The Hurricane (6 page)

Me: Did you make it back home already?

I was already worrying about them. This was also new. I wanted them safe.

Nat: Just walked in the door. I think she’s on a sugar high.

Me: I bet that’s a sight

I waited for a few seconds, staring at my phone, but she didn’t respond right away. So I kicked off my boots and pulled my shirt over my head. I caught the scent of her perfume on my shirt and couldn’t help but bring it to my nose. I inhaled, remembering the way she felt against me. Fucking amazing. The ding of a text message pulled me from my fixation.

Nat: Please don’t think I’m crazy.

Me: No promises.

Nat: Is it ok if Brooklyn calls to tell you goodnight? She’s promised she will go straight to bed. She’s very determined.

Nat: Sorry . . .

“Don’t apologize,” I said as soon as I heard her say hello. Fuck, her voice was sexy, even with a singing little girl in the background. I listened, carefully.

“God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy,” I heard in the distance, in a high pitched squeak. I couldn’t help but laugh at her song choice.

“Brookie,” Natalie said quietly. “Sorry . . . ,” she repeated.

“I don’t know why you keep apologizing,” I said, through my laughter, as Brooklyn continued to belt out the song. I sat on my couch, listening, enjoying every second of this.

“I guess because my five years old’s favorite song is about beer. I don’t know, shit,” she mumbled the last word so quietly, I almost didn’t hear it.

“Momma, did you say a bad word? Is that Ryker? Can I talk to him?” she started asking, and I could tell she was climbing on Natalie, pulling herself closer to the phone.

“Hold on one second, Brookie,” Natalie said in a muffled voice, as if she were trying to hold her hand over the receiver.

“Just real fast momma, then I’ll go straight to bed, cross my heart,” she said, and then I heard kissing sounds following by that laugh that had stayed etched in my memory all these years.

“Do you mind if she says goodnight?” she asked. I could hear the nervousness in her voice.

“Of course not, put her on,” I said, confusing myself with the stupid ass grin I was wearing.

“Hey Ryker!” she squealed into the phone.

“Hey there, Brooklyn.”

“I went to the movies with my friend, Josie, tonight.”

“You did? Did you have fun?”

“Yeah, it was ok,” she said as I could almost picture her shrugging her shoulders, as if she were a teenager.

“Just ok?” I asked.

“Well, it was a cartoon. Cartoons are ok. I like action movies, but momma says they’re too violent. She wants me to stay her baby forever.”

“Well, that’s because she loves you,” I assured her.

“I know, I know,” she said, brushing me off, which made me laugh again.

“I like your laugh,” she giggled.

“I like yours, too,” I answered honestly.

“Mustang is still alive, can you believe it?” she said.

“I bet it’s because you take such good care of him,” I said. I was falling into an easy conversation with a five year old. It was surprising, to say the least. I don’t know if I had talked to a five year old since I was that age.

“You should come see him,” she said bluntly.

“Maybe soon,” I said.

“How about tomorrow after school?” Brooklyn asked.

“Brooklyn,” I heard Natalie scold in the background.

“It’s ok, momma,” Brooklyn assured her mother, which made me laugh again. This kid was a riot.

“You can have dinner with us; my momma is the best cook in the whole wide world.”

“I think that might be up to your mom,” I said, not wanting to pressure Natalie to do this, but not wanting Brooklyn to think I didn’t want to see them both.

“Can he, mom? Pleeeaaasssseeee!” she begged.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Nat whispered.

“But he’s on the phone right now, please, oh please!” She wasn’t giving up.

“Listen,” Nat whispered, her voice stern. “I’ll talk to Ryker about it. You go get into your pajamas and brush your teeth. I’ll be in there soon to tuck you in, ok?”

“Ok, momma,” she said. “Ryker, I gotta get ready for bed, but momma wants you to come over for dinner, too.”

“Are you sure about that?” I asked through my laughter.

“I’m totally sure. She smiles so big when I talk about you. I can tell.”

“Brooklyn,” Natalie said.

“Goodnight, Ryker!” she said.

“’Night, Brooklyn,” I said, and heard her giggle as she handed the phone back to Natalie.

“Hey,” Natalie said quietly after a few seconds.

“Don’t apologize,” I said before she had the chance to say anything.

“I wasn’t going to,” she said with a small laugh.

“Yeah, you were,” I said through a smile.

“I was,” she said.

We both laughed and then everything went silent.

“So um . . . , do you . . . ,” she stammered.

“Yeah, I do.” I answered honestly. I wanted to see her again, both of them, if I was being honest.

“You do? Don’t feel obligated,” she said.

“I want to.”

“I’m not the best cook in the whole wide world,” she said with a small laugh.

“I bet you’re better than you give yourself credit for,” I said.

“I guess you’re about to find out.”

“Looking forward to it.”

“I gotta go, so I can help her get ready for bed. I’ll see you at 6:30 tomorrow, is that ok?” she asked, her voice still full of hesitation.

“That’s perfect. Bye, Nat,” I said quieter than I expected.

“See you soon,” she said, and hung up the phone.

I threw my phone next to me on the couch and took a long swig of my beer. Those two were something else.

And they were both destined to have me wrapped around their little fingers. I didn’t think I could stop it if I tried.

Stupid Conscience

“What are you doing, honey?” I asked as I glanced over my shoulder, and noticed Brooklyn lining up her teddy bears and her favorite toy car in front of the fireplace.

“I want to show Ryker my stuff,” she said without looking in my direction. She was too busy concentrating.

“Just don’t make a big mess ok?” I asked.

“Ok momma,” she mumbled.

I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t expose my daughter to a man I hardly knew. What if this didn’t work out? She would be heartbroken. I didn’t want that for her. I didn’t want her to lose anyone else. Not that she even remembered Kyle. She was only a year old when he was killed. She knew who he was from his pictures and my stories, but that was it. But I knew it bothered her when other dads dropped their kids off at daycare. She had only mentioned it once, but it devastated me when she asked why she didn’t have a dad like the other kids. I cried myself to sleep that night.

On the other hand, I didn’t do this on purpose. I didn’t know Ryker would be on the beach. I didn’t know Brookie would take to him after a few minutes. I didn’t know she was going to ask him over for dinner. My sneaky little girl. She was too smart for my own good. The sound of water sizzling on the stove broke me from the debate I was having in my mind.

“Shit,” I mumbled as I grabbed a towel, and moved the pan of lasagna noodles out of the way.

“I heard that.” Brooklyn giggled from the living room.

“Sorry,” I said as I continued prepping the food. Ryker would be here in forty five minutes and I was still in my scrubs. I needed to hurry. But I could do this. I was a mom. I was used to being in a hurry.

At exactly 6:30 the doorbell rang. My stomach did a little flip as I examined myself in the full length mirror in my bathroom.

“He’s here, momma,” Brooklyn sang as she bounced into my room.

“Best behavior, ok, Brookie?”

“Yes ma’am,” she said, and gave me a soldier’s salute. She was dressed in her favorite shirt. It was a hot pink t-shirt with a monster truck on it. It was a souvenir she got at a truck rally she went to with my dad over spring break. She loved it, and tried to wear it at least twice a week. She had her hair in a French braid that went half way down her back. Her hair was getting lighter from being at the beach so much this summer. When she was born it was almost jet black, but had changed into a soft brown with natural highlights. Paired with those big green eyes, she looked like a little doll. She was perfect.

“Come on, silly girl,” I said as I took her by the hand, and walked to the front door. My nerves were getting the best of me, and I could feel my body trembling.

“Don’t be nervous, momma,” Brooklyn whispered quietly as we stood at the front door.

“I’m not nervous,” I lied, and gave her smile.

“Yes you are,” she said, and shook her hand that I was holding. “you always squeeze my hand really tight when you’re nervous.”

“Sorry,” I whispered.

“It’s ok, momma,” she said, and gave my hand a perfect little kiss.

I opened the front door and sucked in a shaky breath. He was so sexy. His eyes met mine and I wanted to reach over and kiss him. I didn’t, not in front of Brooklyn, but I sure wanted to. He was wearing a pair of dark jeans and a grey t-shirt. It hugged his broad shoulders and clung to his abs. His tattoos peaked from under the sleeves and wrapped their way down to his wrists. His beard was just a little shorter than yesterday. Still a full beard, which I definitely appreciated. Good Lord. He was wearing a baseball cap tonight, which reminded me of the boy I met on spring break. But he wasn’t a boy anymore, he was all man.

“Hey,” he said as he continued to stare at me. I could tell by the look on his face I wasn’t the only one craving a kiss right now. He raked his teeth across his bottom lip. I swallowed hard, trying to distract my tongue from the urge to lick him. I couldn’t help it. He looked delicious. He gave me a quick wink before turning his attention to Brooklyn.

“Hey there, Brooklyn, I like your shirt,” he said as he gave her a smile.

“You do?” she asked as she took her hand out of mine and grabbed Ryker’s, leading him into the living room.

“My Papa got it for me at Monster Jam; I love trucks,” she chatted as she pulled him behind her. Ryker looked over his shoulder at me and gave me that heart stopping smile of his.

“Your Papa sounds pretty awesome.”

“Please have a seat,” I said as I pointed to the sofa.

“Wait, what’s in that bag?” Brooklyn asked as she eyed the gift bag in Ryker’s hand. I didn’t even notice he was holding anything.

“I almost forgot,” he laughed, “I got you a little something.” He handed the bag to Brooklyn. My heart rate spiked and my stomach did another flip. Brooklyn squealed and peaked inside the bag.

“It’s a cage and toys for Mustang!” She was so excited. We had put the crab in a small bucket with sand and surprisingly it had survived so far.