Page 34 of Redeemed in Crimson
I chance a brief look at her to see her head hung in defeat. She really thinks that I could walk away from her. Like she isn’t about to walk into a house that’s been fully renovated to her specific tastes. The thought that any moment spent with her could be “bad” is comical, let alone it being bad just because she doesn’t put out. Or maybe she’s worried she just won’t be good, which would be impossible.
“Whoa, Angel. You’re way too nervous right now. You’re under no obligation to doanythingwith me tonight. Let’s just enjoy each other’s company, okay, baby? The only thing that would disappoint me is if you were too concerned with being what you think I want that you forget to be the only thing I actually want. Which is undeniably you.”
This seems to calm her down, and her mood begins to lighten. I put on some music that I know will get her confidence up a notch or two and we make our way to a local barbecue joint.
“Oh wow! I’ve never been here!” Sloane says as we walk into the tiny restaurant.
She’s looking around at the wooden walls lined from floor to ceiling with the college’s sports memorabilia and signed pictures from players, past and present. I know for a fact that Henry has an autographed picture hanging in the small room off to the side of the building, but I’m not about to cause a scene dragging her over to see it.
“What? How have you lived here for over a year andnothad this barbecue?”
“I’ve had it before, silly. I just haven’t been to the original location. I mean, I’ve never been without either my parents or, erm, Dean, and they never wanted to come to this part of town.
Sloane’s eyebrows pinch together as she studies the short menu. “Where is the rest of their menu?”
“The original location does ribs and ribs alone. You get potato salad, baked beans, potato chips, and bread to go with it. And if you want dessert, it’s banana pudding or bust.”
“Yes, please!” she says, laughing.
Before I can respond, our server comes to take our order. “We’ll start with two racks of ribs, and then a side of everything, each. Oh, and go ahead and bring us two puddings.”
We hand the menus back to the server and start to sip our ridiculously sweet tea.
“So, I have a question for you,” Sloane says with a smile.
“Shoot.”
“Everyone I’ve talked to in your family, including yourself, makes you out to be this big, scary Tasmanian devil whodestroys everything in his path, but…I’ve only ever seen you be gentle and kind. Even yesterday in your fight, you were completely composed and in good spirits. I guess I’m wondering if…if that’s just an act you put on for me.”
I sit for a moment, gathering my thoughts. “Well, yes and no. I’ve definitely earned that reputation, but I’ve also worked very hard to overcome past traumas. On top of the fights and the club, which you already know about, I see a therapist regularly. The release I feel during fights and through, um, the club outlet, erm, helps tremendously, and I should pay my therapist triple what their rate is for the mess they've sorted out in my head. My mind is always on overdrive, and I mean it when I say that looking into your eyes that day on my bike was the first time I had felt peace in years. You’ve helped more than the other outlets combined, and tenfold at that, Angel. I know I can come across as obsessive, and honestly, I do struggle with that. But all the time I’ve not only spent with you but also thinking about you has done wonders. I’ve never acted like that around you because I’ve never feltout of controlaround you.”
“Oh.” Sloane’s mouth is parted slightly as she stares at me in disbelief.
Our food arrives at our table before we can continue our conversation. I watch in awe as Sloane devours a whole rack of ribs as well as the rest of her sides. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her eat so enthusiastically, and I feel pride in my restaurant of choice for our date. Sloane doesn’t say a word until the last bit of her dessert is cleaned from the bowl. “Wow, that was amazing! Way better than the other location in town!”
“It’s a classic for a reason,” I agree as I sign the bill.
As soon as we’re back in the car, “Mom” lights up the dashboard screen. “Hey, Mom. You're on speaker in the car. Sloane is here.”
Sloane greets her with an enthusiastic, “Hi, Blanche!”
“Oh, hello darlings! I’m so sorry if I’m interrupting your night. It looks like the costumes were just delivered, and I’m about to get on a plane. Is there any way at all the two of you could swing back by the church, bring the boxes into the dress rehearsal room, and do an inventory check so I can let them know if there are any mistakes? I think you have a key, yes?”
I sigh internally at this slight delay. I’m beyond ready to bring my angel home, but there is no way I’m about to get out of helping Mom, especially with Sloane now involved in the discussion. “No problem. Yes, I have a key. We’re leaving dinner now, so we should be there in twenty.”
We all say our goodbyes as we make our way tonot home.
“Okay, so we’re missing one supporting angel, two donkeys, and a wise man costume. I think we have everything else,” I say, looking down at the mountain of clothing strewn across the room.
“What isthis?”Sloane questions as she holds up her angel costume from my pile. “What happened to a white sheetdraped over you with cutouts for your arms and a halo headband?”
“I believe this is what Blanche Sinclair has you wearing on your ‘date with the devil.’ Although by the look of this dress, I’m not sure who’s supposed to be seducing who.”
Sloane continues to stare skeptically at the dress as I walk over to her. I grab a strand of hair and push it behind her ear, leaning in to whisper, “Go try it on, and we can put that theory to the test.”
Her body shivers as my breath hits her neck, and a smirk forms on her face. “And what does the winner get?”
“Oh, I think you’ll find that there areonlywinners in this game, Angel.” I move both of my hands to cup her face as I lean in to give her a kiss.
