“Hello, Uncle Waylon,” she says.
“You having a good time?”
“Yeah,” she says.
There’s a strained quality to her voice, and I know something is bothering her.
“Okay, Lou Lou, tell me what’s going on.”
She sighs and stops petting Tater long enough that he looks up at her like “Hey, lady, what gives?” and then she starts again.
“I’m really happy that Darcy is going to be my mom now,” she says.
“And I know Darcy is very happy to be part of your family, too.”
“But sometimes I feel guilty. Because I already have a mom, even if I didn’t know her.”
“Aww, Lou Lou,” I say, sighing. “Darcy isn’t replacing your mom. It’s not one or the other. It’s both. You’re so, so lucky because you have two moms. And anytime anyone asks, you can tell them exactly that.”
“I can? Are you sure?”
“Of course! You know what? Practice with me now. Go ahead. Say it.”
Lou stands up, which makes her just slightly taller than me sitting. She puffs her little chest out, squares her shoulders, and looks right at me.
“My name is Louise Mae Jessup and I have two moms!”
By the time she finishes her sentence, she’s smiling again and so I clap for her. “Now, why don’t you take Tater inside and get him a treat from the jar.” Then I add more quietly, “And there are fudge pops in the freezer.”
Lou giggles the signature way she does and runs off toward the house. I make a mental note to confide in Ridge what she said so he can ease her worry about it as well. He’ll never tell her I told him; that’s not how we do things. He just uses the information to be more intentional with her. He’ll work it in his own way.
A little while passes around the fire. We talk and laugh, and just as things begin to grow quiet, everyone starts the process of leaving. We clean up around the pit, grab all the food from the table, and get it inside. I tell them to leave it all on thecounter for me, and there are many thanks for the excellent food again.
Ridge pulls me aside to offer separate gratitude for my help and asks me to pass the same message along to Lyric, who’s busy hugging her friend.
Everyone files out, car lights come on, and then it’s just me and Lyric standing there, silhouettes in the doorway.
“I’m glad they all came over, of course, but I’m also glad they’re gone. Because I’ve been waiting to fuck you all night,” Lyric says, her posture never changing.
“If I’d known that, I would have made them leave five minutes after that ring was on her finger.”
“I need about ten girl minutes, and then I’m coming to your room,” she says, all business.
I shut the front door as Lyric is already starting down the hall, so I shout to her.
“That’s fine, darlin’. But do me a favor?”
She stops and looks over her shoulder toward me.
“Bring that tentacle with you.”
CHAPTER 13
LYRIC
I don’t meanto bethat girl, but the phrase “bring that tentacle with you” is practically music to my ears. Because there are two types of guys in this world. There are the kind who are mad you own it, intimidated by it, don’t want you using it, let alone while in his company, blah blah blah… And then there’s the other type of guy. He doesn’t have magical powers, and he doesn’t wear a cape, but he is a hero to women everywhere. Because he puts your pleasure first.
Waylon is a giver. And that just makes him so much more delicious. I knew it the night we met. He’s the kind of man you look at and go, “Damn this might hurt, but I’m going to do it anyway.” Because you just can’t help yourself.
