Inflame (Explosive) (21 page)

L
ATER THAT
evening, we’re all sitting around the large, solid oak wood table in Mom and Steve’s dining room. I’m not surprised that Kale fits right in with everyone. He’d honestly fit in anywhere, and he’s spent the past fifteen minutes playfully arguing with Steve and Jared, my stepbrother from Steve’s previous marriage, over Chevy versus Ford cars. Mom, Marisa, and I ignore them as I try to get Mom to see why the movies wouldn’t be such a big deal, and Marisa squeals when she finally relents with the condition that she’ll both drop her off and pick her up.

There’s a lull in the conversation and Mom seems to decide that it’s the perfect time to pounce. I’ve been waiting for it all night—dreading it, really.

“So, Kale, how did you and Lucy meet?” she asks, not so coyly directing the questions at him.

I hold my breath, waiting to see how he’s going to respond.

M
ARCY’S LOOKING
at me innocently as she waits for me to answer her. I can feel Lucy staring at me, and I can sense her apprehension. With my eyes locked on her mom, I grab her hand under the table and give her a reassuring squeeze. I’m not sure why she’s so nervous. The story of how we met is actually a pretty sweet one. Sure, what happened after might be a little scandalous for her mom, but she didn’t ask about that part.

“It’s kind of a long story,” I start, and then hear Lucy cough as she tries to mask a choking sound. Again, I squeeze her hand before continuing. “About a year and a half ago, one of my best buddies was deployed. He’s a single dad, and his daughter was staying with her grandma while he was gone. I checked in on her a couple times a week. I’m her godfather, you see, so I tried to play the male figure in her life whenever Xavier’s gone. She was having a Bring Your Dad to School Day and asked if I’d come. She might not be mine, but that little girl has me wound tightly around her fingers and I couldn’t say no.”

I pause as Marcy interrupts the story. “That is so sweet for you to be there for her, Kale.”

Nodding in appreciation, I continue the story. “I thought I was running late, but when I got to the school, her classroom was empty, so I wasn’t sure it was the right room. When I walked in, the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen was sitting at the desk, looking so peaceful. She almost knocked me on my ass. Then I interrupted her and, well, actually knocked her on her ass.”

Steve chuckles, and when I look at Lucy, I can see her blushing. Marcy’s looking back and forth between us, and I know she wants more of the story. “Long story short, Ms. Lucy Dawson turned out to be exactly who was I was looking for. And the rest is history. We became best friends and eventually it led to more.”

“So you two have known each other for quite a while then?” Steve asks.

“Yep. It took me a while to wear her down, but somehow I was finally able to get her to admit that she liked me. She’s kind of stubborn,” I tell him, and he laughs knowingly.

“Trust me. She gets that from her mom,” he replies to Marcy’s protest.

The whole time, Lucy’s sitting beside me quietly, and I wish I could read her mind. I know how nervous she is to tell her mom about the baby. I only hope that I’m doing a good job to show that I care about her without going over the top. She thinks her mom’s going to flip when she finds out about the baby, but I’m not so sure. She’s fine with letting us share a room, even if we were given a strict ‘sleeping only’ warning. Then again, Lucy knows her mom better than I do.

Jared, Lucy’s stepbrother, breaks up the relationship talk by asking about my career, and Lucy lets out a sigh of relief. The conversation turns to that, all of them asking questions and wanting to know what Afghanistan was like. I humor them and tell them stories much like I did in Lucy’s classroom. I don’t miss the way Marcy’s eyes widen at some of my tales, so I dial it back in order not to freak her out.

“Kale, where is your family from?” Lucy’s mom asks once all the war questions end.

“They’re in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We’re actually going to be leaving here tomorrow and heading there,” Lucy says before I can respond. “Kale missed last Thanksgiving with his family, and since we always do ours on Wednesday, I told him it was okay if we went there.”

“You’re only going to be here for a day?” Marcy asks her, looking astonished.

“Mom, I know it’s not what you expected. We just wanted to meet each other’s families, and well, I don’t want him to miss another holiday with his,” she says, and I watch as Marcy’s face softens. She might not like the idea, but I know she’s not going to argue with her daughter. “Plus, I’ll be back for a week at Christmas. It’s not that far away,”

What? I know she gets a two-week break at Christmas time, and well, I was kind of hoping I could spend that time talking her into moving in with me and setting up a nursery in my house. I know it seems fast, but we already spend nearly every day together, and it just makes sense. And in June, when Lucy gives birth to our child, I want them both under my roof. I didn’t even think about her coming back to Florida for the holiday, even though it should have crossed my mind. I don’t want to bring it up in front of her family, so I decide to ignore it for now.

“I understand that, honey. It’s just that we’ve missed you and I was hoping to get to know Kale a little better. I guess I’ll have to be the annoying mother and cram it all in tonight.”

Leaning forward, I interject. “I don’t mind, Marcy. Always been an open book. Fire away.”

“Well, let’s start simple. Tell me about your family.”

Easy enough. I quickly tell her about my mom and my sisters but try not to go into too much detail to where I bore the entire table. Marcy frowns when I tell her Dad left us when my sisters were babies, but I brush it off.

“My uncle was always around, and he was more of a father figure than my old man ever was. Trust me. It was better for all of us when he left. It’s long past and water under the bridge,” I say, meaning it.

Marcy gives me a weird look but quickly covers it with a sympathetic smile. “Well, that’s a nice way to look at it, Kale. It sounds like you had a good childhood regardless.”

As I nod, Steve interrupts the conversation. “All right, woman. Let the boy eat. He’s been answering questions left and right all night and his plate’s still practically full.”

Lucy gives him an appreciative smile while Marcy glares at him. “I’m sorry, Kale. I’m not trying to be rude. I’m just trying to get to know my daughter’s boyfriend. I might’ve known more if she’d ever decided to tell me about you on any one of our numerous phone calls.”

“Mom…” Lucy begins, but Marcy stops her.

“Okay, okay, I get the hint. I’ll back off. Just one more question and I’m done,” she says, and Lucy sighs but nods. “This is going to sound cliché, but I can’t help it. I have to ask. Kale, what are your intentions with my daughter?” she asks, and I can’t tell if she’s serious or not.

I rack my brain trying to come up with the perfect answer to appease her.
I intend to marry her and start a family with her?
No, because that’ll scare the shit out of Lucy.
Well, at first I just wanted to fuck her, but now I’m falling for her, so we’ll see?
Pretty sure I’d get a steak knife thrown at me. For the first time, I’m tongue tied, and before I can untie it, Lucy decides to forgo any prepping for the conversation.

“I’m pregnant,” she deadpans.

The table falls silent except for the sound of Marcy choking on the bite of mashed potatoes she just took. Steve quickly pushes her wine towards her, and I watch as she takes a long sip. Marisa and Jared are both staring at Lucy, wide-eyed.

Lucy looks over at me and winces. “Sorry, babe. It just kind of came out. Ripping the Band-Aid off and all that?”

Cupping her chin, I lean in and give her lips a soft kiss. “It’s fine, baby. If that was the easiest way, then I’m okay with it. You good?”

She shrugs her shoulders and looks over at her mom, who’s red in the face and staring at us, shooting daggers in my direction. “We’ll see.”

Marcy wipes her mouth and then throws her napkin on her plate. “Lucy Elizabeth Dawson, in the kitchen. Now.”

Lucy starts to protest, but Marcy’s already out of the room. “I’ll be right back. Try and enjoy the rest of your dinner, okay?”

I watch as she follows her mom into the kitchen then look back at the table. Three pairs of curious eyes are staring at me, and I meet each one.

“I guess congratulations are in order,” Steve says, breaking the silence, and relief that he’s not threatening to kick my ass for defiling his stepdaughter washes over me. “Although, I’m far too young to be a grandpa.”

I appreciate that he’s trying to lighten the mood, and I start to relax until I hear the raised voices coming from the kitchen. Scooting my chair back, I get up from the table.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, son. Marcy’s got a temper,” Steve warns.

“That’s my woman in there, pregnant with my child. I’ll be damned if I sit back and let anyone upset her when she’s in this condition. Not even her own mom.”

He eyes me up and down then nods approvingly. “This should be fun.”

M
OM’S PACING
the kitchen when I enter the room, and I brace myself for her lecture. She pauses when she sees me, and the look of disappointment makes my stomach roll, but only for a moment. I remind myself that nothing about this life growing inside me is disappointing, and when she calms down, I know she’ll be happy for me. Now when that will be, I have no freaking idea.

“I cannot believe you’re pregnant! Lucy, are you two even serious? Is that why you’ve never talked about him before? Have you really known him for a year and a half, or is he a new guy you’ve hooked up with and just so happened to have made this mistake with?”

I wince at her words. “Nothing Kale told you about how we met was a lie. All of that was true. We’ve had feelings for each other for a long time, but it wasn’t until the baby that we actually admitted them.”

“Oh, that’s rich. How convenient is it that you decide you want to be together romantically
after
he got you pregnant? Did you learn nothing from your father?! Having a baby with no emotions is a terrible idea!”

Anger begins to boil inside me at her implication that this situation is anything like hers was, and my hand covers my stomach protectively, as if I’m blocking the sound waves from penetrating my skin and poisoning my child’s brain with this nonsense.

“Kale is nothing like that asshole, and our relationship is completely different than yours was. He and I should’ve been together all along. This baby brought us together. Tim lied to you about loving you just so he could get in your pants, and then what happened? You had me and I tore you apart! They are two completely different things. Don’t you dare compare Kale to Tim ever again!”

She pales at my words, and while I know they were harsh, it’s the truth and she needs to know it. I feel a strong arm wrap around my waist, and a moment later, I’m pressed against Kale’s side as he holds me close to him protectively.

“You okay, baby?” he asks quietly, and I shake my head, because in all honesty, I’m not. I knew she’d be upset, but I didn’t think she’d automatically compare Kale to Tim.