Page 6 of Penny For Your Thoughts
“We met when you were in the hospital. I don’t understand why I have to do this.” I tugged the offending tie and its stupid crooked knot loose and started again. The bullshit rhyme about a fox and rabbit that Nana had taught me as a kid when I’d been desperate to learn the skill wasn’t working. Maybe I was chasing the rabbit the wrong way. Who the fuck invented this stupid rhyme anyway? Kids didn’t wear neckties.
Tallus appeared at the bathroom door and leaned against the frame as he watched me fumble through another attempt. He looked as gorgeous as always in trendy dark jeans and a breezy silk shirt that probably cost half a month’s rent. I didn’t fucking care. The man would put us back in debt with his spending habits, but at least he’d do it in style.
“Guns, we’ve been dating for over a year and a half. It’s time toofficiallymeet the parents. My mother is driving me up a wall, and I can’t keep making excuses. In her defense, when I was shot and lyingin a hospital, you didn’t acknowledge or exchange a single word with her. You sat in a chair, brooding and grinding your teeth to dust.”
“I wasstressed. You wereshot. You almostdied.”
“I had a minor bruise.”
“It wasn’t a minor—”
“The point is, she wants to meet the man I love. Properly.”
The motherfucking knot was crooked again. I cursed, growled, and ripped the tie over my head, throwing it into the bathtub. “Fucking piece of shit.”
“You’re freaking out.”
“I’m not freaking out.” I was totally freaking out.
“Give me the tie.” He held out his hand.
Popping my knuckles and exhaling as much toxic air from my lungs as I could, I found my center. Retrieving the tie from the bathtub, I bit out, “I can do it myself.”
I undid the knot, draped it around my neck, and started again. My hands trembled of their own volition. I needed a smoke. A strong drink. A new excuse to stay home.
“Why is this such a hot topic for you?” Tallus asked as I mumbled the stupid rhyme in my head.
“Because I’m not exactly the kind of guy you bring home to meet your parents. In fact. I’m the opposite. I’m the guy you lie to your parents about and hope they never find out you’re dating me. Christ, Tallus. What if she asks what my intentions are?”
My too-hot-for-his-own-good boyfriend tried and failed to smother a laugh. “It’s not the 1950s, sweetheart. She won’t.”
“What if she does?”
He rolled his eyes, throwing up his hands. “I don’t know, then you tell her the truth.”
“What does that mean? Am I supposed to say I don’t want to get married or have kids? That I attend therapy every week because my childhood irreparably damaged me, and I have anger issues and no social skills to speak of? Do I tell her I’m actively addicted to both alcohol and cigarettes and can’t quit because I don’t know how to handle stressful situations without a crutch? Which glowing quality should I start with?”
Echo softlywoofed from behind Tallus’s leg.
“I’m fine,” I told the dog, bringing my volume down a notch since I didn’t want to yell. I wasnotfine. I was an utter wreck.
My good intentions went out the window when I failed to tie the knot again and kicked the counter, toppling the toothbrush holder. “Christ. I can’t fucking do this while you’re staring at me.”
“Let me help, D.”
“No.”
Tallus shoved my protest aside and snagged the tail ends of the tie, tugging me forcefully around to face him. He pinned me with a no-nonsense look.
When I attempted to intervene, he swatted my hand and snagged my chin in a vice grip. “Stop it.”
“I’m not incapable.”
“I didn’t say you were.” He angled my face to his level, so we were eye-to-eye. “I wear neckties three days a week. Three. You wear them a grand total ofnever. Shut up and let me do this.”
He didn’t loosen his grip on my chin until I submitted with a clipped nod.
“We’re going to dinner at my parents’. Stop acting like I’m marching you to your execution. Chin up.”
