Page 18 of Playing for Keeps

“Pitched tent after dreaming of you,” he wrote. “Soon, I’ll have an outlet for this thing.”

That message annoyed the hell out of me. The next day, I expected another boner picture. Instead, he sent a sleepy selfie.

“Woke up thinking of you. This is the face you’ll see every morning. Feeling lucky?”

I admit to swooning over that photo. Val’s so handsome, and his smile is incredibly infectious. I also liked how he wasn’t only thinking of us boning.

Other messages included pictures of his family. There was one of Tuesday and Alexis—West’s redheaded wife—cuddled up with Poppy. I received one of Poppy arguing with her older sisters, Journey and Justice. The women weren’t even pretending to sell their anger.

All week, Val sent pictures of his family and the homestead. He introduced me to the various family pets. He sent an image of his grandfather feeling up his grandmother when they thought no one was looking.

I wanted to send him pictures of my family and the regulars at the diner. Yet, I’m afraid to let Val own my heart. No matter how excited he seems about getting married, I don’t believe I’ll ever own his heart.

“Did you ever pretend to love Mom in a romantic way?” I blurt out as we near Tumbling Rock.

“She always knew what was happening,” Duke says and then mutters, “Why? Did she say otherwise?”

“No. I was just wondering what marriage without romance feels like.”

“Oh, your father was plenty romantic,” Grandma Erin assures me. “He brought her flowers and remembered important dates.”

“Dad is great about his Google calendar,” Clover says, and I catch my dad smirking.

“Just because a marriage isn’t sparked by love doesn’t mean the two people have to treat each other like work buddies,” Duke explains, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “You can make it as fun as you want, Lola.”

“I liked my husbands,” Grandma Erin announces. “I liked my first husband’s sperm and my second husband’s wallet. For my third husband, I absolutely fell in love with his sex skills.”

“I do remember you mentioning that a lot back then,” Duke says, fighting his urge to tell her to zip it. “You might have mentioned his dick size in a Christmas letter one year.”

My grandmother laughs wildly. “It was very impressive.” Turning around to look at me, Erin smiles. “One day, I bet you’ll brag plenty about Val Mercer’s dick in your Christmas letter.”

“I’m not doing those.”

“We’ll see if you can deny their pull once your kiddos come along.”

“I don’t want to be a grandfather,” Duke grumbles. “No need for you to rush to have kids.”

“I don’t want to be an old mom.”

“Thirty isn’t old.”

“Neither is forty,” I tell him.

Duke smiles at how I soothe his banged-up ego. Despite my emotional clusterfuck this week, I’ve never forgotten why this is happening. I need to protect my family, the club, and my hometown. Val might be a swoon-worthy dumbass, but he’ll take on a leadership role in a way the meatheads riding behind us never can.

I’m feeling optimistic as we pull down the road leading to the homestead. A dozen homes are scattered across the picturesque land. I also spot several large detached garages. Based on Val’s pictures, the homestead includes an indoor pool and a playroom. He’s already challenged me to a game of ping pong.

“Winner gets oral with no expectation of reciprocity,” explained his text.

I’d rolled my eyes at his words, yet I also cried a little. Val Mercer is everything I want. Legally, he’ll be mine. However, I want more than a piece of paper or an alliance for the club’s sake.

I want everything from Val, and he acts like I can have it.

VAL, AKA RALLYING THE TROUBLEMAKING TROOPS

I’ve been in a state of heat since leaving Lola back in Basin Rock. Each day, my need grows more obnoxious. I have never whacked off more in my life. I can handle the hard-ons. Yet, my heart is actually in pain waiting to see her again.

Finally, the day of the engagement party arrives. The food is delivered. The sound system is ready to play great tunes from Lynyrd Skynyrd to The Killers. I have Lola’s favorite song, “Foolin” by Def Leppard set to play as she arrives.

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