Page 109 of Cut Me Down

“Like you want to fuck me again.”

“But I do.” He pouts his bottom lip before flashing his teeth at me.

“Damien…” I whine.

“Don’t worry, baby girl. Look in the glove box.” I open it to see a pack of wet wipes, some of the deodorant I like to use, Listerine, my perfume, and one of my thongs. I snap my eyes back to him.

“You're amazing.”

“What can I say? I know you.” I stare into those hypnotizing eyes, and I feel my heartbeat speed up. He’s taken the time to notice ever little detail about me, and I don’t have any doubts anymore that he loves all of them.

“Yes. Yes you do.” I say to him as I grab the things out of the glove box to start cleaning myself up.

As always, he was right. About twenty more minutes in the car and we’re pulling up a long driveway to his parents’ house. It’s elegant, and huge. The outside is made of tan brick and light green siding with brick columns. Plenty of windows and a large front covered porch. They have a garage to the left, but not near big enough apparently. Either they have a million cars, or there’s a shit ton of people here. I count twenty cars at least parked in the grass and up and down the driveway.

“Damien? Is there something else you want to tell me?” I look over and tilt my head. He inhales through his teeth and then looks at me all innocently. It's actually quite cute, but I don’t let him know that.

“Okay. Today is Emma’s birthday. Every year the whole family comes and we just hang out all day. We hang outside, we play board games, we drink. Whole nine yards. It’s a really fun time.” His fingers drum on the steering wheel as he talks, and his mouth might be dry. He actually looks nervous at the fact that I might be slightly upset at him.

“So, not only am I meeting your parents, but I'm meeting your whole family? On your dead sister’s birthday?” He gently nods his head and licks his lips.

“Yeah.” He slightly winces in anticipation.

“You didn’t think to prepare me for that?” I squint my eyes at him as I lean on the middle console. He lets out a nervous breath and places his hand on mine.

“I did, but I just want you to be yourself. I didn’t want you to try and act differently to impress them. You're perfect for me, and they’re going to love you. My mom already thinks she does.” I catch myself relaxing to that comment. My anxiety slowly subsiding.

“You told your mom about me?”

“Of course I did. I first called her a couple of weeks ago, and then I called her two nights ago and told her I was bringing you.” He’s had this planned? He actually wants to introduce me to his parents? This isn't just because he felt he couldn’t leave me alone with everything else going on? I can almost literally feel my chest swell… “I needed her to know how important you are to me before I brought you.” He squeezes my hand. “Are you ready? If we don’t go in soon, they’ll come out looking for us.” I smile at him and squeeze his hand.

“Yeah baby, I am.” He gets out, comes around, and opens my door as he grabs me by my hand, entangling our fingers, and we walk up to the door. I take in the vast size of the house, and try to prepare myself to meet his family. I've never had to do this before. Cooper never cared if I met his parents, and the only people’s opinions I ever cared about were the Anderson’s. Taking a deep breath, I steel my spine. Determined to get through this in one piece. He stops us for a moment in front of the door and turns to me.

“By the way, most of my cousins work for me, but our parents don’t know. My family can be a little much sometimes.” He warns.

“You keep the fact that you’re a vigilante away from your parents? You don’t say?” He grins as he opens the door. “And knowing you and your craziness, I'm sure I'm plenty prepared for your family.” I continue as I step inside. We walk into this huge house, and I’m immediately smacked by the overwhelming presence of his family. There has to be at least fifty people in the living area alone.

Holy shit…never mind. I'm not prepared for anything today.

“Oh my God! There she is!” I hear a squealing voice yell as a tall, dark-haired woman runs up to us. Well, to me, as she swings her arms around me, hugging me. “We’ve heard so much about you!”

“Jesus Christ, Dani, you’re going to give her a stroke.” Damien says as he shuts the door.

“Oh, she’s fine!” No, I'm not. I feel my face get hot and my hands start to tremble. She pulls away from me and grabs my hands. “Hi, I'm Danielle, D’s cousin, but you can call me Dani.”

“Hi Dani…” I say nervously.

“Damn it, Danielle! Can’t you let the girl get in the door?” I see a tall, dark blonde man walk up to us.

“Hey, I'm Zander. Nice to meet you.” He sticks his hand out and I shake it.

“Hi. I’m Ashia.” I say a little calmer than previously.

“Oh my God, is she here?!” I hear another woman yell from the living room.

“Yes Mel, we’re here! Damn.” Damien says as he chuckles.

“Damien!” Multiple little voices ring out as four kids run up to us.

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