Page 19 of Grease's Guide
“I love you, Cooper. Since that first time and lifetimes before, I’ve been yours,” I tell him, using his real name to prove just how serious I am about this, about him. With a shy smile, I lean down and kiss the tattoos covering his chest. I suck the barbell of his nipple ring into my mouth before releasing it and continuing down, licking and biting his abs.
Fuck, his body is a work of art. I pull the sheet down, eager to see and feel all those piercings again. I’d never tell him this, but thank the good lord for his absolutely horrendous instincts. If he had better ones, he’d still be handsome as hell, but with all the piercings, all the ink, he’s simply… hot as fuck. I follow the V, placing small kisses and tiny licks across his side, and just as I’m about to go lower, his groans filling the room…
“Oh sugarplum, wakey wakey, put up snakey and come eat some eggs and bacey!” I groan as my mother's voice carries through the door. If there was one thing almost guaranteed to dry up my lady lips, it was the sound of my mother's voice.
“When we build our house, she’s more than welcome to have an apartment above the garage, but she ain’t living in the house. Ibarely know your mama, and I can tell the only thing keeping her from busting in here is the lock on the door.”
As if to prove his words true, we hear and watch as the door handle shakes.
“Y’all decent? If not, I don't mind a little show!”
“MOM! BOUNDARIES!” I scream!
“You’re right! You’re right! I’ll just wait right out here…”
“MOTHER!”
“Fine! I’m going!” She huffs, and I hear her platform heels clicking down the hall. I groan, burying my face in Cooper’s chest again. I immediately notice his chest shaking with laughter.
“Oh, you think it’s funny, do you? Just remember, we’re a package deal! As long as you got me, you get her as well.” I smirk. He just smiles back.
“It will be the most chaotic, hair-pulling, wild ride, and I absolutely can’t wait,” he says, smiling down at me. He kisses my forehead before rolling to the side.
“I need a shower. Want to share?” he asks, waggling his eyebrows and making me scoff. He’s been inside me ninety percent of the night. How can he still want more?
“I, unlike you, need a bit of a break from the… stretch.” I try not to blush, but by his smirk, I know I’ve failed. I roll my eyes and climb out of bed, throwing on a clean t-shirt and a pair of boxers from one of his drawers.
“I need coffee. I’ll bring one back for you.” I smile as I make my way to the door. Then giggle, yes fucking giggle, as Grease wrapsboth arms around my waist and blows a raspberry into my neck. Squealing, I try to break his hold, but I can't help smiling at him, laughing, and then moaning as he kisses down my neck.
“Okay, get in the shower, big guy. I'm going for nourishment,” I tell him, pulling away reluctantly.
“I take my coffee…” he starts, but I cut him off.
“One packet of sugar and a splash of cream,” I say, turning and winking over my shoulder before skipping out of the room.
I’m just finishing adding the sugar to my coffee as I grab the handle for both cups and turn to head back to Grease and stop dead in my tracks. Standing in front of me with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face is none other than Rome. I’ve missed him so much, but I can tell this isn't a happy chat by the look on his hard face.
“Rome. How are you doing, bud?” I ask, smiling. I see the softness in his eyes before he steels himself again.
“Miss. Becky or whatever your name is. Can I have a word?” he asks, so much like a grown man, even if he is only twelve. He doesn't even wait for me to answer. He just turns and walks out of the dining room, down the hall, and out the back door before finally sitting at the picnic tables. I follow the entire way silently. I have a feeling he’s been taking this hard, but trying to be strong. He needs to get this out, and I will sit here for however long it takes him.
“I need to get a few things off my chest before I can forgive you for what you did. Is that alright with you?” he asks, trying to meet my eyes with a hard stare. Still, I see the vulnerability that always lingers behind his eyes. I give him a nod and a small smile, and he continues.
“You’ve been with us a long time. You helped me transition here when Rae and I first came. You’ve always been someone I could trust and rely on… until recently. I don't say that to hurt you. I understand how people have things happen and feel they are doing the right thing by leaving. It's happened over and over again. First, with my parents, and when mom and pop found us at that skating rink, I thought we might finally have something stable to hold on to. Then Aunt Sunny came into our lives and, just like our parents… she left. The old ladies got her back, but still, she left. Then Aunt Jade got here, and just like my parents, she left, even if it wasn't her choice. Again, we got her back. Aunt Ophelia was next, and you saw what happened there. See the pattern? People always leavin’. What made it worse when you left, though, is you let us get close to you for years. You let us trust you. You let me believe you were always going to be here. Then you left, and I had to watch one of the funniest, toughest, badass men I’ve ever known wither away… for months.”
His words are breaking my heart. The steel in his voice is tearing me to shreds. He should have never had to deal with what we’ve all put him through, what I put him through. I stay quiet as silent tears roll down my cheeks. He needs to get this out, and no matter how hard it is, I know I need to hear every word.
“I know this talk is usually for the man in the relationship, but I was here when you left. I watched my favorite uncle deteriorate in front of me. You remember that word Miss. Be- I mean Lyra? You taught it to me. From the start, Unk Grease has been the only one who's ever treated me as more than a kid. He understood I grew up quick and let me work through my shit and my issues with a wrench in my hand and under the hood of a car. And every time I looked up… he was there. He didn't pry into my past or talk about my feelings and shit. He made jokes, taught me the ins and outs of the shop, and listened when I needed himto. He is my best friend, and I had to watch him die every single day for the months that you were gone. I was so angry at you for what you were doing to him,” he grits out as he lets his head bow and uncrosses his arms. I give him time, and when he lifts his head again, I see tears coursing down his face.
“I’mstillangry at you. I want to be happy that you're back and here. I missed you so much, but I'm still so angry. I’ve never seen Unk like that. He lost so much weight, and he barely brushed his hair or got up out of bed. He drank so much some days that I would find him passed out in one of the cars in the shop. I can't let you hurt him like that again.” This time, when he lifts his head, his chin rises in the hair, and he gives me that hard stare.
“So, this is your warning. If you plan to leave again, do it now because if you cause him any more pain, I’ll… I’ll….” He looks off to the side like he's trying to come up with something horrible, but I know this kid. He never struggles with torture. He is the product of Loki and Halle. He basically has a degree in it. I then realize he doesn't want to hurt me, either. This is when I need to cut in and take that burden from his shoulders. I stand from my seat and walk around the picnic table. I pull Rome into my arms and hold him tight, letting the tears fall.
“I won't be going anywhere from now on. I am so sorry for every hurt and heartbreak I caused you and this family. I will work my whole life to find that forgiveness from this club. As for your uncle, I love that man and his smart-ass mouth more than life itself. I thought I was protecting you all by leaving, but I won't make that mistake again. I love you, Rome, and thank you for having this talk with me. I know it took a lot.” I squeeze him tighter and let him work through his emotions. Then we hear the door bang open. We pull away and look to see Grease walking through the door, cigarette hanging from his lip.
“There you are, woman! What happened to my coffee?” He smirks, which causes the bud to bounce on his lips. I roll my eyes, walk his way, pull the nasty thing from his lip, and kiss his cheek.
“Talk to him, then come meet me back inside. Also, let's work on quitting this habit.” I wiggle the cigarette in front of him. His eyes are on Rome, though, and they are soft. I walk inside, giving them privacy and wondering how the hell I’m going to make it up to all these people for what I’ve done.