Page 34 of Hook
"Let me get this straight. You tow this woman's car, she drags you into a shitstorm, and now you're telling me you're claiming her? She's going to be your ol' lady?"
I thought there'd be more hesitation, but there's none, "Yes, that's what I'm saying."
"I guess this changes things then. Congratulations." Brick smirks and puts his hand out for me. I grab hold of it, and he pulls me into a half-armed hug. I'd just told him that I was basically marrying this girl, and I don't have even the slightest bit of nervousness about that.
"She's free to come and go as she wishes. Her fight is our fight. I'll let the rest of the guys know what I know, but you're going to have to give us all the details before this shit gets out of hand." Brick nods once, and I nod back. I want to get back to Bea; I'll handle everything else later.
I walk out of church and walk right by everyone once again. "What the fuck, Hook? I'm starting to feel like you don't love us anymore," Pipe shouts at my back. I flip him the bird and hearthe group laugh as I walk out the door and into the courtyard. There's a noticeable bounce to my step.
Why am I so damn excited? I've never wanted an ol' lady before. I always thought it was too much of a hassle to have some woman that I'd have to tell my business to and have to keep safe. I don't feel that way about Bea. She's making me want things I never thought were possible.
I get back to the office and can hear the shower still running. I quickly open the door to the bathroom, fighting against my urge to stare at her while she showers. Even she deserves a little privacy. I place a towel and the clothes I brought back for her on the side of the toilet and close the door as I walk out.
"Thank you," she calls out through the door. I walk over to the couch where she left her sweater and pick it up. When I do, a small box falls out of her pocket. It's pink and purple. At first, I think it's a box of tampons or some girly stuff like that, but when I look at the packaging and read what it says on it, I realize it's a Plan B pill.
She's taking precautions so she doesn't get pregnant. She's right.
We shouldn't be tempting fate with her getting pregnant right now.
I don't know her that well.
She's already left me once.
I go through at least fourteen reasons in my mind as to why I should just put the pills back in her pocket and pretend like I never saw them.
I keep coming up with reason after reason as I walk into the garage and to the barrel of oil I'm supposed to send off for recycling.
"Oops," I whisper to myself as I drop the small box into the dark liquid. I don't know what possesses me to do it, and if she really wants to take one of those pills, I'll drive her to the pharmacy so she can get another one. But I feel good with my decision to take away her way to not get pregnant. It's a bad idea, but it seems like all I've been making recently are bad ideas, and somehow I still managed to have Bea in my life.
"I look crazy," Bea complains as she tries once again to fix the too big shirt so it's tighter around her body.
"No one in here is going to care what you look like. You're clothed; that's all that matters."
"I look like a slob."
"You don't have to impress anyone."
"Not even you?" Bea looks up at me, and I stop her just before we walk into the clubhouse.
"You could be covered in transmission oil with dirt caked all over your body, and I'd still bend you over the closest surface to fuck the shit out of you." I let my words sink in and use my finger to close her slightly dropped jaw.
"You're so bad." She whispers as I turn back to the door, push it open and escort her in.
This time when I walk in, none of the guys are paying attention to me. They all stop whatever hobby they're doing to look up at Bea as she walks in.
"Hi, Bea," they all say in unison, which causes her to giggle and blush.
"Shut the fuck up," I bark back as I continue on my way to my room. I stop just at the door, suddenly hit with a wave of nerves.
This is the first time I've ever let a woman inside my personal space. Now she’s going to be staying here for the foreseeable future. I want her to like it. I want her to think of this as her home. I feel bad that I didn't have much time to get it nice for her, but I didn't think anything like this would ever happen to me. The room is set up just for when I sleep, not for my ol' lady.
"We can change things in here if you want," I say to her before I open the door.
"Okay." Bea nods and waits for me to open the door.
"Fuck it," I murmur as I push the door open and let her in.
There's nothing around—just a queen-sized bed, a dresser, a TV, and a closet. There aren't even any chairs in the room. It's absolutely bare.