Chapter 23: Surly Romance: Chapter 23

“Belle, you can’t do that,” I scold my niece. “You know Bailey is emotionally sensitive about cheating during UNO.”

“I’m not cheating,” Belle passionately points to her deck. “Check the rules. We agreed to play ‘train’. That means I can put down all my cards at once as long as they’re the same number.”

“You told us this way would be more fun.” Micheal frowns. He runs a hand through his curly hair, which is something he picked up from Darrel. I’m sure of it.

“You’re the only one having fun,” Bailey whines.

“It’s the rules, boys.” Belle shrugs.

“Who taught you this ghetto Uno?” Mom laughs, her accent slipping into Belizean Creole. “We used to play like this back in Belize.”

“I taught her.” Kenya raises a hand. “But it’s only because Sunny taught me to play in college.”

“See? I told you Sunny’s a bad influence.” Darrel points at Alistair as if to prove a point.

“I still haven’t gotten you to stop sharing random brain facts. So I haven’t rubbed off too much.”

“Seems like some more rubbing has to happen then,” Darrel whispers in my ear.

I swat at him and then shoot a look at my mom. “Babe, my parents are here. Are you insane?”

“Just saying.”

“No, don’t say anything. You just keep your mouth shut from now on.”

“You were the one who said I should ‘be more fun’. Are you starting to regret it?”

“I said try not to be such a curmudgeon.”

He flashes his sexy green eyes. “This is my way of doing that.”

“You’re still the biggest curmudgeon in the room.”

“Babe, that term does not apply to me anymore. Admit it.”

“I’ll admit nothing.” I grin.

Darrel picks my hand up and kisses it. “Then I guess I have to teach you some more lessons.”

Heat pools in my stomach.

My eyes drop to his lips. “When are they going home?”

“Never. We’re going to have to make a run for it.”

“Ehem.” Mom arches an eyebrow. “Look at you two feeling each other up in front of company. That’s such an American thing to do.”

“Mom, holding hands is not ‘feeling each other up’. Geez.”

“It’s your eyes, Sunny. You think I can’t see what nastiness you both are saying with your eyes?”

Darrel coughs. “Sorry, ma’am.”

“I hope you two aren’t getting married quickly because there’s a bun in the oven.”

“Honey.” My dad places a calming hand on her.

“I’m just saying. Shotgun weddings don’t have a high chance of success.”

“She’s right.” Dawn emerges from the kitchen, her plate piled high with golden fry jacks. She’s wearing a T-shirt with a picture of a wrench on the front. Her fingers look especially dirty against the white plate. She told me once that, in her line of work, she can never fully scrub her nails clean. “I knew a girl who married someone just because she was pregnant with his baby. The guy cheated on her like his zipper would break if he ever kept it in his pants.”

“Is that why you never married?” Kenya asks quietly. She’s sitting in Alistair’s lap because there just wasn’t enough chairs for everyone.

When I designed the farmhouse, I created a place where a couple friends could gather. But our group is growing by leaps and bounds. I’m going to have to find a way to fit everyone. Stylishly, of course.

“Me?” Dawn snorts. “Most men get intimidated when they find out I know more about cars than they do.” She glances softly at Beth. “Not to mention that they run for the hills when they find out I’ve got a plus one.”

“Idiots,” Kenya spits.

“They have no idea what they’re missing.” I agree, high-fiving my best friend.

“Whatever. I’m just focusing on my job right now. Which I might not even have soon.”

“What are you talking about? I heard Stinton isn’t firing anyone even though he owns that auto place now.” Just another sign that the man I talked to on the phone has a heart. I knew it the moment he offered an apology on behalf of his brother, but it’s good to be proven right.

Dawn’s eyes get dark when she hears the name ‘Stinton’. “What matters is I won’t be there for much longer.”

“Told you that guy was a prick,” Alistair huffs.

Darrel leans forward. “Do you want me to talk to him, Dawn? He’s in the city a lot because of the takeover. He’s a busy guy, but he’ll make time for me. You can come along and—”

“No, I don’t want to see another Stinton for the rest of my life.”

“Oh.” Darrel assesses Dawn carefully. His expression remains the same, but I can see the way he purses his lips as if he’s come to some conclusions about her in his therapy-brain.

I catch his eye. What?

He squeezes my hand as if to say ‘later’.

“Either way, I’m just happy Darrel and Sunny got themselves together.” Kenya leans forward and swats at my leg. Her curls bounce with the movement. “You two spent forever acting like you weren’t crazy about each other. Do you know how exhausting it was to watch?”

“No, wait. I genuinely didn’t like him at first,” I say, hooking a finger.

“And she was…” Darrel catches my dark look and amends whatever he was going to say, “a perfectly lovely individual with a sophisticated sense of style and a light, refreshing attitude.”

“Good boy.” I pat his chest.

He laughs softly.

Alistair lifts a beer in his direction. “Welcome to the club, bro.”

Darrel clinks his glass against Alistair’s.

Dad chuckles and shakes his head, mumbling, “You boys know nothing yet.”

Ms. Hansley bustles into the room. “Does anyone need anything?”

“Sit, Ms. Hansley.” Kenya gestures to her. “Take a load off.”

“Oh, I feel too restless when I’m—”

Without warning, mom throws her hand out, yanks Ms. Hansley in the couch next to her and slants her a scolding look. “You’ve been on your feet all day. Now, I know how hard it is not to fuss over the kids, but you’ve got to relax now and again too.”

Ms. Hansley chuckles self-consciously. “Oh… I guess.”

I smile at mom’s pushiness. We might not always agree on things, but I know that my mother loves people and genuinely wants the best for them. It’s just the way she goes about it might offend more than it helps.

“Sunny,” Bailey stumbles toward me, “come and play with us. You’re the only one who can beat Belle.”

“I can do it,” Micheal says determinedly, fisting his hands.

Beth gives him a side-eye. She’s Dawn’s daughter, a pretty little thing with light brown skin, hazel eyes and blonde-streaked hair. Dawn is as dark as a beautiful starry night so I’m guessing Beth’s father is white, but it’s not like I’m going to ask and it’s not like it matters.

“What?” Micheal scrunches his nose at her.

“Let’s not be delusional,” Beth says.

The one-liner seems like something Dawn would say. Why are all these little girls so savage? And why do I love it so much?

Bailey wails and wiggles my arm. “Come on, Sunny. Come on.”

I give Darrel a ‘help me’ look.

He juts his chin forward and then sips his beer.

“You’re no help,” I grumble.

He winks. “I choose my battles, babe. And clearly, the boys have me out on this one.”

I sit with the kids and play a few rounds of UNO, giving Belle a bit of her own medicine and teaching her what it feels like to lose.

Am I shamelessly rubbing my victory in a little girl’s face even though I’m a grown woman?

Yes. Yes, I am.

And am I enjoying it like crazy?

Heck to the yeah.

After Belle’s gotten enough of losing to me, the kids scramble outside to play in the yard. I get up to grab another glass of wine and Darrel follows me to the kitchen.

Once we’re alone, our bodies fuse to each other like magnets and we kiss deeply.

He pulls back and lets out a breath. “How long are your parents staying?”

“Until mom’s satisfied with the wedding prep.”

He groans.

I slip my hand under his shirt. “You’re the one who offered to let them stay at the farmhouse. I need to go and put the finishing touches on the villa in Belize anyway. They could have stayed at my apartment while I’m away.”

He nips at my ear. “Your apartment is too small for them. Besides, I wanted to score some points with your mom.”

“Mom already loves you. Why are you trying so hard?”

“Because I love her right back.” He sighs. “But I didn’t expect that she’d talk about staying here until the wedding.”

I laugh into his shirt. “On the bright side, sneaking around with you is hot.”

“Is it?”

“Makes me feel like a rebellious teenager again.” I peck his lips. “Like the high school me climbing through the window to meet the hoodie guy.”

He breathes hard. “Don’t tease me.”

My brows go up. “What? You don’t want to grow your hair out and wear hoodies anymore?”

He backs me up against the counter.

My fingers interlock with his, craving that physical connection. I love this man. I love his green eyes that can twinkle or darken with his moods. I love the way he tirelessly takes care of Micheal and Bailey as if his wellbeing depends on theirs. I love the way he doesn’t smile much or talk much, but his selfless actions speak volumes about his character. He’s my rock when the world is crazy and my brain is tugging me in a million directions. He’s the anchor that grounds me and the lighthouse that points me home.

“I cannot wait to be married to you, Sunny Quetzal.”

My arms wrap around his neck. He has my full and undivided attention. “You want to get out of here?”

He smiles wickedly.

“Where did Sunny and Darrel sneak off to?” Dawn asks. The traitor.

“Yeah, I don’t see them,” Kenya mumbles.

“They’re probably feeling each other up in the kitchen.” Mom humphs. “Like heathens.”

Dad hisses, “Honey.”

Alistair sighs. “Do you think they’ll have more babies than we do?”

“Is everything a competition with you?” Kenya snorts.

“They already have two kids before you do.” Dawn points out. “If ya’ll want to beat them, you better get cracking.”

“Sunny!” Mom yells from the living room. “Remove your hands from whatever unholy things they’re grabbing right now and come back where we can see you.”

Darrel closes his eyes and groans.

“Just until the wedding, babe.” I pat his shoulder.

He sighs and then laughs in the way that you can only when it’s family. And even if they’re irritating, there’s something about family that makes it all okay.

“Add that to the list of reasons why I can’t wait to be married to you,” Darrel mumbles, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

“What’s at the top of the list?” I smirk up at him.

“The fact that I love you.” He looks down with his somber green eyes.

“And I love you… a tiny bit more than I love Bailey and Micheal.”

He laughs and wraps his arms around me. “Come on. Our family is waiting.”

I tuck my head into his side and join the people who make my life complete.

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