Chapter Twenty-Seven
Phoebe gave them all of ten seconds after the front door slammed behind them before sneaking to the open living room window. She wanted to make sure John hit all the points so she wouldn’t have to do a follow-up lecture like the one that had embarrassed the hell out of Carter.
She curled into the worn sofa and pressed her face against the back cushion, listening.
“So, you and Moon Beam Parker,” John began.
“H-how did you know?” Beckett stuttered.
Phoebe smiled. Her boys thought she and John were psychic half the time. The lovable idiots just didn’t realize how transparent they were. Thank God she hadn’t raised sneaky teenage girls like she had been. She’d raised boys who were so bad at lying she knew it was false before the words tumbled out of their mouths.
“Jesus, Beckett. You’re strutting around like a prize-winning hog. An idiot could tell you had sex last night.”
“You had sex with Moon Beam Parker?” Jax asked, awed.
Phoebe heard the resounding slap of a high-five and gritted her teeth together. Men were idiots, she decided.
“Don’t be an asshole,” John said. Phoebe heard a different smack and knew John had just cuffed Beckett on the back of the head.
“Ouch! Geez, Dad!”
John sighed. “Let’s start with the basics, and then we’ll work our way up to why a high-five over sex makes you an asshole. Did you use a condom?”
“Of course, Dad. And she’s on the pill, too.”
Phoebe peered through the screen and saw John holding up a hand. Her poor husband. Even though he was a life-long Blue Mooner, he still operated under the misconstrued assumption that people deserved their privacy. “Are you two dating?” he asked.
Beckett nodded, his expression dreamy. “I think I love her, Dad.”
Jax made barfing sounds. Given his track record of binging on sugary snacks until his body rejected everything, Phoebe looked to make sure he was just joking and not spewing fruity-o’s on the porch she’d swept off just that morning.
Beckett in love with Moon Beam? If that was love, then Phoebe would shave her head and change her name to Mrs. Clean. He didn’t know what love was yet. And she bet money that Moon Beam would not be Mrs. Beckett Pierce in however many years it took her son to finish that law degree he was already talking about.
John cleared his throat. “Well, son, I’m glad to hear that you have strong feelings for her,” he said diplomatically. “Sex is this great thing—”
“You don’t have to tell me,” Beckett grinned, happy to finally be part of the club.
Phoebe rolled her eyes heavenward.
“Shut up,” John sighed. “Sex between two people who care about each other is the best sex there is. Don’t waste your time when you don’t have feelings because it’ll never compare.”
Phoebe nodded, approving his point.
“So, it’s better with someone you like?” Jax asked, frowning.
“Okay, it’s like this,” John said, swiping a hand over his mouth.
Phoebe felt a sliver of guilt. She should have at least let him have some coffee before pushing him into The Talk.
“You know how peanut butter brownie explosion is your favorite ice cream?”
Jax nodded enthusiastically, his expression now close to Beckett’s post-virginity-loss awe. “Oh, yeah.”
“Well, imagine instead of going for peanut butter brownie explosion you go for mint chocolate chip.”
“Why would I do that?” Jax asked, clearly confounded.
“Well, that’s my point. When you know what’s best, don’t waste your time fooling around with women or ice cream that you don’t really like.”
“Very sage, Dad,” Beckett snorted.
“So, you did two things right,” John said, shifting the conversation back to Beckett. “You used protection, and you care about the girl.”
Beckett preened.
“But that’s like saying, you’re ready to drive a car just because you know which pedal’s the brake and which is the gas. There’s a lot more to it. Consent.”
Beckett’s face lost every ounce of color. “Jesus, Dad! You don’t think I’d—”
“Relax, son. No, I don’t think you’d ever do that. You’re a good man. But it still deserves discussing.”
“Do what?” Jax demanded, confused.
Beckett turned to his brother. “Never, ever, ever, coerce a woman into sex. Or I will show up on your doorstep and kick your ass before murdering you.”
John nodded approvingly.
“Jeez!” Jax winced. “Why would anyone do that? Coerce, I mean.”
“Some people are assholes,” Beckett said. “That’s what Carter told me, Dad. The condoms were from his stash, but he made me promise to be respectful—as if I wouldn’t be,” Beckett scoffed.
Phoebe hugged a pillow into her chest. Carter, eighteen and preparing for the Army after graduation, had absorbed enough of those lessons to pass them on to his brother. They were doing something right.
“Now, Beckett. I know you, and I know your brothers. I know none of you would ever force a woman to do anything she’s not one hundred percent excited about.”
Jackson snickered. “Sorry. I was just picturing you trying to coerce Mom into anything.”
Phoebe grinned to herself.
“That’s exactly the kind of woman… or man—no judgment—that I hope you each end up with. Your mother is a strong, smart, incredible woman who is brave enough to stand up for herself and others. What I worry about for you boys is running across someone who isn’t as, shall we say ‘vocal,’ in her opinions or firm with their boundaries.”
“What are you trying to say, Dad?” Jax asked.
Beckett was frowning too.
“Jesus, I wish I had some coffee in me,” John muttered to himself. “Alright. Let’s go back to the ice cream. Beckett, say you call up Moon Beam and ask her to go for ice cream.”
“Sure. Okay. Can I borrow Mom’s car?”
“Focus, son. So, you call her up, she says yes to ice cream. But then she calls you back and says she’s changed her mind.”
“Why would she do that?” Jax asked, devastated at the possibility.
John gave a short laugh. “I can’t believe this is how I’m spending my Saturday morning. No one knows why she changed her mind, and the point is it doesn’t matter why. It means her answer is now no. So, should Beckett show up to her house and drag her into the car and force her to go for ice cream?”
“No, but I think he should swing her by the doctor’s if she’s saying no to ice cream.”
Beckett punched his brother in the shoulder. “Ice cream is sex, man. Keep up.”
“Oh. No wonder I like it so much,” Jax grinned.
“If I get through this without decking you both, it’ll be a miracle,” John sighed. His sons grinned at him, unaffected by the threat.
“Okay. Back to the ice cream sex,” Jax said. “If Moon Beam says no to ice cream sex, then it would be dickish if Beckett tried to force her to go for ice cream sex.”
“Exactly,” John nodded. “Dickish and illegal. Even if she said yes first, that doesn’t matter, and if I ever hear of one of you throwing that excuse in someone’s face, I’ll kick your ass before I murder you.”
“Got it,” Beckett saluted
“Okay, now let’s fast forward a few years. Say you’re with a girl at a party, and she says yes. You go someplace private, and she falls asleep or she’s had too much to drink and passes out. What do you do?”
“Well, you sure as hell don’t give her ice cream. She could choke on it and die or something,” Jax reasoned.
“Sex, dummy. He’s still talking about sex.”
“I know that. It’s the same thing. Why would you feed a passed-out girl ice cream is the same as why would you try to have sex with her.”
“Good boy,” John nodded. “To recap, she needs to feel safe enough to say yes, to be physically capable of saying yes, and if she changes her mind for any reason, you respect that or the ass-kicking and murdering happen.
Beckett saluted. “Got it, Dad. We won’t let you down.”
“I know you two won’t. You boys are turning out to be a lot smarter and more thoughtful than I was at your age. Now, do we need to talk about the mechanics of how to make sure you’re doing it well?”
Beckett’s grin split his face. “No, sir. I think I got that part down. There were no complaints last night. Carter says, ‘Your focus should always be on the girl and making her feel good.’” His spot-on impression of his older brother made Phoebe smile.
“And that’s why high-fiving over sex is immature. A woman isn’t a touchdown or a solid burn on your buddy. If anything, you should fall down and kiss her feet in gratitude,” John said.
“Is that what you do to Mom?” Jax asked like the true smart ass he was.
“You’re damn right I do,” John told him without a hint of shame. “Right before I start apologizing for giving her three thick-headed boys.”
Jax grinned.
“Sex is just like everything else worthwhile in this world. It’s about having a healthy respect. It’s a big deal, and it sounds like you did everything right, Beckett. So, congratulations, son.” He held out his hand to Beckett who shook it and beamed like a lighthouse beacon.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Make sure you keep making the right choices. And Jax, when the time comes for you, I want you to remember all this.”
“Ice cream,” Jax nodded.
Phoebe peeked through the window and saw the Jeep wheel into the driveway. The stereo was blaring ’80s rock, and Carter, their oldest, hopped out looking handsome and entirely too grown up. He hauled his camping gear out of the back and climbed the porch. One look at Beckett’s face had him grinning.
“Well, well, well, little brother’s not so little anymore,” he said.
“How can you tell? Do you think everyone at school will be able to tell?” Beckett demanded.
“If you keep prancing around with that shit-eating grin on your face, I think even the lunch ladies will know,” Carter said, slipping his sunglasses into the neck of his t-shirt.
“Dad just gave us the talk,” Jax announced.
Carter ruffled his youngest brother’s hair. “Did he go with ice cream?” he asked, and they all laughed.
Phoebe’s heart was full. They were raising good men. And how could they not turn out that way? With John Pierce as their living, breathing example. The man was a miracle to her each and every day and so were her boys.
“Now, let’s talk about vehicles,” John began. “Beckett, you’re going to detail the interior and anywhere else naked body parts touched before your mom drives her car anywhere, and then we’re going to break into your savings and go find you something to drive.”
Beckett whooped. “This is seriously like the best day of my life. Wanna come, guys?”
Carter grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it. Ernest Washington’s got some pretty nice rides on his lot.”
“Think he’d open up early for us?” Beckett asked John.
“He’s probably already heard your news and is picking out all the cars with big backseats,” John teased.
“You coming with us, Jax?” Beckett asked.
Jax was already nodding when five-and-a-half feet of leggy teenage brunette strolled up the drive wheeling her bike. “Morning,” she said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Thought I’d come out and visit the horses if you don’t mind.”
Phoebe smiled. Joey Greer was the closest thing she had to a daughter. She was in Jackson’s grade, and the two had been thick as thieves since kindergarten. She wouldn’t be surprised if someday Joey became her daughter-in-law.
John waved the girl up on the porch. “You’re always welcome here, Joey. And there’s ten bucks in it for you if you take Rusty out for a ride. He didn’t get out yesterday.”
“You don’t need to pay me,” she said dreamily. “I should be paying you.”
“Don’t be silly. We’ve got horses. You love horses. It’s the perfect arrangement.”
“Still, I’d feel better if you didn’t try to pay me all the time,” Joey said, all serious brown eyes.
“I’ll do my best not to pay you if you promise to be careful.”
“Ride with a helmet and always in view of the barn or house,” she recited.
“Good girl.”
“We’re going car shopping, Joey,” Beckett announced. “You want to come along?” She was as much a sister to Beckett as daughter to Phoebe and John.
Phoebe watched as Joey blushed, shaking her head. “Nah. Thanks though. I think I’ll take the horses out.”
“I think I’ll stay, too,” Jax said. “Maybe I’ll ride with you.”
Joey looked up at him like he’d just told her he was an astronaut who cured cancer. Grinning, Phoebe slid off the couch and snuck back into the kitchen.
When she pushed through the screen door, steaming cup of coffee in hand, John’s eyes lit up. The boys were busy trying to decide what kind of car Beckett should get. Joey was staring longingly at the barn. Sadie chased Tripod the three-legged cat under the fence into Leopold the donkey’s pasture.
“Thank you,” John whispered, accepting the mug.
She shook her head. “Uh-uh. Thank you.”
There just weren’t enough thank yous in this world. She had everything her heart ever could have wanted right here on this land.
She leaned in and kissed John long and hard until the boys all made vomiting noises.