Page 26 of Misrule
Knox poured a Scotch for himself, then held up the glass. “Anyone care for a drink?”
What a mighty fine man he was, with eyes that reminded Roxy of sparkling amber, a chiseled jaw, slim waist, and a fine ass that was quite squeezable as they made love.
He sipped from his glass, his gaze never leaving hers, lit with promises and innuendoes.
Licking her lips, Roxy patted her hair. Tonight, she didn’t wear a wig. At their family dinners, she usually went without. Still, her hair had grown even longer, which she was so happy about, considering one of the side effects of Tamoxifen was hair loss.
“Drinks, anyone?” Knox asked again, after another heated look at her.
Johnnie lifted his glass of Scotch. “We still have what we were given before we started eating.”
“All right.” Knox sipped, then cleared his throat. “Everyone, may I have your attention?”
The low conversations going on amongst everyone stopped as the group quieted.
“Thank you.”
Knox was so proper and polite. She loved that about him. She loved how they made their differences work. Sometimes, though, doubts crept into her. Roxy would shove them away and remind herself that Knox loved her, so much so he hadn’t even asked her for a prenup.
He probably knew that would be a deal breaker.
“Roxanne and Bailey have set a date for the dual ceremonies,” Knox announced. “August of this year. On the sixth.”
Digger licked his fingers. “That’s months away.”
“Glad to know you can fucking count,” Mortician joked around a mouthful of food.
In response, Digger opened his mouth to reveal the half-chewed contents.
“Nasty motherfucker,” Roxy complained. “Do that shit again and your ass is barred from eating in my house.”
“Aww, Roxanne, I didn’t mean no harm,” Digger complained.
“Not toher,” Mortician pointed out. “You wanted to turn my fucking stomach so I wouldn’t eat the rest of the week.”
“More for my ass, then,” Digger retorted.
“That’s where the fuck all that food goin’,” Outlaw said with a snicker. “Straight to your fuckin’ big ass.”
“Bruh, that’s fucking cold,” Digger said, pointing a chicken bone in Outlaw’s direction.
“Excuse me!” Knox inserted, his smile thin. “As much as I’m enjoying this banter, we want to settle a few things about the wedding.”
“Yeah, Digger. That mean shut the fuck up,” Mortician ordered.
Digger started to say something, but Roxy stood and clapped her hands as a teacher would, to restore order. “Enough, boys!” she called. “Show some manners.”
Digger gave her an under-eyed look. “What that mean?”
“Nothing you would know about, since you never had any class,” Val put in with a snigger.
If she didn’t forge on, shit would get out of hand, so before anybody else made a comment, Roxy looked at Outlaw.
“Mortician is going to be a groom that day, Outlaw,” she started, suddenly nervous. She was having a big wedding where she needed to be given away. At her age. Maybe, asking to be escorted down the aisle was just too fucking much. She could walk her own ass up to the altar. Only Bailey needed to be given away. Ignoring her silly disappointment, she waved her hand and sat back down between Bailey and Bunny. “Don’t worry about it, sugar. It was just a stupid idea I had.”
“It isn’t stupid, Mama!” Bailey cried, turning to Outlaw. “Mama wants you to give her away.”
Instead of answering, Outlaw glared at Roxy. She kept a smile pasted on her face, but his reaction poured even more embarrassment into her. She’d grin and bear his words since she was the one who’d started this.
