Page 22 of Claiming Her Cougar
No.I can’t even consider that seriously for a second.I’m not so much of an asshole that I’d ever suggest that her career is less important than mine.If Morgan Development is where she wants to be, then that’s where she’ll be.
I have to hope that if we’re meant to be together, we will be.I guess I’m a bit of a romantic, just like Dad.He knew from the first time he met Mom in Grammy Morgan’s classroom that she was the woman for him.Mom was Grammy’s student teacher and was reluctant to get to know Dad because of the conflict, but he convinced her.Hmm.The parallels aren’t lost on me.I’ll have to chat up my parents on their history to see if I can pick up some tips.I don’t have to use anything I learn from my parents, but it’s good to have information.
My brain keeps telling me now is not the time, that I need to focus on my career and the team.I don’t need a relationship complicating things.But I think that’s fear talking.I’m not going to let fear rule me.My heart and my cougar and yeah, my cock, keep reacting to Mallory.I can’t stop thinking about her.Why should I?Would dating her really make me less successful?Do I really think being with her would ruin my chances with the team?No, I don’t.I’m going for it.I’m not giving up on Mallory yet.
I debate whether I should shower before going to Logan and Daphne’s, but no one else will have, and I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard.I’ll just change my shirt.I put on a black T-shirt and a gray heather sweater and decide to change into clean jeans since I was poking around some dusty places in the Atlantic City property.I wash my face, brush my teeth, and run a comb through my hair.I think I look pretty good.I hope Mallory does too.
I pick up the IPA Logan and I currently favor from the liquor store and park at the curb in front of my cousin’s home.The ranch house looks cute, dripping with all the Christmas lights I helped hang.Headlights appear in my rearview, and Mallory’s MINI Cooper parks behind my truck.I get out and wait on the sidewalk for Mallory to exit her vehicle.
“Did you just get here too?”she asks.
“I did.Just pulled up a moment before you.I was admiring the lights.”
“They’re beautiful,” she says wistfully.“I love the old-fashioned multicolor lights the most.My family favors the white lights, so they always outvoted me.”
As we walk up the walkway to the front door, we hear a whir, and the inflatables on the lawn start to grow.
“Oh, my goodness.They have a Gritty!”Mallory enthuses.
“Are you a Gritty fan too?Daphne is obsessed with him.When we saw this at Home Depot, Logan knew he had to get him as a surprise for her.”
“IloveGritty.He’s my boo thang.Best mascot in sports.I still love the Phillie Phanatic, but Gritty is next-level awesome.If I ever got a tattoo, it would be to commemorate my Gritty love.”
I’m distracted by thoughts of where Mallory would put a tattoo of the Flyers mascot and that all her beautiful skin is unmarked.
“You’re here!”Daphne calls from the porch.I didn’t realize she’d come outside.
“OMG, you have a Gritty!I am so jelly!”Mallory squeals, hugging Daphne like they didn’t just spend eight hours together.
Laughing, Daphne hugs me as Logan relieves me of the six-pack.“Logan scored major points getting him.We got the Snoopy yesterday.I think we’re going to end up being that house.”She makes air quote fingers when sayingthat.No doubt they will indeed bethathouse in the neighborhood, and I’m glad.Daphne has suffered a lot of loss, and she deserves to be happy and have all the holiday celebrations life offers.
“I kinda want a blow- up Gritty,” Mallory says as she enters the house, “but I’m out in the woods.No one will see him but me, so that seems silly.”
I cross the threshold behind her.“If it makes you happy, it’s not silly.Life is short.Take joy where you can find it.”
Three pairs of eyes look at me with various degrees of surprise.
I shrug.
“You’re absolutely right, Liam,” Daphne says, with a sheen in her big brown eyes.She knows as well as I do how fragile life is.She lost her parents in a car accident when she was a teenager.I thankfully survived my accident, but it reinforced the truth that tomorrow is not guaranteed.If you have a chance for happiness, you should embrace it.If happiness is a curvy redhead with gorgeous green eyes, then I’m all for embracing her too.Now to convince her that her happiness can be found in a six-foot-three, bearded, broken, former hockey player.
8
MALLORY
I lovethe change Logan’s brought not just to Daphne’s life, but to their home as well.When I’ve hung out here with her before, it was like entering a time capsule from when her grandmother owned the house.Daphne kept most of the furniture and knickknacks the same as her grandmother had it.Daphne inhabited the home she inherited, but she wasn’tlivingin it.Logan stayed here between trips as a travel photographer, but he hadn’t really made a mark on the home, either.Now that they’re a couple, his place in her life and home is more apparent.
There are pictures from his travels on the walls that weren’t there a few weeks ago.They’ve ripped up the old carpet to show off the beautiful hardwood floors underneath.Brighter colors are splashed around with throw pillows and a patterned area rug under the coffee table.It looks like somewhere a couple in their twenties live.The Christmas lights and inflatables bring joy to the exterior, and it looks like they’re decorating the bay window in the living room.
“What are you putting in the window?”I ask.
“We have a collection of ceramic houses that Gran and I used to put in the window.I didn’t bother the last few years, but this year, we’re setting them up again,” Daphne says.
“Did you show her the addition to the village, Logan?”Liam asks.
Logan glares at his cousin.I guess he didn’t show her.
“Is the food being delivered, or were one of you going to pick it up?”I try to change the subject.
