Page 20 of Savage for You

“Halloween.”

“What?! My favorite holiday! We can do it. I’ll help you.”

“Really, you don’t mind?”

“Hell no. One thing Dylan was good at was showing me different ways to help lose weight and strengthen my body. In turn, it helped with my mental health too. Let’s do the damn thing.” I grin.

We set a plan in motion for her. In my opinion, she doesn’t need to lose any weight, but if it makes her happy that’s all that matters. It will help her mentally too, because she needs to know that no matter what the scale says, she is perfect.

seven

Rocky

I finally kissed her.

Last night, I kissed Montana. I couldn't resist her any longer; she looked too perfect, too beautiful, teasing me with her lips and smile.

This kiss felt different though. I’ve had my fair share of kisses, but kissing Montana was soft and delicate. It felt like something kept pulling me in for more. I know she has her walls up. I know she’s afraid to fall again, but soon she’ll realize that once she’s with me, I’ll never hurt her.

I don’t know much about her other than she’s funny, beautiful, and feisty as fuck. I want her to open up to me more, so I need to make her feel more comfortable with me. I need her to know that when she walked into my life, everything I once thought I wanted didn't seem to matter much anymore.

Have you ever met someone, and felt like you’ve known them your whole life? That’s what I felt the moment I locked eyes with her.

My parents had a love that you would only see in the movies during college, and they made it work even while my dad went on to play professional hockey—they never let anything get in the way of their love. I know that I can have that too, and I hope it's with her, but only time will tell. I need to show her I’m nothing like her ex.

Thinking back on the times I had growing up in my house, there was always something going on. I love those memories, and the times that my mom packed us up to go to the park for a picnic to unwind and get some time together. Hockey season in my house was always wild. My dad would be gone for a week when he had a stretch of away games.

We would meet with Talia, my mom's best friend, and her daughter. I don’t remember much about her, just that we called her Rissa. I mostly didn’t want to be bothered because at the time, you know how it goes when you only want to play with boys, and the girls only want to play with the girls. There was one time I remember—not vividly, but maybe through stories my mom would tell us—and she said I told her I was going to marry her.

One day we were at the store, and you know those machines when you walk out that have the toys? Well, I saw one with rings and I begged my mom for quarters to get Rissa a ring. She was running around the park, and a boy tried to kiss her. She pushed him down, told him not to touch her, and that he had cooties. I ran over there and wanted to punch the kid because I wanted to be her first kiss.

When we were playing, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said yes, and I got up and kissed her. I was seven and she was six. She didn’t push me away and tell me that I have cooties. As I think back on these memories, it sucks that I won't be able to keep my promise to marry her, because I’m falling for someone else.

We moved away from Minnesota to California when I was eight, because my dad got traded from the Wild to the Los Angeles Kings. Moving from the Midwest to the west coast was definitely a culture shock. We stayed in Cali for seven years until his contract was up and he retired. Hockey takes a major toll on your body, and since my dad was a defenseman, he had gotten a few concussions and with that, my mom said enough was enough.

She wanted him over the money. Their love has always shone so bright. Even when someone came forward and said that my dad had cheated on my mom—we knew it wasn’t true. This woman had said she was pregnant, and my dad didn’t even flinch. He said it wasn’t true and that when the baby was born, they would know it wasn’t his. She just wanted to make a quick buck and use my family as collateral damage. My mom didn’t fight it because she knew deep in her heart that she was lying. My dad was then and still is obsessed with my mom.

I was so upset with my dad and one night my mom came into my room and said, “Baby, your daddy loves me more than the breath in his body. More than the game he’s played his whole life. I know he would never hurt us. Not just me, but us. I am not worried about it, my love. Don’t let the things people say get to you. When you are in the spotlight one day, you’ll learn that you need to have thick skin.”

She was right, and we had no reason to worry because it was all a lie. This woman was a puck bunny who tried to ruin my family for a payout, not realizing that my parents’ relationship was tighter than Fort Knox. It was at that moment I promised myself that I will never give my wife a reason to doubt me, and she will know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she is it for me. When I marry someone, I won't settle for anything less than what my parents have.

I’m going to prove to Montana that I’m not like her ex-boyfriend. That will start today, and I’ll keep showing her that she has nothing to worry about. You know what they say, actions speak louder than words, right?

I take out my phone and text her.

Me: Hey Killer, you busy?

Killer: Depends Savage… What do you have in mind? This serial killer documentary is good, so it’ll have to be better than this

Me: Haha I was thinking a picnic in the park. You down?

Killer: That sounds great. What time should I be ready?

Me: Will an hour be enough time?

Killer: Yes, see you soon.

An hour later I’m at her door, ready to show my girl that I’m a man of my word. I mean what I say, and I say what I mean. She may have doubts now, but I will show her I won't break her heart or her trust. I have a picnic basket packed with our food, her favorite drinks and Flamin’ Hot Funyuns. I texted Talon to see what her favorite sub sandwich was.