Page 33 of His Forever
***
He met them at the diner after saying he needed to run by the shop. She wasn’t surprised when he came in and said, “I brought over a converter so you can plug in your heating pad, mi siempre hermosa.”Hmm, so that’s why he insisted I bring it. Out loud, she said, “Thank you. That will definitely help.”
Over breakfast, he shared some of his tow truck stories with them and by the time they were finished, her stomach hurt from laughing. As he walked them over to Paulie’s car, she smiled up at him. “Zeus? If no one has ever said it, I think you’re terrific.”
He squeezed her hand as he grinned down at her. “No, mi siempre hermosa, can’t recall anyone telling me that so thank you.”
Reaching the car, he pulled her into his arms and placed a short but sweet kiss on her lips. “You take it easy today, okay? I’m glad Paulie and Gray are going to be there with you. And don’t forget to take your medicine.”
“I won’t. Thank you for thinking about a pillow and throw.”
“Paulie said the medicine knocks you out. You might as well be comfortable.”
“This is true.”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Chapter Eleven
She fell asleep shortly after they got on the road and woke up about twenty minutes before they arrived. “Ugh, I wish I could just sleep through this whole day,” she exclaimed as she sat up in the backseat.
“Trust us, we know how you feel,” Paulie said as he maneuvered off the exit and toward the exclusive gated community her parents lived.
“Why does Mother insist on this?” she mused. “I’ll never be good enough in her mind and quite honestly, if my sisters and brother and their lives are what is good enough? I don’t want to be!”
“I don’t know, chica, but at least it’s only once a month.”
“Wonder how she would like Zeus?”
“Psssh, she won’t because he’s a mechanic,” Paulie told her.
“Yeah, and a very successful business owner as well,” she retorted.
“Your dad will love him,” Gray finally said.
“Yeah, Daddy will like him because he’s so good to me,” she said, smiling. “I don’t understand why he never left Mother. She sure as hell doesn’t treat him well.”
“Because your mother never signed a pre-nup and she would take half of what he’s built,” Paulie told her.
“What? That’s the only reason he stays? That’s just bullshit!”
“Perhaps you need to tell him that, chica.”
“I just might do that! She’s a cold, unfeeling woman and Daddy deserves better!”
“Well, hold on to that thought. We’re here,” Paulie said as he pulled into the circular driveway.
***
Taking a deep breath to steel herself against what she knew would be her mother’s disdain over what she was wearing, she opened the front door. “Marleigh!” she heard before she was engulfed in her dad’s arms.
“Hi, Daddy. How are you today?” she asked.
“Let me look at you, Princess,” he said. “Your new life must be agreeing with you!”
“I love it there,” she said, a smile lighting her face. “The people are fantastic and the man I’m seeing…”