“Janson doesn’t need encouragement, dear. They make those pills now that do that.”
“Mom! For Christ’s sake.”
“You know how I feel about you bringing the Lord in your foul language,” she grumbles.
I love my mom, but her mind constantly leaves me scratching my head. If the Lord would be upset with me for using his name, I’m not sure how he’s supposed to feel about my mom having sex on a kitchen table with her boyfriend.
“Lovey, damn it. You aren’t supposed to tell anyone about those damn pills.”
“Relax, Jansen. Gray and CC are family and there’s nothing wrong with having to prime the pump. If Gray isn’t already doing it, he’ll probably have to soon. He’s not getting any younger either.”
“Mom, do you think you can reel it in before you scare CC off?”
“Dear, CC is not going anywhere. Are you CC?”
“Well, I mean…”
“A blind man could see that she loves you,” she says. I hear CC’s gasp and squeeze her into me encouragingly. “Please tell me you’ve told that girl how you feel about her,” Ida Sue scolds.
“I haven’t wanted to scare her,” I try to explain.
“Horse shit. I ought to set your ears on fire, son. A woman likes to know how a man feels about her. She needs to know she can depend on you. That she matters.”
“She matters, Mom.”
“I know that, son, but it’s not me you’re knocking boots with. You need to tell her,” she says, crossing her arms.
“I think I’d better go. I’m going to be late. You sure…” CC starts, her body tense.
I might want to strangle my mother right now, but the door is open and not saying anything will give her the wrong idea. I turn her to me, holding her neck gently, letting my thumb sweep across her chin.
“You matter, CC.”
“Gray, come on. Your Mom means well, but you don’t have to say…”
“I love you, Claudia Cooper. I’ve loved you forever.”
Her face goes white, and she trembles a little in my arms.
“Gray…”
“I love you, sweet lips.”
“About damn time,” Ida Sue says, slapping me on the back and jarring my attention from CC, but not before I can use my thumb to gently drag away a couple of the small tears that have fallen from her eyes. “Now, I want to see this garage I’ve been hearing so much about.”
“Ida Sue, are you sure? It’s liable to be pretty boring,” CC tells her while trying to clear her throat and button down the emotions that are showing on her face.
“Nonsense. I get to spend the day with my new daughter. How can that be boring?” Ida Sue counters. CC’s eyes jerk to mine and I just smile to try and calm her as best as I can. Ida Sue is a tornado; it’s best she learns that now.
“Well… if you’re sure,” CC says, sounding a little lost.
“Definitely.”
“We should head out then. I have a phone conference I can’t miss this morning. Gray, I…”
I kiss her before she can say something I might not want to hear. It’s a brief kiss and nothing like I would give her if my mother and Jansen weren’t around.
“Jansen and I will pick you up around three this afternoon. We’re going to look at the scenery and maybe go out on the course for a bit. I need to keep my stroke in perfect form before the big tournament.”
CC hugs me tight, her lips get close to my ears. “I can confirm that your stroke is more than perfect, Crayon Man.”
I kiss her gently on her forehead with a laugh. “Always busting my ass. See you soon.”
“See you soon.”
I stand beside Jansen as CC and Mom head out. The door has been closed for ten minutes before I finally shake off the feeling of contentment that thrums through my veins and I only do it then because Jansen demands my attention.
“Let’s get a move on, son.”
I nod agreement, but I’d rather follow my woman to that garage and spend the day with her.
I stare at the phone as the last amount of hope I had fades. Mack’s bank wouldn’t help at all. I kind of expected it, but I was still… dreaming. I was dreaming. There’s going to be no magic way out of this and there’s not one to blame but me. Would Banger be as disappointed in me as I am in myself?
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hear growling outside my office. At first I’m afraid Ida Sue has done something, but that’s Jackson yelling. With a deep breath, I go outside, wondering what my next catastrophe is. “I asked what the fuck you were doing here?”
“Do you have a problem with this man, Claudia dear?” Ida Sue asks. I don’t turn to look at her, though. I’m busy staring into the eyes of David Riverton. He’s here, at my garage. He’s with three other men, all dressed in suits, though the other three don’t look nearly as expensive.
“What are you doing here, Mr. Riverton?” I ask, doing my best to keep my voice civil, but not entirely successful.
“I’ve brought by the company engineers.”
“And why the fuck would you do that?” Jackson growls.