“Correct me if I’m wrong,” her dad started. “But whenever you quit talking, something is up in your world.”
She loved her father’s ability to read her emotions, even over the phone. One of the benefits of being an only child—your parents missed little. She’d already debated internally for days whether she should tell her parents everything. About Vincent, Kline, and now her boss. Her father was a retired attorney, so he knew the game better than most.
“I met someone, Dad.”
“Boy? Girl?”
Tina laughed. “Definitely a boy.”
“As long as you’re happy, we’re happy.”
God, she missed them. She’d grown up in an ideal world. Everything had its place. Everyone had a purpose. Certain things were taboo there. Like guys with tats who wore leather. “I hope you’ll still feel that way after I tell you how and why we met.”
“Let me get Mom on the other line,” he said. “Hold for a minute.”
He set the phone down, and she heard her mother’s distinct voice in the background.
“Hello, honey,” her mom crooned once she picked up.
“Miss you,” Tina said.
“We’ll be there soon.”
“I can’t wait.” With all the excitement Tina had experienced lately, she’d kill for a month of boring family dinners.
“I’m back,” her dad announced. “Now tell us about that someone you met.”
“You don’t need to yell,” her mother said. “I’m standing three feet away from you.”
“Margaret,” he chastised. “I wasn’t yelling at you, I was talking to our daughter. And if I don’t raise my voice, how can she hear me over that blasted noise Dustin’s video game is making?”
Tina chuckled so hard her belly hurt. Yep. Boring family stuff now qualified as one of her favorite things in life.
“Dustin,” her mom called. “Turn the volume down while we’re on the phone.”
“But Mom…”
“Stop whining,” she said.
The noise disappeared and Tina could hear someone breathing over the line. “Ready?” she asked.
“Ready,” her dad said.
She spent the next few minutes weaving her tale, the PG version. They didn’t need to know about all the offensive phone messages Kline left or some of the other things he’d said to her. But they needed to know how wonderful Vincent was, how he’d protected her, and why she loved him with all her heart. So much, in fact, tears wet her eyes as she stressed what an integral part of her life he’d become. His club affiliation didn’t matter to her, and it shouldn’t to them.
“You said something about Vincent being a ‘one-percenter.’ ” Her mom sounded confused, and was likely ignoring the situation with Kline because it scared the shit out of her. Those rose-colored glasses she wore were about to come off. “Does that have something to do with the political slogan, we are the ninety-nine percent? Is he a Wall Street type, dear?”
“Margaret,” her father said. “A one-percenter has nothing to do with the Occupy protesters. He’s a biker. Remember all the buzz about that show Sons of Anarchy?”
“Oh,” her mother said. “He rides a motorcycle?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Does he wear a leather jacket?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Does he have tattoos?”
Tina rolled her eyes. “Yes.”
A moment of silence passed before her father cleared his throat. “Do you want me to fly down early? We need to do something about Kline, now.”
“Honestly, Dad, while I’m staying at the clubhouse, nothing will happen to me. Vincent is very vigilant, and I’m working on a plan to make sure Kline never hurts me or anyone else again. I’m confident things will work out very quickly.”
“So help me, if he hurts you…”
“It’s okay.” Tina felt like a little girl again, her father the superhero of her dreams. “I’ll call as soon as anything changes.”
“Tina,” her mother said. “We’d be honored to meet Vincent. Please tell him how grateful I am for his help.”
Tears of joy slipped down Tina’s cheek, and she thumbed them away. She should have known her parents would be more receptive to Vincent. It didn’t matter what he looked like; her father had always taught her to judge a man by his character. And now they’d get to meet her man in the flesh and see for themselves how wonderful he truly was.
“My friend is back, Mom and Dad. I need to run. Love you both so much. And tell Dustin I’ll play video games with him over the holiday.”