Page 29 of Playing for Keeps

“The Holiday Inn sounds nice,” I tell my dad.

His blue eyes turn soft in response to my words. While Val and West break out into a shoving match, I hold my dad’s gaze and let him feel okay with our choice.

The Rawkfist Motorcycle Club might be small, but they’re tight-knit. Duke used to talk about Court Bayer as a solid man and certified killer. Emmett Mercer rode with the Charleston club and was smart enough to bail once they turned psycho. Donovan Mooney is part of the local Mooney family who runs the county sheriff’s office. The homestead families might be weird, but they’re the top dogs in this county.

With Duke’s temper back in check, he focuses on Emmett. “Let’s pick a date and get things moving along. The Charleston club won’t wait around for us to make things official.”

“Do you really think they’re keeping watch?” Court asks, seeming dubious of my father’s fears.

“Their people have been spotted riding around our territory while wearing their vests.”

Emmett looks around before muttering, “If they’re looking for war, maybe a wedding isn’t what we should be planning.”

Emmett and Duke eyeball each other until Court steps between them. “I haven’t decided about patching over your club. I’m not interested in giving a shit about anything in Florida. Maybe we’ll just align our clubs, so if Charleston shows up in your area, we’ll ride to the rescue. You’ll do the same for us.”

“Won’t work!” Zeb yells out. “You’re bound to fail!”

Court shakes his head. “Ignore him. He doesn’t even know what we’re talking about.”

Justice slides between the men and hugs her husband. “It’s true. My grandfather said the exact same thing when I mentioned adding cayenne to my potato salad.”

Duke pulls out his phone. “Let’s pick a date.”

Everyone’s phones come out, and dates are rattled off. One is dismissed for being too close to a birthday. Another date falls onthe same day as a dental appointment. I try not to pout over how my special day is less important than a dental cleaning.

After they pick a date, Duke acts like he’s ready to go. I think he worries we’ll spend too much time with the future in-laws and botch the agreement.

Even though I’ve long known I wouldn’t have a real romance with a happy ending, I can’t help feeling shafted by my family’s curse. I see how Val’s family is where the women and men are gaga over each other.Why can’t my family be silly in love like that?

Totally pouting now, I say a quick goodbye to the homestead folks and follow Duke, Clover, and Grandma Erin. Before we reach the SUV, Val runs over and tugs me away from my family.

“You can’t just leave.”

“We’ll be married soon. You’ll be able to annoy me every day.”

Val only smiles at my nasty tone and words. He kneels before me and takes my hand.

“I’m going to marry you again in five years. We’ll have a wedding here at the homestead and the reception will be at your family’s diner. Our kids will be waiting with me at the altar. Your dad will be my biggest fan by then. You’ll know my family like your own. Everything will be better. Best of all, you’ll know I’m marrying you because you’re Lola, not because you’re Duke McGraw’s daughter.”

His words feel cruel because I truly believe Val means them. He wants to fall in love and have the fun marriage he saw his parents enjoy. His siblings have found their perfect people. I saw them having fun during the party. Why shouldn’t Val want the same thing?

But with me, Val won’t get his happily ever after. In five years, he’ll know how my family curse is real. Everything he wished for was a bust because he chose the wrong girl.

Val stands up and cups my face. He covers my lips with his fantastic ones and kisses me until I can feel only him. Everything around us fades away. I grip Val’s shirt, lean into his embrace, and believe in him.

For a full minute, as he deepens the kiss, I can imagine the future he described. I want Val to be mine in five years. I would love nothing more than to have him love me like his father loves his mother. I want to get old with Val, still laughing at his jokes and rubbing up against his fine body. That dream feels close enough to touch.

Eventually, a few people clear their throats to signal for Val to stop fondling me in front of my dad. As his lips leave mine, I’m back in the real world, and his dreams feel impossibly far away again.

I mumble a goodbye, saying I’ll text him and thanking everyone for the party. Duke ushers me away from the homestead folks while the club guys climb on their motorcycles. The day gets loud as engines rumble.

Settling in the back of the SUV, I don’t know how to feel. I’m depressed about how my life is clouded by a long-ago curse.

As much as I want to pout, I still feel Val’s lips on mine. He’s an amazing kisser. Once we’re married, I’ll get to enjoy his lips every day. Love might not be on the table between us, but we’re bound to have fun.

VAL, AKA THE SON OF A LAZY LOVER

The clean-up process goes quickly. King Peepaw Jared hired a bunch of teenagers to round up the trash and food. The tables are broken down. Within thirty minutes, the homestead looks like it never hosted a party.

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