Page 11 of Christy

“She’s been mumbling about clueless men and men who need to get their heads out of their asses all morning.” I’m thankful that Christy doesn’t get worked up like my sisters.

Being the nosy fucker he is, Juan walks up and asks the question we all wanna know the answer to. “What the fuck did you do to set my sister off?” Mick rubs his forehead and shrugs his shoulders. “That’s just it. For once, I don’t think I did anything! She was fine this morning. Hell, I was watching Mikayla almost the whole time. All I know is she was fine, and then Christy came over. They went and talked for like half an hour, and when she left, my wife was all sorts of annoyed with men. Not me specifically, but our gender in general.”

Huh. Could Christy be mad about something? I look over to the clubhouse and watch as Kierstie comes out with a little one on her hip and two walking behind her. Ry is walking behind her with a couple more kids, including Mikayla in his arms. Neither of them says anything about pissed-off women inside, soI think Mick might be exaggerating. I mean, Christy would say something to me if she were angry, right?

I get distracted watching all the kids playing around and using Juan and Ry as jungle gym climbing structures. I don’t notice Nicky and Logan walking up next to me till Nicky speaks up. “Oh my, it’s moments like this that I have to remind myself how much I love my man. Who is that tall, hulking, gorgeous drink of water walking out with Christy?” I instantly turn my head around and look at my girl talking to a man who’s got to be taller than Jon. I don’t see his face to see who he is because all I can see is my woman. My woman is dressed in a sundress that shows off all her assets. It’s not revealing or too much, but it makes her look like a goddess. One who’s got some other fucker’s full attention.

My elbow is bumped. I look over, and both Nicky and Logan have big grins on their faces. “What?” They both roll their eyes at me, but Logan speaks up. “I was saying that Asher told me that’s Zane, the new prospect. He said you guys knew him from high school and that he’s back in town. Asher said something about him only being able to prospect part-time because he’s still playing. I don’t know what sport or anything because I stopped listening at that point.”

Mick has walked over to our group and joins in the conversation. “Max knows him.” I don’t recognize him, but I still haven’t seenthe fucker’s face since he’s too busy talking to Christy. “I do?” Mick nods at me. “He’s the one who lived next door to us.”

Wait, I remember that kid. “Wait, the short, skinny kid who followed you around?” Mick smiles and nods.

“Yeah, same guy. He’s back in town, playing for the Mt. Adams Axemen. He was an alternate for the US Rugby team at the last Olympics. Fucker’s strong as an ox.” Nicky snorts and makes a comment only he could get away with. “He sure doesn’t look like an ox. He also looks very interested in Christy.” I can’t take my eyes off them. I watch as something he says makes Christy laugh, and she gives him her beautiful smile. The one that’s mine. The one that no other fucker should be given.

Mick bumps his shoulder with mine and says low enough so no one else can hear, “I didn’t hear what they talked about in the back room this morning, but I did hear your name once. I’m not gonna ask why or the reasons that could be. I’m just going to ask that if it involves you, you fucking fix it and soon. I, for once, didn’t do anything wrong, but I can feel right now that my wife is not a happy camper with our sex. If you’re to blame, I might just have to do to you what you did to Shane when he and Kierstie announced their relationship.” I look at Mick and can tell by the look on his face that he’s serious. I don’t admit anything, but I give a slight nod. I look over and see the fucker Zane is followingChristy back into the clubhouse, and I start moving that way without a thought or a plan for what I’m doing.

All I know is Christy is mine, and I don’t care if I’ve got to go toe-to-toe with some fucking giant who’s bigger than any of my brothers. She and I have something special, and I won’t let that slip through my fingers. I get to the door, open it, and walk into what looks like controlled chaos. There are tables with bowls and trays with food on a couple of tables, looking like they’re waiting to be taken outside. I hear voices in the kitchen, and a moment later, Ma comes out with Jason, Zane, and Luke following her. “All these need to be taken outside, and then I need a couple of you to come back in and get the baked beans and grilled onions from the kitchen. Oh, and someone else needs to check if the ice chests need to be restocked.” Jason speaks up. “How about I check the ice chests and you two newest prospects take everything out? I’ll help if there’s more to do afterward.” The three all go off to do what Ma asked. She looks up, sees me, and gives me a smile. “Well, there’s my boy. I was hoping to see you today.” I walk over and give Ma a hug and kiss her cheek. “I told ya I was going to make all of these now, and I haven’t missed one since I said that.”

Ma gives me a smile. “I’m gonna go make sure those boys set things up like I want. You go in the kitchen and see if morehelp is needed?” I nod and walk toward the kitchen as Ma goes outside to direct everything.

I walk into the kitchen and see Christy stirring something in the slow cooker. I start to walk toward her when a voice comes from the table. “You come to help the prospects out, brother?” I glance at the table and see both Kierstie and Madison sitting at the table. How I missed that they were in here is beyond me. “Uh, sure. Ma asked me to see if you needed more help.”

Madison looks between Christy and me. She then gives me a look that makes me wonder whether she knows about us. Madison is the one who speaks up. “Yeah, why don’t you carry the beans Christy is stirring now? We don’t want to overlook them and have someone else have to come get them.” Kierstie interjects, “I don’t know what Mads means, but yeah, grab the beans, and we’ll be right behind you.”

I’m not sure what the fuck I walked into, but I go over to the counter where Christy’s standing, having just put the lid back on the slow cooker, I assume that holds the beans. Christy looks up and gives me a smile that isn’t the one she usually gives me. “Here,friend. This is what needs to go out. Think you can handle it?”

Ever feel like your brain has short-circuited? Or maybe that you’re in the middle of a test you didn’t know you were taking? I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve never seen Christy lookingso beautiful and sexy or because she and Madison are acting strange. I feel like I should know why, like not because they tell me, but because I know why. But here I stand, confused and wishing for some clarity. I have a feeling that if I ask for it right now, that’s the last fucking thing I would get. I pick up the beans and quickly make my way outside, trying to figure out what the fuck is going on.

***********

The last couple of hours have not cleared things up whatsoever, except that Christy’s called me “friend” at least five more times. Add to that, fucking Zane sat next to her on one side and Madison on the other. She swept in all quick and took the seat I was going to sit in, forcing me to sit across from them. Jeremiah and Mayson sat next to me. After we all finished eating, Zane went inside to help Ma. Christy was busy helping put the food away with Madison when Mayson leaned in and spoke just loud enough for me and Jeremiah to hear.

“Is there something goin’ on between you and Christy? ‘Cause you’ve been watching her like a hawk and staring daggers at the new prospect since we sat down to eat.” Jeremiah nods inagreement. I look at both of them, two of the closest friends I’ve got. I rub my face in frustration before I answer them. “We’ve been kinda seeing each other for a few months now.” Jeremiah bumps my shoulder. “What the fuck, dude?” Mayson shakes his head. “Why the fuck didn’t we know about this?”

I can't help but lean back in my chair and sigh. “‘Cause nobody knows about it. It started out that way because I wanted time for us to see if we had something real without every fucking person in this family sticking their nose in our business. Now… fuck, now I don’t know why I haven’t said anything to anyone yet.”

Mayson looks at me with a serious expression. “Are you serious about her? ‘Cause if you aren’t, it’s not right to let her think you are. She’s had enough—” I stop him because I want both him and Jeremiah to understand just how strongly I feel about Christy.

“I’mrealfucking serious about her. Serious enough that I want to go take down that giant of a prospect.” Jeremiah looks at me like I’m nuts. “I think you might need a psych eval. Not for what you’re feeling toward Christy, but having even a second's thought that you could take Zane on. That dude is a fucking massive giant. I gotta ask, does she feel the same or know how you feel at all?” I start to say something, but Mayson chimes in first. “Bullfrog makes a couple of good points. For sure about Zane, but, brother, the way Christy’s acting today, I don’t think she knows how you’re feeling. Have you told her, you know,with words? Maybe she doesn’t believe you since till about five minutes ago, no one had a fucking clue that you were seeing each other.” Fuck. He’s right. “I haven’t said it in so many words, but she’s gotta know how much she means to me.”

The voice behind me surprises me and has me jumping in my seat. “I thought you, littlest brother, was the smartest of us all, but you’re proving that you’re just as fucking dumb as all of us.” Jon sits down in the seat across from us, the one Christy had been sitting in. He shakes his head as he looks at me. “I really thought you were a genius, but it would appear that when it comes to women and relationships, you're as dumb as we were. Hell, maybe even more.” I go to say something, but Jon holds up his hand, pissing me off even more. “I don’t know the details, and I’m not asking. I just know that when we were trying to get things going with Jane, Pa said something that applies here. I’m pretty sure he wanted to smack us upside our heads, but he reminded us that our women aren’t mind readers and they don’t necessarily know what we’re thinking. He told us women have a million and one things going through their minds at any given moment, and thinking that some man wants them, like wants something serious with them, isn’t even close to being in the first million.” I roll my eyes and admit something to the three of them.

“I know she knows I wanted to see if we have something serious between us because I brought it up the first time we kissed. Wouldn’t she—” Jon shakes his head. “Nope. I don’t even know the rest of that sentence, but I can still confidently say no.” Jon leans forward and looks serious when he continues speaking. “Like I said, I ain’t Juan and am not asking for details, but I can’t imagine that if you were really serious about someone, you’d keep that a secret for a long time. A good woman deserves to be loved, so all the world knows. If you’re not gonna do that, you’ve got to be prepared for another man to be willing to. Christy’s a good person and deserves someone who knows that.”

Fuck that. I stand up and look at Jon. “She’s mine and no man, no matter who he is, is going to get in the middle of that.” Enough is enough. I take off toward the clubhouse with one thing on my mind, and that’s finding my woman. I pass Ma and the prospects, all coming out with trays of dessert, but I don’t stop, not even for Ma. I walk inside and find Christy alone in the main room, putting up the leftovers.

I’m not sure how to start this, but Christy speaks up. “What is it, Max? I promised Ma I would put up the leftovers and bring out the second pot of coffee as soon as it’s ready. You know, just helping myfriends.” I point at her. “That. Why do you keep calling me your fucking friend?” She turns and looks at me. “Because that’s what you are, right? I mean, in public, whereeveryone can see. Heaven help us after more than four months, anyone suspect that we could be more.” She sighs and sets down the spoon she has, and puts both hands on her hips before she continues. “I mean, one could argue that we aren’t really more than friends because every time I think we’re possibly going to get to that next step, you get a call or a text of somebody needing you for something.”

I swear my mouth moves before my brain can tell it to shut up. “It’s called being part of a family, a part of this club!” I think if I looked hard enough, I could see flames in Christy’s eyes. “I know what Juan needed you for last night. And you can’t tell me that if we weren’t hiding whatever it is between us, you could’ve told him not right then, but that you could in the morning, and Juan would’ve been fine with it. I think the problem is you! I don’t think you know what you want. Or maybe you do, and I’m just not it. I—” I stop her rant because she needs to know how I feel.

“You are most definitely who I want. I want everything with you. I want a future.” Christy shakes her head, and her eyes get glassy, making me want to kick my own ass. She looks at me, letting a tear fall. “You say the words I want to hear, but how the hell can we have a future if you’re not willing to be open about our relationship?” I start to speak, but she holds up her hand and continues. “I know I’m not the smartest or the most worldly person. I’m also not the most experienced when it comesto almost anything in life, but I do know a few things. I want to be loved loudly. I don’t want to be a secret. I want someone who’s proud to be with me and wants the world to know they’re in love with me. I know I’m not the world’s best catch, but I know I deserve that much.”

I move closer to her, wanting to hold her, but she holds up her hand again and shakes her head. “I want you. I want to be with you. I’m not ashamed to be with you. I wanted us to have time to just be us without everyone butting into our business. I can see I let it go on too long and—” Christy makes a face that I’m pretty sure she learned from Kiertsie. “You think? Four months. Four months of hiding. Four months of you running off to help your family, leaving me alone to wonder if I’ll ever come first.”

Now, I’ve seen my brothers and my brother-in-laws all have moments when their intelligence leaves them. I’m not sure why I thought I would be immune from that, but by what comes out of my mouth next, I know I definitely have lost all intelligence, along with any self-preservation that was inside of me. “Now, why don’t you just calm down, and we can talk about this, and how much you mean to me.”

“Calm down? Calm down? You want me to calm down? I haven’t raised my voice once during thisconversation. Emotional? Sure, I’ll admit that. Sorry, my emotions come into play when the guy I’m in love with can’t even admit that I’m his girlfriend.” Shewalks up to me and pokes me in the chest with her finger. “I’m gonna head home so I cancalm downlike you said. I’ll tell Ma you volunteered to pack this stuff up. I’m gonna go home, take a bath, and read a book. Don’t call or text me tonight. You need to figure out what you want, and if it is, in fact, us together, you need to figure out how to tell people and how you’re going to explain thatyouwere the one who wanted to keep things a secret for so long. If you decide this isn’t what you want, send me a text tomorrow. I’m standing up for what I deserve for once in my life.”