“What’re you up to?”she asked, pinching my side.
I laughed, trying to pull back but still refusing to let her go.“What makes you think I’m up to?—”
“Congratulations.”The deep, raspy voice had us both turning.
And though I had known this was going to happen, I felt the emotion slam through me.I couldn’t help it.My eyes teared up and my lungs stopped working momentarily.
“Oh, my God,” Reagan choked out.“Oh, my God!”
I met my father’s eyes, trying to remain steady on my feet as the man I loved more than life stood there in front of us.It was the first time Cooter had ventured out of the house since…
“You think I’d miss this, honey?”Cooter asked, smiling at Reagan.“Not a chance.”
Reagan threw her arms around him, and my old man held on to her for a minute, probably giving her a little privacy to cry.Hell, I was still hovering on the edge of tears myself.
“Thanks, Dad,” I mouthed.
Cooter nodded, then released Reagan when she pulled back.He leaned down and looked into her eyes.“You good, honey?”
Reagan laughed.It was a watery sound, but it was a laugh nonetheless.“I’m good.I’m so glad you’re here.”
She squeezed his hand, then stepped back.
I wrapped one arm around her shoulders and tugged her into my side.“Go on in,” I told my father.“Have a beer.Calvin’s in there somewhere.”
Cooter nodded and our gazes held for a second longer.I was so proud of my father.So fucking proud.
Being in love with Reagan, I knew the kind of love my father had felt for my mother.I didn’t want to ever imagine the pain he had gone through, but I understood exactly what had driven the man to lock himself up in his house all this time.That sort of loss… It was unbearable.
Reagan turned her face into my chest when Cooter headed inside.I hugged her tightly.
Someone cleared their throat and Reagan pulled back.
I found myself looking down at Billy Watson.Two steps away, Tammy stood by his side.Neither was smiling, which I didn’t find surprising.Considering Tammy was four months pregnant and the pair had endured what might’ve been called a shotgun wedding at the hands of her father, I didn’t imagine they had much to smile about.I had heard that Billy had attempted to pay Tammy off to get her to claim the baby wasn’t his, which had sent her into a fit of rage.Couldn’t blame her for that.
Needless to say, Tammy’s father hadn’t been happy about any of it, but they had come to the decision to keep the baby and to get married.The best part was, Billy and Tammy were living with Tammy’s parents in Austin.Looked as though date night had brought them back to town.
“Congrats,” Billy said, his tone defeated.
“Thanks,” Reagan quipped, leaning in closer to me.
“I promise,” Tammy said, looking directly at Reagan, “he won’t be causin’ any trouble tonight.”
No, I didn’t figure he would.
The pair moved into the building and I turned to Reagan.“You ready to get this party underway?”
She nodded, then shot me a sexy smirk.“I’m lookin’ forward to midnight.”
“Midnight?”That was closing time.I cocked my head, trying to decipher her meaning.
“Keep thinkin’ on that one,” she said sweetly.“And get back to me when you figure it out.”
With that, the sexiest woman on the planet spun around and headed into the bar.
Damn.I hated to see her leave, but I fuckinglovedto watch her go.
Midnight
