COLLINS
“Jolie,”I hear my dad call Mom’s name, not stepping in the house yet. I’ve sat here with her for the past three hours. Okay, I did not, in fact, sit still. I paced, walking the length of the house many times, sat down, only to stand up again, attempting to walk out the front door only for Mom to clear her throat. I bore it all to her earlier, not that it took me that long. Four months isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things, enough that Pax and I know we love one another, that it’s long lasting in the forever sort of way.
“In the kitchen.” Mom’s eyes stay on mine, saying behave yourself. That’s something I can’t and won’t promise until I see how Paxton is doing.
“Not comin’ in. Ice warned me that our girl has her gun. Grab Collins’ purse for me, will you?” Mom laughs. I do the same thing and pull my bag closer to my side.
“Looks like you won’t be coming inside, then. You know how Collins is with her gun. You’re the one who taught her never to leave home without it.” I crack a smile, remembering when we told Shadow we were taking self-defense classes. We all laughed, saying that we’d never take him seriously even though he’d do it for free. That’s when he enrolled us in classes in town. It wasn’t easy; in fact, we came home more tired than ever, especially since we started taking the classes at a pretty young age. I guess when you’re twelve and developing into a young woman and your dad freaks out, they don’t play the what-if game and take control of the situation. All of us girls have been taking self-defense classes, thank you, at the place in town since. So, thanks to the class in town and Uncle Shadow for pushing it to happen, going so far as to drop us off and pick us up.
“Fuck it. Little girl, you pull a gun on me, I’ll have your Ol’ Man deal with you.” I guess things went okay since he’s talking about him in the present tense.
“Suit yourself, Dad, but if there’s a bullet in his body, I’d sleep with one eye open.” Now, would I really shoot my own father? No. Does he need to know that right now? Also no. I’d only do something like that in a pretty freaking dire situation, one I hope to never have to go through. While my dad can be a pain in the ass, I do love him.
“Not this time. Leavin’ that for Ruger.” Word travels pretty easily about what happens in the club, even if we’re a state away.
“There better not be a time. Mom can catch you up on the details. You might need tequila, though. If it weren’t for this medicine I’m on, we’d have started our day off with Bloody Marys and ended with beer.” Once he’s in the kitchen, Dad moves to Mom. She offers her lips, just like always. They kiss like they’re still young and wild. It used to gross Blaine and me out when we were younger, but now I get it. It’s the same way I want things with Ice and me, maybe a kid or two, maybe none.
“The medicine helping any?” Dad asks, genuinely concerned. I should be annoyed with him. I definitely was yesterday. My emotions were driving me crazy, like a hormonal teenager just starting her period. Psycho.
“I’m not sure. I think this afternoon will tell when I take my online class. First, I need to check on Pax.” Dad sits down next to Mom. I stand up and put my purse on my shoulder. I see the way his eyes linger on my bag; it’s always fun when your own father is a bit scared of his grown adult daughter.
“Let me know, okay?” I bend down, giving Mom a hug and a kiss, then doing the same to Dad. He holds me a bit longer.
“I will. I’m probably going to be in Ice’s room for the day. I brought my laptop to work just in case you hurt him too badly.” I’m reaching, trying to figure out what I’ll be walking into once I make it to Ice’s room at the clubhouse.
“If you’d quit talkin’, you could see for yourself. He’ll be up and workin’ in no time, though. Now, you gonna be here for dinner? Gotta say, liked havin’ you here, sweet pea.” Dad squeezes me tightly. I guess we’ve all been in our own world.
“Are you inviting Ice to said dinner?” Mom chuckles. I already know her response. She wouldn’t mind; in fact, she’d probably prefer it.
“He’s part of our family, so yeah. Now, quit pokin’ a sleepin’ bear and go see to your man.” He blows out a puff of air before the chair he’s sitting in squeaks as he pushes away from the table.
“No alcohol, Deck, it’s too early. You heard what the doctor said about your cholesterol,” mom admonishes. I snicker. His eyes go from Mom’s to mine.
“Eat your oatmeal, egg whites, get more vegetables. Fuckin’ ain’t worth it if I can’t have a shot of Bourbon after findin’ out my baby isn’t a baby anymore.” Dad does what he wants, going to the cabinet they keep the liquor in. I’m not a fool. Mom is going to lose her mind, especially if Dad starts in on rather wanting to die on his terms than some quack of a doctor. Even though we know he’d never say something like that to Henley’s face.
“Bye,” I say over my shoulder. They don’t respond, and I don’t expect them to. I’m just glad Dad didn’t hurt Pax too badly, even if he won’t come out and say it. The pain-in-the-ass man, much like my own is slowly becoming.