Chapter Twenty Four
I pick up my sandwich and take a bite, chewing thoughtfully as I stare at the man sitting opposite me.
“Can I ask you something?” I say to him after I’ve swallowed.
“You just did,” he replies, looking up at me. Irish and I aren’t that close, but we get along.
“How did you get the scars?” I ask, looking at his neck and jawline.
He puts down the newspaper he was reading and stares. “Knife fight.”
“Hate to see the other guy,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood.
He chuckles. “Me either, skeletons freak me out.”
Okkaaayyyyy then. Next topic.
“Have you seen Arrow?” I ask. I haven’t seen him since Dex’s birthday, and I’m starting to get a little worried. I don’t know what happened when they had negotiations with the Wild Men. I wonder if Arrow thinks that the club paid enough, with the death of the men who killed Mary, or if he still needs them to suffer more. I don’t know what’s going on in his mind, and his eyes are so dead now that I can’t tell what’s working behind them. That in itself scares the shit out of me.
“He’s gone away for a few days to clear his head.”
I like listening to him talk in his accent.
“I miss him,” I admit, looking down at my plate.
“He’ll come around,” he replies.
“How do you know?” I ask him.
Dex walks into the room, his eyes instantly searching for me. “I have something to show you.”
“What?” I ask, standing up.
He takes my hand and leads me outside to his car. He opens the door for me and helps me get in.
“Where are we going?” I ask, placing my hand on his thigh.
“Surprise,” he says, grinning excitedly. What is he so excited over?
When we pull up to my all-time favourite jewelry store, I give him a curious look. He tells me to wait so he can open the door and gives me his hand to get out from the car.
Hand in hand we walk into the store. As we enter, the lady working there gives Dex a smile, and then changes the sign from OPEN to CLOSE.
“What on earth—”
“Choose any engagement ring you want,” he says, kissing me on top of my head.
“What?” I gasp, cutting my eyes to all the rings set in front of me. A gold princess cut diamond catches my eye immediately. It has one, very large diamond in the center of the band.
Simple. Classic. Stunning.
And I want it.
“Can I try that one on?” I ask the woman, who picks up the ring and hands it to Dex, who slides it on the correct finger. It fits perfectly and looks beautiful.
“I love it,” I whisper, touching the diamond.
“We’ll take this one please,” Dex calls out.
“Certainly,” the woman says, more than happy to make a sale. “How will you be paying for it, Sir?”
“Cash,” Dex replies.
“C-certainly,” the woman stutters. “Umm, that’s twenty thousand dollars.”
I gape. Twenty thousand dollars. That’s way too expensive for a ring. “Dex—”
“It’s yours babe,” he says, pulling out a stack of money. I send him a look. How dodgy does this look? The woman probably thinks he robbed a bank or something.
We leave the store with a pleased looking Dex.
“Thank you,” I tell him. “You really didn’t need to spend so much.”
“Babe,” he says, chuckling.
“What?”
“That ring isn’t going to bankrupt me,” he replies, stifling laughter.
How rich is he?
“Good to know,” I mutter, staring down at my ring and smiling. I feel like doing my happy dance right now.
“That smile on your face, worth much more than twenty grand,” he says, reaching out and taking my hand in his.
That was really sweet. “Where are we going now?”
“We’re going to my mums to tell her we’re getting married,” he says in a careful tone.
My hand goes to the door handle.
“Don’t be so dramatic, we’ll stay there ten minutes max.”
“This is kidnapping! Is that why you were buttering me up with the ring and being all sweet?” I ask, wringing my hands.
“Babe.”
“Dex I was dating her other son for the last few years. Oh my god this is going to be so awkward,” I say, staring out the window.
“She knows you’re with me now, and we’re having a baby girl. She won’t even look at you the wrong way, trust me. She doesn’t want to jeopardize the relationship with her first grandchild,” he explains patiently.
“She won’t?” I ask, nibbling on my bottom lip.
“You think I’ll let anyone say anything to you? I don’t care who it is Faye. No one disrespects my old lady. No one.”
I puff out a shaky, shallow breath. “Okay, okay. Let’s get this over with.”
*****
“Hey Mum,” Dex says, kissing his mother on the cheek. “How have you been?”
“Better now that my first born has finally come for a visit,” she admonishes, then turns to me. “Nice to see you Faye. How’s your pregnancy coming along?”
“Hi Gretchen,” I say. “Coming along really well. She’s due on September fifth.”
“How exciting. I bought a few things, I hope you don’t mind...” she trails off as I see her staring at my ring.
“You’re getting married?” she asks, looking to Dex.
“Yeah Ma, that’s why we’re here. I wanted to let you know,” Dex replies.
“Well congratulations,” she says, trying to hide her shock. “Is your divorce finalized then?”
F*ck. I completely forgot about that. I look to Dex who grins at the look on my face.
“All sorted. Was a free man as of this morning,” he says, eyes smiling at me. He bought me a ring the day his divorce was finalized. I love that he didn’t want to waste any time.
“When is the wedding going to be? Will you be having a big one?” she asks.
“Anything Faye wants,” Dex replies, winking at me.
“I see,” his mother mutters, clearly not happy with his answer. “I spoke to your parents the other day.”
Great, just great.
“I’m not on speaking terms with my parents,” I reply without emotion.
“Really? They didn’t mention that. Just that you had moved out.”
Of course they wouldn’t, because that would make them look bad. My mother wouldn’t allow that.
“I told them that you were dating Dexter. They didn’t seem to be pleased about that,” she says, leaning back on her white couch.
I shrug. “It doesn’t matter what they say.”
“I’m having some people around tonight, if you want to stay for dinner?” she says, turning to her son.
“No thanks Ma, Faye and I have plans. Maybe next time,” he says standing to leave.
“I wish you would talk to Eric, he is your baby brother after all,” she quickly says, standing and smoothing down her dress suit.
“We’ve been through this...”
“He’s your brother!” she snaps.
“He’s also a f*ckin’ a*shole. I have a bunch of brothers at home, and none of them would betray me. I wouldn’t even turn my back on a man like Eric,” Dex growls, grabbing my hand and leading me out.
“This just because of her,” she sniffs.
I assume I am the her.
Dex stops in his tracks. “Has nothing to do with her. Eric and I have never got on, and as much as it sucks, it is what it is. Don’t try blaming Faye for his. Faye is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
I see Eric out of the corner of my eye, leaning against the door, listening. He bobs his head, gives me a sad smile, and then walks away.
I think he finally gets it. Dex loves me.
Me.
He breathes me.
Eric knows what we had wasn’t that. It wasn’t even close.
We say bye to his mother and get the hell out of there.