Part of me wants to lie and say nothing, but I know he would recognize the truth, and after everything this man has done for my family, he deserves to know the truth. “I was, uhh, thinking about my dad.” David nods for me to continue. “My real dad. Grant is not my dad; he’s Scarlett’s, but not mine. Honestly, though, ‘father or dad’ is not a term I would use. As you now know…” He sets his now-empty plate down on the table in front of us.
“Tell me about him.” He leans back on the couch and smiles.
Wow, umm, no one has ever wanted to know about him. I swallow my last bite, turning my body towards his.
“I don’t know much. I never met him, and he never met me. He died serving our country.” I rub my hands together. Deciding what to add. “I wish things were different. Maybe he could have saved Scarlett and me in a way I couldn’t. Maybe he could have saved our mother. In the end, perhaps no one truly saves anyone.” Rubbing my hands together, I look up, finding David tentatively staring at me.
“I wish he could have met you. He would be proud of the man you have become. There is no telling if he could have saved you and Scarlett or your mother, but the fact that he died trying to protect his nation tells me he would have fought to do so. Son, no one can be saved entirely without wanting to save themselves.You can fight with them, but if they aren't fighting too, you’re fighting for nothing. Trust me when I say, he is proud of you, and the battles you have been facing.” I swallow down my emotions, hoping to keep them at bay.
“I’d like to hope he is proud. Sometimes my thoughts spiral, making me feel unloving and hurtful. If my dad were here, maybe I never would have had Scarlett, and she is the only good thing, or was, in my life. It feels wrong to think about a world with Leo, my dad. Because a world with him is a world without Scarlett, and that breaks my heart just as much.” David’s eyes are soft, and his hands are folded in his lap, leaning forward. He places his hand on my shoulder, then locks eyes with me.
“Those thoughts do not make you who you are, Levi. Never have I seen you hurtful and unloving, nor do I believe you could be. You are the complete opposite of what those thoughts are telling you. They are just thoughts, and it is normal to think about the could-have-beens, but son, that is not what it is. What isn’t pretty? Life sometimes isn’t, but you’re giving it all you’ve got, staying strong, pushing through, protecting your family, and you're doing that with complete love, even when you’re tired. You are the most selfless man I know, son.” He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze of reassurance, removing his eyes from their lock.
“Thank you, David. For everything you have done and continue to do for my sister and me. I know my dad would be proud of the man you are helping me become. I am proud to have you as a father figure.” Anna calls for me from the kitchen, and David smiles. I stand up to head inside when David stops me.
“Levi, you are already a great man. I am sorry you lost your father, and the one you’ve got isn’t a good man. If you ever need anything, I am here. As a father, a friend, or an accomplice.”He smiles and nods towards the door. “Best not leave momma waiting, go on in, son.” He grabs his newspaper off the chair, getting lost behind the pages.
Anna is plating food on a cute tray. “Hey sweetie, I’m going to place this outside Spencer’s door. I just needed to know what Scarlett likes. Could you help me?” Placing my dishes in the sink, I turn and help her add everything, creating a heaping plate just as mine was.
“She is not picky at all, and she needs to eat as much as she can to heal up.” Anna grins while placing two cups of orange juice on the tray. “Anna, could I ask about something?” She sets everything down and gives me her undivided attention. “You’ve been like a mother to us, the kind of mother we only ever read about.” I chuckle, “No pressure, but I was wondering if you would meet Maddie. I really like her, and your input is important to me. I also don’t want to overstep and ask you for anything that might make you uncomfortable. You have already done so much for us.” Anna walks over, placing her hand on my cheek in the most motherly way.
“Levi, there is no overstepping, there is no pressure. I love you like my own son; you are part of this family. I pray you feel our love and our desire to be there for anything you need or want us to be. I would be overjoyed to meet this sweet girl. You just say when.” She releases her hand to grab the breakfast tray when David walks in.
“I need to drive over to Sheridan for some car parts. Want to come with?” He is looking directly at me. I nod my head in excitement. “Good deal, run up and get ready, we’ll leave in about twenty minutes.” Doing just that, I run upstairs.
Reaching the landing, I hear Spencer and Scarlett in the bathroom across the hall. The door is open. As I pass, I glance in. Scarlett is sitting on the toilet, and Spencer is attending to herfacial wounds. I stand and watch for a moment before Scarlett’s eyes find mine. “Hey!” She smiles cheerfully, and it warms my heart to watch him love her just how she deserves.
“Hey. I’m going with David to the car part store in the town over. Don’t go home till I get back.” Spencer turns and nods his head.
“I got her brother, have fun.” I tap the door, saying goodbye before heading tomy roomto get ready.
Arriving at the shop, we head in to find all the car parts we need to complete an old car David gave me as a project. It feels good to have an escape with a purpose. Rebuilding his dad's old Chevy has been rewarding; it feels good to step back and look at how far I have come on the truck, watching it come back to life. Crazy enough, I can relate to the beaten-down Chevy. I, too, was beaten down until now.
The Collins don’t know it, but they are our lifeline. How can you tell someone they are saving you without making them feel the weight of those words?
On the way home, David pulls into the food market in the mall. “Want to grab a quick lunch?” I smile widely because I know Maddie is working, and the thought of surprising her at work makes my heart race.
Walking in, I spot her instantly. She is sitting behind the counter, wearing her cute apron with her hair tied back. “Hey, good looking.” I wink at David, and I walk up. David turns to me and chuckles. “Maddie, this is David Collins, Spencer’s dad. David, this ismyMaddie.” David extends his hand.
“Pleasure to meet you, Maddie. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She blushes and turns towards me, giving me a shy smile. We order food, and Maddie stays very professional, meanwhile I undress her with my eyes, the entire time David and I eat, while praying she can see exactly what I am doing. The way her cheeks flush tells me she has an idea. Before we head out, we stop by to say goodbye. I give her a big kiss on the cheek, and David steps up, “Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight, Maddie? We're having spaghetti and meatballs; we would love to have you join.” I can feel my ass clenching. Excuse me, do what now? Maddie looks at me, and all I can do is smile, because what is happening?I just asked Anna four hours ago. I haven't even showered.
She agrees, giving David a kind smile, before we walk back to the truck, leaving me completely baffled.
Getting into the truck, David looks at me while he laughs, “Get in, son, we have to go get ready for family dinner.”
Chapter 43
Family Dinner
Spencer
Today was amazing, and we did nothing. All day, Scarlett and I stay in, watching Pixar movies, because my girl and her love for animated movies is unmatched. We lay in my bed, wrapped in each other's arms, and movie after movie played. We indulge in Totino’s pizzas and Sour Patch Kids. My mom came up when Dad and Levi got home, telling Scarlett and me that we were having a family dinner with Maddie in one hour, and to be down for spaghetti.
“We have one hour, should we go shower?” I whisper into Scarlett's ear, knowing she will most definitely say yes. Pulling her into my bathroom, I shut the door quietly before locking it behind me. The last thing I need is Levi looking for us while I’m balls deep in his sister, because that would be awkward.
Scarlett is under the water, rolling her neck around in circles, letting the water cascade down her beautiful frame. Her hands trace up and down her arms as she washes the bubbling washcloth up and down, and can't help but follow the bubbles as they slide down her body, from her arms to her hips, around her perched ass. With no resistance left in me, I reach for her, pulling her into me. “You drive me crazy, Scar.” Running my hands up and down her back, washing the last of the soap away. “I love you.” My lips graze her as my whispers get sucked into her breath. “You’re mine, baby, and I am never.” I kiss her, “Letting,” I kiss her again, “You go.” With that, her tongue fights for mine, sliding between my lips. She steals my mouth for her pleasure, my breath for her breathing.
In all her stealing, I give. I give her my love, my heart, and my soul for everything she is. I have loved nothing more. My hands squeeze her into me, because no gap is acceptable; the closer I can get, the better. I pull her so close, we’re almost one, until she pulls away, moaning my name.
