Page 33 of Ma Belle Marguerite
Ignoring what he’s saying, I bend down and grab my purse as I back out the door towards my SUV. Maybe I can sneak away if he’s distracted while yelling at his guys.
As I reach for my door handle, I feel Rex’s presence behind me. “Where do you think you’re going,Ma Belle Marguerite?” He’s so close I can feel his breath on my neck as he speaks. I feel his hand on mine as he gently takes my gun from my hand.Fuck I forgot I still had that.
Taking a deep breath, I act like I don't feel him there, trying not to show him how he is affecting me. “I told you, I need to get to the twin's school. I’m already late.”
“Get in my truck. It’s safer.” Moving beside me, Rex reaches around my back, places his hand on my side, and leads me towards his truck. My body lets out an involuntary shudder.
The feeling of his touch has me unfocused. I find myself leaning into him and letting him lead me where he wants me to go. It sounds cliche, but I have that butterfly feeling. I haven’t felt that flutter since before I moved away for college. The last few times we’ve been together, it’s been carnal urges. This is different.
“Climb in,Ma Belle. I’ll bring you to the school, and I won’t sit too close to you so the twins don’t know I’m there with you. But I will not be leaving you. I must be close in case whoever broke into your house tries something.” Rex’s voice breaks me from my trance.
“Fine, but promise you won’t say or do anything in front of them? It has only been six months since they lost their father. They won’t be ready, and quite frankly, I’m not ready to deal with all of the mess in a relationship. This cannot be anything other than professional in front of them,” I say sternly. I’m not willing to budge on this.
Rex helps me into his truck. “I promise I will be your boss only when we are around them. For now.” He closes the door while I stare at where he was standing.
Rex gets in the driver's seat without saying anything else and places my gun in his truck's center console. We drive to the school, which is on the other side of town, in silence. My mind plays back everything that just happened. What the fuck was I thinking? I obviously wasn’t; instincts to protect my home and family kicked in. I should have listened to Rex and went outside, but I won’t admit that to him. I squeeze my hands together totry and hide the slight tremor. I can’t show weakness; I am my family's strength now.
As we pull into the parking lot, Rex looks at me, takes a deep breath, and says, “I want you to move in with me tonight. I don’t care what excuse you give the twins. You’re not safe at your place, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you when I could have stopped it.” I can tell by the look in his eyes that he isn’t willing to budge on this.
I get where he is coming from, but I need to be able to take care of my family without always relying on someone. “I will think about it, and there needs to be a good reason. I’ll need to sneak away to buy more clothes before they notice I’m always wearing this outfit. Every piece of clothing I own has been shredded. Once I have done that then we can talk.” Turning away from Rex, frustrated for appearing weak, I try to open my door, but he locks it.
“Wait for me. Don't get out yet,” Rex quickly jumps out of the truck and runs to my door. Opening the door, he reaches up and gives me his hand to help me out of the truck.
He always was a sweetheart, treating me like a queen. I’m happy that the mafia's lifestyle hasn’t changed him too much, it seems. “I can get out by myself, you know,” I say. “But thank you, Rexy.” I kiss his cheek quickly and start walking towards the back of the school, where the football field is.
It is like deja-vu. Rex always used to open doors for me and walk me places when we went to school here. We spent many breaks in his truck, making out and sometimes just talking. The sound of cheering ahead brings me out of my memories and back to the present.
Remi has decided to try football for now until hockey starts up again. He can’t just sit still. This kid has so much energy and needs somewhere to channel it. I really hope his tryout goes well. He could use the positive news in his life right now. Also,it would help him make friends faster, hopefully. The move has been really hard on him, mostly because he had to leave his friends behind. He’s excited to be closer to his grandparents and to possibly play on a better hockey team.
I spot Camille and Giselle huddled on the bleachers, looking at something on their phones.I didn’t know Giselle was coming.As I walk over to them, I look around for the twins. I spot Remi talking to the coach and give a little wave, hoping he spots me too. He doesn’t, so I look like an idiot waving for no reason.Thanks, kid.
I keep looking around for Brielle. I see her by the school doors talking to another girl who looks to be her age. I smile to myself. They are slowly starting to settle in here. Maybe this was the right move after all.
As I get to the bleachers, Camille notices I’m here first. “Bella, over here, we saved you a spot!” she yells, causing everyone close by to turn and stare. Just what I wanted, all eyes on me.
I quickly climb over to where they are sitting, but they engulf me in a group hug before I can sit down. I missed these girls; visiting here and there wasn’t enough over the years. Long distance besties is hard. We made it work, but I’m grateful to have their full time help with the kids now, and of course I am sure many girls' nights to come.
Finally, they let me go, and we sit. A few seats behind me, I see Rex is sitting and watching the team run a play on the field. At least he’s keeping his word for now. Knowing him, it won't last long.
“Camille said something happened at your place. What’s going on?” Giselle asks, concern showing on her face. “Is everything okay?”
I take a moment to think about how much I should tell them. I don’t want them to think I’ve gone completely crazy. I mean, I would think that if I were them. Who grabs a gun and chasesafter a potential intruder? Me, apparently. But we have always had a ‘we listen and don’t judge’ kind of friendship, so I decide to tell them everything. They are my closest friends, after all and have proved time and time again that they are always there for me no matter what.
Camille’s face drops the more I explain, and she eventually cuts me off, “You cannot stay at your house! Who knows what they would do to you or the twins if they did that to your stuff? You’re going to come stay with me for now. I have two spare rooms. The kids can take those, and you can stay with me. Slumber party!”
I see Giselle out of the corner of my eye, nodding in agreement with what Camille is saying. “You sound like Rex!” I say, rolling my eyes. “We’ll be fine. I’ll just ask my dad to install a security system. Besides, I don't want the kids to find out what happened.”
“Not happening. You know we don’t take no for an answer, young lady.” Giselle tries to be demanding, giving me her best stern look. She’s the kind of Aunt that says no more cake, but then caves at the first pouty face and gives the kids more cake.
Camille interjects before I can answer. “What has Rex been saying? Why do you think we sound like him?” She has the biggest smirk on her face. “Have you two been ‘hanging out’? Been keeping secrets ‘Ma Belle?’” She makes air quotes in my direction with a wink.
Laughing with a small smile on my face, I say, “Wow, you’re nosey tonight. Let me see, I’m working for him now after the panic attack I had in the hospital yesterday. Oh and he wants the twins and me to move in with him.”Oh crap, I never told them about that. They’re going to kill me!
“What panic attack? Why are we just hearing about all of this now? Have you slept with Rex yet? Did he bring you here? Is thatwhy he was walking in after you? What are we, chopped liver now?” Giselle is firing off question after question.
“Slow down, too much at once,” I laugh. We hear cheering and turn to see that Remi has the ball.
He’s running as if his life depends on it towards the end zone. Nobody is even close behind him, he’s too fast. I jump up and down, yelling his name as he scores a touchdown. “That’s my boy!”
