Page 19 of Hidden Scars

“I don’t know why y’all take pleasure in my unhappiness.” I cross my arms over my chest and Daddy laughs, throwing an arm over my shoulders.

“Come on now, darlin’. It ain’t like that.”

“Yes, it is absolutely like that. Every time I like a guy, you have to send in the goon squad and scare him off!”

“Did she just call us the goon squad?” Trey asks as soon as we step into the kitchen.

“Yep, she sure did,” Tucker answers him.

“I think I like it.” They look at each other for a moment before laughing and I roll my eyes. Ugh. I’ll never understand how two grown men turn into mischievous ten year olds as soon as they are in each other’s presence. Ignoring them, I turn and make my way into the kitchen, where Mama is standing over the stove, cooking bacon, her long brown hair falling down her back. She glazes up, her green eyes oozing warmth.

“Hey, sweetheart.” She sets the fork in her hand down to wrap me up in a hug, the scent of vanilla and sugar greeting me.

“Hey, Mama.”

“Are they ganging up on you again?” As the only two girls in a family of boys, we’ve always had a special connection and I have no idea what I would do without her. At her core, she’s incredibly sweet and kind but she’s also where I got all my attitude from and she has no problem putting someone in their place.

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Poor girl.” She pats my cheek and winks at me as she scoops the last pieces of bacon out of the pan and lays them on the plate. “All right, y’all. Food’s ready.”

The boys all race over to the table, practically falling into their chairs, and I shake my head and laugh at them before grabbing a plate of pastries and a big jug of orange juice and carry them over to the table. Before I can even set the plate down, Trey and Tucker are grabbing for the pastries.

“Boys! Manners!” Mama snaps, and both boys sit straight up in their chairs and pull their hands back. I grin evilly at them, childishly pleased that they got in trouble. Mama motions for me to sit and I sink into my chair as she sits at one end of the table with Daddy at the other end.

“Dig in,” Mama calls out and Tucker and Trey start piling food on their plates as Mama turns to me. “Now, Darlin’. Tell us about this guy that you met.”

Rolling my eyes, I take a bite of bacon and begin telling everyone about Ryan.

* * * *

“Oh, God,” I whisper, running my hands down my shimmery black tank top as I inspect myself in the mirror. My brown hair is in waves down my back and my smoky green eyes twinkle with excitement. I decided to keep my makeup basic tonight with eyeliner, mascara, and just a hint of blush. I’m wearing my favorite white skinny jeans, the sparkly blank tank and black peep toe pumps. It’s simple but a little dressy since I have no idea where Ryan is taking me tonight. Swiping on a layer of lip gloss, I give myself another once over and nod.

All right. I’m ready.

I didn’t think I would be this nervous for our date tonight but after a whole day of anticipation and seeing Ryan when he stopped by the bar last night, butterflies are violently flapping around in my belly. Thinking back to last night, my cheeks heat and I smile at myself in the mirror. Ryan sat in the back of the bar for a while, catching my eye here and there. Each time he would flash me a grin, I would have trouble focusing. Once it slowed down a little bit, he came up to the bar and talked to me as I worked and before he left, he kissed me right there in front of everyone. Most of the bar cheered but Moe and Trey had stern looks on their faces and I knew I was going to have to work to convince them to give Ryan a chance. By the end of the night, Trey said he’d try to get to know him but I’m still not convinced that they are on board and no doubt, they will get Tucker and Daddy to join them. It will be hard to win them over but I don’t care because I really like Ryan and if they just give him a fair chance, they will, too.

A knock interrupts my thoughts and I suck in a breath as I take one last look in the mirror before confidently walking over to the door. Grabbing my bag off the table, I take another deep breath before swinging the door open. Ryan’s face lights up when he sees me, his lips tipping up in a grin, but it’s short lived as his gaze drops down my body slowly. He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing, as his lips go slack and when he meets my eyes again, he looks like he wants to devour me.

“You look incredible,” he rasps, his voice husky with desire. I take a moment to do my own perusal, taking in the handsome man in front of me. He’s traded in his uniform for dark jeans that hug his waist and hips in just the right way and a white button up shirt that accentuates the muscles I know are lurking beneath. His dark blazer is perfectly tailored. When our eyes meet again, he grins at me and I can feel it all the way down to my toes.

“Hey, gorgeous.”

I return his smile. “Hey, yourself.”

He steps forward, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me flush against him as he kicks the door closed behind him. Spinning us, he pins my back up against the door and I suck in a breath, peeking up at him as my heart pounds.

“So, I realized something kind of troubling.”

I cock my head to the side as I look at him. “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

“I was kind of an ass last night,” he prompts and I scowl.

“How so?”

He sighs. “When I kissed you in front of everyone. It wasn’t planned and certainly not the first kiss you deserved. Plus, I’m sure your brother didn’t appreciate it.”

“Well, you may be right about my brother but I liked it.”