Page 107 of Take Two

I put my hands on her hips and turn her to me. I don’t know how she pulls it off, but the powder blue dress she’s wearing is both sexy and conservative. It reaches her knees, but it molds to her body perfectly, and she’s paired it with leopard print stilettos. “I don’t know how you can top this outfit tonight, but I know you will.”

She takes a few steps away from me. “Oh, this?” She spins, struts down the hall, and walks back to me. “Just a little something I had in the back of my closet,” she teases. I take her back in my arms.

“I can’t wait to marry you,” I say against her lips. “You’re going to look so beautiful, and I’m going to be the proudest groom while I wait for you at the altar.”

“Not to mention the handsomest,” she says.

“Most definitely.” I stand up straight and look down into her eyes. I rub the pads of my thumbs against her soft cheek.

“What?” she asks when I continue to stare.

“Just that my life is perfect.” I lean down to kiss her again, and that’s when her parents and sister step off the elevator.

“Enough of that,” Miles says. “Open the door. This old man needs to pee.”

“Dad, eww,” Violet says. She finally opens the door and goes ahead of me. Her parents and Terri follow behind me, and everyone talks at once until I turn the lights on. I’m shocked to find Spence standing in the middle of the kitchen eating theleftover chicken I cooked last night. He puts the drumstick to his mouth and takes a bite as if this is his house and his food.

“Did I miss the engagement party?” he asks. His icy blue eyes look around until they land on Terri, who gasps and drops her purse. I move and stand in front of both Violet and Terri.

“You need to leave right now,” I advise Spence. “Darlin’, call the police,” I say to Violet, who quickly pulls out her phone.

“No need for all that.” He finishes the chicken and washes it down with a few gulps of water. “Good food,” he throws out. I don’t make a move as I wait to see what he does next.

It would be no problem for me to take him and overpower him. He looks fit, but I have over a foot on him, and I’ve always been strong. Much stronger than most despite always being thin. He must sense it too because he puts his hands down.

“Get the hell out of my house,” Violet hisses, then I hear the click-clack of her shoes as she talks to the police.

“I’ll be gone before they get here,” Spence says. “I wanted to congratulate the happy couple and to give you a warning, Charlie.” He points at Terri and her mother. “This family is toxic. They take as easily as they give, and then they discard you like you’re nothing. I hope you’re ready for that but losing her shouldn’t make you go back to drinking. Funny how she thought she was too good for me but ends up with a drunk.”

I let out a hearty laugh considering the source. “Let me worry about my relationship,” is all I say.

“Will you shut the fuck up, Spence. Violet doesn’t even remember meeting you. What do you think? You’re God’s gift to women and we should all worship you? Get out of here. Just sign the divorce papers and move on with your life.”

“You took everything,” he says.

At that Miles cackles.

“Your gambling took everything,” Terri says. “You took from me. You cost me years with my sister, and you convinced my father to side with you. You are a shit human being. Go to hell.”

Violet returns with the baseball bat. She hands it to Terri and says, “You get to do the honors.”

Wanda takes the bat from her daughter before she can swing it.

“This isn’t over, Terri,” Spence says.

“Yeah, it is,” she answers. “There’s nothing left to fight over.” She’s doing her best to sound bored, but I can tell she’s bothered by this. Spence walks past us and slams the door behind him.

“Lettie, baby, you have got to lock this door behind you.” She wanted to make an entrance in her dress tonight, so I got ready at Colt’s while she and her mother and sister got ready here. They were running behind, so I’m pretty sure she left the door unlocked. She’s done this before.

Terri runs to the door, locks it, and puts the chain on. I take Violet into my arms and hug her.

“I’m sorry,” Terri says. “This fight is between me and Spence, and I’m not scared of him. He’s pissed because my lawyer is asking for spousal support. Serves him right since he got me fired.” She’s nonchalant as she goes into the kitchen and opens the fridge. “But I’m over it and him, so let’s forget about his ass. Time to plan your wedding. Wait until you hear all my ideas.”

“I declare this a sacred space,” I say to Charlie. I give him my back, and he unzips my dress. “No talk about what happened here tonight. Absolutely no talk about anything unpleasant.” After hanging up the dress, I pull off my thong and remove my bra.

He’s already naked and in bed waiting for me. I slide under the covers next to him. He takes my left hand in his and kisses it.

“This ring looks good on me, doesn’t it?” I say. My voice catches as I admire the ring that once belonged to his mother. “The fact that your mom trusts me with this is—” Words fail me. “It’s too much.”

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