We went to the steakhouse in town and we had a few drinks while we waited for our table. Once we were seated at the table, Jackson switched his drinks to water. I looked at him then he leaned over to kiss my cheek, while whispering in my ear.
“I will always put your safety first.”
I think I melted right there on the spot. He was going to not drink the rest of the night to be sure that we were all safe tonight and so that we could all have fun. He was amazing. God, I loved him. It was hard when I woke up earlier to leave him. I was so warm and comfortable next to him, but I wanted the quiet time to write. I had to be sure I had some pages to read to Gail when we got back. Plus, I just wanted to write down some thoughts.
We sat at dinner talking about high school and my awkwardness. Abs was good at embarrassing me and Shawn couldn’t help but dissolve into laughter at the things that she brought up. Abs and Shawn knew way too much about me since we were together most of high school. The most embarrassing story they told was how Shawn tried to fix me up. We went to a bonfire the night before a big game and he got one of his buddies to hang out with us.
“So when Pete came over and sat down next to Lacie she looked at him like he was a spider and she jumped up and moved away.”
Shawn was laughing so hard he couldn’t finish the story. Abs picked up.
“She moved a few seats down and then Pete got up and moved too. Lacie looked at him but didn’t move. Pete put his arm around her and said, ‘Nice night for a fire huh.’ Lacie jumped up and said, ‘Um not really, it’s a bit windy tonight and the hot ash could literally light anyone of us on fire.’ Pete thought it was an invitation and he stood moving in to kiss her and she jumped back shrieking. Pete just looked at her like she was crazy and at that point walked away.”
The two were laughing hysterically. I wasn’t laughing but I was holding back. Jackson held a smirk on his face, but also a look of irritation. I had to defend myself.
“It’s not funny guys. I didn’t know you were setting me up. Come on. Seriously, though Pete? What were you thinking? He never talked to me, he had just broken up with whatever that cheerleader’s name was and you set him up with me. He didn’t want to be with me and I sure didn’t want to be with him. The guy freaked me out, he was all like, me Tarzan you Jane. I mean all he needed was a rope to swing in on.”
My words only made Shawn and Abigail laugh harder. Jackson even seemed to join in at that.
Through his laughing he said, “Come on. He couldn’t have been that bad.”
I shook my head.
“No you don’t understand. He was on the football team. He was half of the football team. He wasn’t fat, he was just huge. I mean the muscles on his body had muscles. He scared the freak out of me. Of all the guys he was friends with on the football team, Pete. Why? Did you guys enjoy the entertainment of it all?”
Abigail was snort-laughing and tears rolled down her face.
“Yes. Yes, we did. Oh Lace it was hysterical. I realize it’s silly, but it was so funny to watch. Your face and then Pete’s when he walked away. Oh my God! It was freaking hilarious!”
Shawn piped up, “Oh my God, not as hilarious as the haunted house.”
“No! Shawn, you are not telling that story!”
I piped up and pointed my finger at him. Jackson was beside me with his arm wrapped around me and pulling me to him.
“Yes, Shawn, you’re telling that story.”
I groaned and pulled away from Jackson only he held me tighter.
“Freaking haunted house. I told you all I was not a haunted house kind of person. But no, you just had to buy me tickets and make me go in it. Shit!”
Shawn and Abigail laughed harder and I was blissfully saved by the delivery of our food.
We ate dinner and bantered back and forth. We talked about the girls and how taken Trinity seemed with Jackson. He beamed.
“I think she is incredible. I love her mind. It seems to be always running.”
Abigail groaned.
“Oh it is. Trust me. Ella, she is a smart girl. She is in the boys are gross phase, which I hope lasts until she’s at least 20.”
Shawn spoke up, “30.”
I laughed.
Abigail continued, “But Trinity. That girl, oh she will go up to anyone and just start asking them personal questions like it’s the most natural thing in the world. She just loves to talk. I don’t think she even waits for the answers, she just has verbal diarrhea and it spews out.”
Jackson laughed at that and took a sip out of his water.
“Come on. It can’t be that bad?”
Abigail looked right in his eye and said, “We went to the mall the other day. We were in a clothing store and a woman came out of the dressing room wearing a god-awful dress and she was admiring herself in it. Trinity walked up to her and asked her, ‘Do you have a date? Are you going to go for dinner? If you wear that dress, I suggest a movie. It’s dark there and he won’t see the dress that way. Maybe he likes ugly dresses, but I wouldn’t chance it. What movie will you go see? I bet he takes you to see the new Batman movie. I want to see that but Mom says it’s too violent for kids. Maybe you should tell him to take you to a Disney movie. That would be better.’ I was horrified. I tried to move but I didn’t want to admit that she was my child.”
Jackson was laughing so hard.
“She did not!”
Abigail nodded. “Did!”
Of course, me being the practical side of this, said, “She didn’t say yes to the dress, did she?”
That created a howl of laughter from everyone including me. Oh, I think we were the loudest table in the place but we didn’t care. It was so much fun that the evening was flying by.
On our way out from the steak house we were walking toward Jacksons SUV and Shawn was thanking him again for dinner since he refused to let him pay. He said it was his treat for allowing him the pleasure of his family and his home for the weekend. I was smiling until I turned back and found myself face to face with Rex.
“Well, well. What do we have here? I was wondering if you’d ever show your face in town again. What no baby? What happened, did you give it up? Couldn’t stand the reminder of me?”
He ran his hand down my arm and I shivered. Before I knew what was happening Jackson was there, pulling me aside.
“Do not touch her.”
I had never heard him speak that way. Shawn was beside him and Abigail was beside me.
Rex laughed. “What did you hire a bodyguard? What’s it to you man? I was talking to her.”
Jackson growled, “You don’t touch her, talk to her or look at her. Got it!”
Rex leaned around Jackson to look at me, “Who the hell is this guy?”
Jackson grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in front of him.
“I’m your worst nightmare if you don’t stop talking to her.”
Abigail chimed in, “Rex, just crawl back under the rock you came from.”
Jackson let go of him and he stepped back.
“Bitch! Who are you talking to?”
Shawn stepped forward. “She was talking to you, asshole, and don’t call her that. Just take a hike.”
Rex smiled. “What? So this is the new man, Lacie? I guess you needed to find someone who could protect the poor broken little soul. Did you tell him your sob stories? Did you tell him that I fucked you and got you pregnant? Does he know the little brat you have is mine? I wish it was here. So what do we have, a girl or a boy? Huh, Lacie? What is it?”
Jackson moved toward him. “Shut. The. Fuck. Up.”
Rex, of course, didn’t.
“I thought I’d see you come slinking back home when your daddy died, Lacie. I don’t know what you told him about us, but he came after me the night before he died. Said he’d kick my ass if I came anywhere near you again. I guess he can’t commit to that, now can he?”
Rex laughed and the tears started rolling down my face.
Jackson moved before anyone had time to act. His fist connected with Rex’s face and Rex fell to the ground.
“I warned you to shut the fuck up. Now take this warning. What her father said to you, I’m enforcing. Stay the fuck away from her. As far as your child, you fucking bastard, it doesn’t exist. Nor will you if you ever look, talk, or think about her again. I know people that will make you disappear like the piece of shit you are. She is mine now. You had your chance and thank fuck you didn’t know what to do with a woman like her.”
Jackson turned wrapped his arm around me and hustled me to his SUV.
We were all silent for a moment until Abigail. Freaking Abigail started cracking up.
“Holy shit! That was awesome! Did you see him go down? One hit and boom, ass in the dirt!”
I turned to look at her and Shawn was holding back, trying not to laugh.
“You guys! Really? The fuck?”
I turned my attention to Jackson. He was smirking.
“Am I the only sane one here right now? This is serious, guys. He could press charges. Jackson, he could make trouble for you.”
Jackson looked at me, “Princess. He’s not going to do anything. I’m not an evil person, but I do know people that can make him disappear and I won’t hesitate to call them. He’s a piece of shit, one that does not deserve to be in your presence.”
Shawn reached up and put his hand on Jackson’s shoulder.
“I think you just proved yourself to me man. We are good! Welcome to the family.”
I looked at Shawn and back to Jackson. What the ever-living hell is going on here.
“Shawn, stop. Do not encourage him. Jackson, no more fighting. If we see Rex again—”
Before I could finish my sentence Jackson cut me off.
“If we see Rex again, he’ll piss himself before I can do anything to him and I guarantee you he’s never going to bother you again.”
That brought a roar of laughter from the back seat and Jackson looked at me trying to hold back the laugh he wanted to let out.
I gave up. These three were impossible and I was done trying to be the voice of reason. I’m not going to lie, it felt good to have Jackson stand up for me. It felt really good when he went all alpha dark on me and punched Rex. It felt exceptionally good to see Rex sitting on the ground with his lip bleeding. But what felt best of all was the way Jackson took me and shuttled me to the SUV and helped me in making sure I was okay. He stepped between Rex and me and he protected me. God that did things to me. Shit. I’m sleeping with Trinity tonight. Yes, that is where my brain went. I want to be all over him right now and I can’t.