a bad play on Levi’s part. He was going to pay for it before going to hell. Even though he was hiding a monumental secret from his family, he still needed the two most important women in his life to get along.
Watching through the window as they laughed and talked, he felt immense relief. There had never been a doubt about Hayes being perfect for him after he’d accepted the fact she was younger than he’d originally thought. Seeing the evidence of how well she would fit into his family was just what he needed.
After the incident at the gym with the new guy, he needed a little bit of good on his side. He also knew he’d made the right choice to walk away from the ring, despite the dozen phone calls he’d been getting from sponsors and managers in the official fighting world. He was done.
Anything he’d been missing in his life six months ago was now sitting on his front porch laughing and bonding. Opening his own gym would be icing on the cake. When the idea had entered his mind, he’d known, immediately, it was the right move for him.
If Hayes didn’t want to come on board with him, then he would learn to live with it, but he sure as hell hoped she would want to. Telling Nox and Lochlan was going to be tougher. Having his own business to run would mean leaving the family business, and Levi was concerned with how Nox would react to the news.
Backing away from the window as the girls returned inside, he waited nervously for any sign of distress from Hayes. When she smiled at him as his mother grabbed her arm to bring her to the kitchen, he blew out a huge sigh of relief.
Relaxing, he followed along behind them. “What’d ya make, Ma?” The aromas in the air had him salivating.
“You’re favorite.” She beamed at him.
“Lasagna?” He knew he sounded like an eager puppy after a treat, but he didn’t care.
“You’re not a vegetarian are you, dear?” Her question was directed at Hayes.
“No, ma’am.”
“Good. Go, b
oth of you, sit. I’ll be there in a second.”
Not one to argue where food was involved, Levi gripped Hayes’ hand in his own as they walked into the small dining room off the side of the kitchen.
“You doing okay?” he asked her quietly.
