A smile lights up her face. “Thanks.”
“So, are you good with your family now?”
She nods. “After my father had me arrested, we had a coming to Jesus moment. I learned a lot about the past. Things I was blind to. Dorrine wasn’t the evil witch I made her out to be. Quite the opposite. It was my mother who was evil, and I was stupid enough to fall a little too close to the tree. But…I’m trying to be better, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I feel like I have a real family. Like I belong.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” I look down, wondering how to tell her what’s in my heart, and when nothing poetic comes to me, I blurt, “I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want one.”
“Tox, I want that more than anything. But…I feel like I don’t deserve you.”
“That’s real funny, considering I feel the exact same way. You literally wiped my mother’s medical bills clean and took no credit.”
“You know about that?”
“Found out today, actually.”
“You do realize there’s a legion of women who would give their right tit for just one night with you, don’t you?”
“And not a single one holds a candle to you, so could we please try this again?”
“I…I’d like that.”
My first instinct is to swoop her into my arms, but with little droid, I decide a kiss would better suit the situation.
When I finally pull away, I ask, “So, what is this about a camper?”
“My dad tried to buy me a house, but I convinced them I wanted an RV instead, and now he thinks it’s his.”
“Perhaps that’s for the best. The RV was just a silly idea I had.”
“Eh, that’s bullshit. It’s plush as hell, and a heck of a lot more comfortable than the bed I have at my father’s place.”
I cock a brow. “Seriously?”
“It’s called Tempur-Pedic. I’ll show you!”
I follow her outside, where I find Carl and Wayne sharing a beer.
“Joe, this is my dad, Wayne. Dad,” she gestures to me, “this is?—”
“The guy who knocked you up,” he finishes.
“Seriously, Dad?”
As I try to think up a way to apologize for slighting his daughter’s honor, he takes a step forward and wraps me in a hug. “Welcome to the family.”
Confused, I look over at Samantha, who’s now standing with an older woman.
“Okay, Dad, you can stop embarrassing me.”
Wayne pulls away and gestures to the woman with Samantha. “This is my wife, Dorrine. Also known as the evilest stepmother to ever step.”
Samantha furrows her brow. “Gee, you really think that’s funny, don’t you?”
“He’s always been terrible at dad jokes,” Dorrine says.
Wayne grabs me a beer, and we talk for hours in the parking lot of the restaurant. Carl discusses the direction he’d like to take the Hunks and how he intends to formally hire Samantha.
“I definitely have some thoughts on how I could help, and I’d be happy to give you the friends and family discount,” Samantha says.
