Page 47 of Undone

CHAPTER SIX

Having it all

“I LIKE HER,” Ma whispered across the table.

I rolled my eyes, “Could you say that any louder? I don’t think the couple on the other side of the room heard you.”

She smacked my arm, “Behave.”

I shook my head, not believing I’d ever be here—a crowded, touristy restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf on a double date with Will and Ma. Jesus, I am turning soft.

The cuts on Will’s and my back are getting a shit-ton of attention. Despite Luce wanting to ride the trolley—she wanted to ride on the back of my brand-new Dodge Tomahawk even more. Little did she know the damn thing cost over five-hundred grand. I told the boys in the Club it was stolen—a gift fromLos Coyotes. We raced up and down the hills of San Francisco on it while the wind blew in her hair and her hands grabbed me tight. She felt as though she was born to ride behind me…. riding up the dock to the restaurant was probably a bad idea. But I wanted to impress my girl, so we made an entrance.

The waitress dropped the bill on the table. My palm smacked it seconds before Will’s did. “Let me. I know you only got a hundred dollars in your checking account.” The fucker’s eyes gleamed. The tip of my boot met his shin under the table. To his credit—he didn’t even flinch.

Luce looked away, embarrassed he might be telling the truth.

“I’m good. Thanks.” I placed cash down then grabbed my girl’s hand. “Ready to do some sight-seeing?”

We said our good byes to Ma and Will. He went to clasp me on the back, but I grabbed his hand pulling him in. “If you fuck with me or my Ma—I’ll kill ya.”

“I know you will, son. Be good to her and hopefully she’ll stick around,” he nodded toward Luce.

“I’ll call you later, Ma.” I kissed her cheek, trying not to punch Will straight-the-fuck-out as he took her right out of my arms and kissed her, right in front of me.

Luce placed her hand on my arm. “Come on.” Her simple touch soothed the beast in me. “Why does it bother you so much? Is it because of your father?”

“No. We were never close. He was an asshole. It’s just weird as hell seeing my Ma with Will. I never… never thought of her dating is all.”

“She told me it’s serious.”

“The fuck? I’m gonna kill him after all,” I turned, spinning on my heel.

“Babe. Calm down!” She grabbed my bicep with both hands, trying to tug me back.

“He told me it was new. How the fuck can it be serious already unless he lied to me? Dating my own mother behind my back…”

“Is he that type?”

“Fuck. No,” I answered honestly.

“Is he a better man than your dad?”

“Yeah.”

“Let it go then.”

My eyes met hers. “Fine. For now… but if he fucks up—can I punch the shit out of him then?”

She rolled her eyes. “Which way are the sea lions?”

“Just follow the barking… and the smell.”

The sun felt good on my face as we walked hand-in-hand, mingling with tourists as I led her down the pier. I took a packet of oyster crackers from my pocket and tossed a few. The sea lions barked at the sea gulls trying to steal them. For one perfect moment—we were just a normal couple, enjoying the warm fall weather in Cali. But all that changed. And I was powerless to do anything about it.

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