Chapter 50
Leo
Charlie pilots the car along Main Street. Reese and I are in the back. She’s tucked against my side with her head on my shoulder. After six days and a battery of tests, the doctors have given us each a clean bill of health and discharged us from the hospital. And just in time too, because I have a big surprise for my girl today. Smiling to myself, I bury my nose in her hair and hold her closer.
My friend keeps stealing peeks at us in the rearview mirror. “What?” I ask when our stares bump into each other.
“You know you totally broke guy code by hooking up with my sister, right?” I can’t see his entire face but his eyes are pretty stark.
I glance down at Reese just in time to see her roll her eyes. I throw Charlie a shrug. “I guess."
His eyes narrow. “You know I should probably punch you in the nose right now, especially since you can’t fight back.”
I bite down a chuckle. “I’m not sure that’s fair.” I wave my bandaged fist in the air.
“Challenging another man to a duel over your sister?” Reese says snidely. “How Shakespearaen of you.”
“You’re lucky your big, brave Romeo just saved you from a burning building or else we’d be sword-fighting in an alley right now.”
“What am I? A piece of chattel?” Reese questions playfully.
Charlie’s eyes soften and his expression goes compassionate. “No—you’re my big-headed little sister. And I love you, despite what you may think. And I don’t want to see anyone break your heart.”
I fully understand where he’s coming from. “Reese is a very special woman and from now on, it’s my duty to guard her heart, to protect her, to love her. I won’t be the one to hurt her and if anyone even tried to threaten her, they’d have to get through me first.” I hold up my arm and flex my muscles. Reese makes an exaggerated swooning face and I burst with pride. “And I’m pretty tough if I do say so myself.” Charlie chuckles knowingly. I hold his stare in the mirror. “Your sister is safe with me.”
A smile brightens his eyes. “I know, man. You’re the kind of guy my sister needs. I know that.”
I nod solemnly, pulling Reese snug against me. My gaze moves out the window, watching the rows of shops as we near our destination.
“Are we stopping for dinner or something?” Reese asks when Charlie drives past the street he’d have to turn onto to take us home.
“Something like that,” I whisper into her hair and try to keep the amusement out of my voice.
But by the time we’re near the park, she knows that something’s up. She pulls out of my grasp and leans forward, looking out through the windshield. “What’s with all the balloons?” she asks.
“You’ll see,” I tell her as the car grinds to a halt on the curb.
Her jaw hangs loose now. Her eyes bulge. “Leo…”
People mill around, enjoying baked goods and iced tea. Nova waves at us from the makeshift cash register. The banner hangs between two huge oak trees.
The Broken Cupcake’s presents Cupcake Sunday Bake Sale!
I hear her gasp when she realizes what’s going on. Her head snaps to me. “What…?”
“For you, my love…” With the help of all the people who love her—Charlie, Vivian, Nova, Sophia and of course, Brenton—I managed to organize a little fundraiser to support the reopening of the cupcake shop while I was stuck in my hospital bed.
I know it’s going to take more than a little Sunday afternoon bake sale to get the Broken Cupcake back up and running, but this is my way of showing Reese my support.
“You shouldn’t have done this, Leo.”
“Why the hell not?” I challenge her. “You go out of your way for people everyday. It’s only fair that someone do something nice for you.”
“It’s too much.”
“It’s not enough.”
“But…”
"You don't have a monopoly on kind gestures in this town,” I quip. “Maybe taking care of other people makes you feel good but did you ever stop to consider that maybe taking care of you feels good to me?”
I see her heart melt right then and there. “Baby…” she whispers in her bedroom voice.
Oh yeah, I’m gonna get some action tonight!
“You two look like you need some privacy.” Charlie tosses the keys into the back seat and practically leaps out of the car.
Reese and I laugh together. “He’ll get used to it sooner than later,” I assure her and then cup her face, bringing my lips to hers. I kiss her and all my passion runs free. I cup her face with my big, bandaged paw and my thoughts evaporate like smoke when she moans the way she does.
But it isn’t long before there’s an eager, little tap at the window. We pull apart. “Brenton!” I throw the door open and my boy jumps inside.
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!”
“Hi buddy!” He wraps one arm around my neck and squeezes hard before turning to Reese.
“Hi Reese,” he says, almost shy.
“Hey Brent. How ya doing?”
The child grins. “I saw you kissing my daddy.”
She blushes, her cheeks all red. “You did?”
He nods excitedly. "Reese?" Brenton says in a small voice. "Can you please be my daddy's girlfriend?”
I find myself laughing.
“Well, if he asked me, I’d say yes.” She scrunches up her nose and lowers her voice as she cups a hand around her mouth. “But he hasn’t asked me.”
Brenton gives me a stern look. “Daddy!”
“Well, let’s rectify that situation immediately.” I laugh throatily. “Will you be my girlfriend, Reese?” I tickle her ribs.
“Yes, yes I will.” She squirms and giggles in my lap. “Yes!”
“Happy now?” I say, turning to Brent.
He nods firmly. “Yes. I’m happy.” He leans back against my chest with his broken arm tucked against his little body. “Rectify…Rectify…” he muses to himself as if trying on the new word for size. I grin and ruffle his hair.
I look at the both of them in my arms. They’re everything I need. Three months ago, I showed up in this town, in this rusty old Ford Escort, lost and depressed and confused. Now, I have everything. How did I get so lucky?
I angle Reese’s face and put a kiss on her nose. “So, girlfriend—Where do we go from here?”
She looks thoughtful. “Well, we haven’t officially been on a date yet. So maybe dinner and a movie?”
“Or we could go dancing?” I suggest as I jerk my shoulders back and forth in perfect timing with a song only I can hear. Something techno. Because I’m cool like that.
"You can dance?” she asks with a grin.
I lean my forehead against hers. “Dancing is easy. I can do anything when I’m with you.”