You’re so good and principled, nothing at all like him. I’m afraid that if you two ever did face each other that he would use his usual tactics, he’d fight dirty and you’d get hurt because you’re so...sweet.”
I didn’t mean to laugh in her face at that one, but fuck if that shit didn’t tickle my funny bone.
“You think I’m a big ole softie huh.”
“Well, not that exactly but you’re not mean.”
“I’m glad you think so love, you’re supposed to, but since I don’t want you going through life believing that shit about your future husband, let me share this with you.
I’ve only shown you one side of me because you don’t need to ever see the other. That one’s reserved for assholes, and I promise you, if I should ever see that fucker in this life he’d be lucky to leave that encounter with his life.”
Damn, and here I was thinking that she was afraid for her and all this time she was afraid for me. I’m not sure I liked her thinking that I was a chump, but if that’s what got me past her guard to her heart, then I won’t complain.
Hopefully she’d never see the other side of me and still not lose respect for me. I have to remember to share this one with the guys though. Or maybe one day she’d get curious as to why I never went into town with them even before she came into my life.
“You ready baby? I think my mom will be up here soon if we don’t go down.”
“I’m ready, just one more thing.” She lifted her wet eyes to mine and I felt that shit in my gut. There was so much love shining through her eyes in that moment.
“Fuck baby, you’re so fucking perfect, how are you this perfect?” Whatever it was that she was about to tell me got lost as our tongues played against each other.
***
We got downstairs just in time to head mom off. We were both a little mussed and her dress was a little crooked from where I’d pushed it aside to take her nipple in my mouth because I just couldn’t help myself.
She was a lot more relaxed so that when mom introduced her to our guests she won them over with her sweet smile and natural warmth.
I think only mom and I knew that she’d had a little liquid courage. “I want to dance with you. We’ve never danced together.”
She dragged me onto the dance floor and fell into my arms with her face buried in my neck.
“Tighter Caleb.” If Caleb held her any tighter she’d get more than she bargained for, and so would the rest of the room. Still I held her closer and buried my face in her hair.
“Is this better?”
“Uh-huh. Caleb how many babies are we gonna have?”
“Ten.” She laughed so hard I had to hold her up.
“Ten Caleb, where did you come up with that number?”
“That’s a start, if we have more I’m cool with that too.” I was beginning to relax when I realized that her loose tongue seemed to lean more towards spilling what was hidden in her heart, than calling people out, but that was premature as I found five seconds later when she changed the subject again.
“What are we gonna do Caleb?”
“About what baby?” we were still swaying to the music and others had joined us on the dance floor.
“I didn’t get my you know what this month.” I wasn’t sure what she was talking about and wracking my brain for the answer was no help.
“Didn’t get what baby?” Even though there was no one close enough to hear us she lifted her lips to my ear.
“My period.” Even I know what that shit means. I think I lost all feeling in my legs for a second and my hearing too. We were standing in the middle of the floor as I tried to hold on to the moment.
“Are you...?”
“I don’t know it’s too early I think.” I started trying to do the math in my head but I couldn’t add anymore it seemed.
“How soon will we know?”
“I’m late now, so maybe?”
“Have you ever been late before?” I can’t believe we were standing here having this conversation.
“No, that’s why I’m kinda sure.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth I turned and left the floor with her hand in mine, hoping that no one stopped us as I headed for the stairs and my old room.
Then I remembered the champagne and the hooch.
“Babe how much did you have to drink?” She smiled and shook her head.
“That’s what I meant to tell you before when you kissed me stupid. I did have some of the champagne but I knew better than to drink your dad’s concoction.
I used an old trick I learned as a teenager. I tasted it, but I spilled the rest in one of the plants when he wasn’t looking.