Page 95 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“This all looks very good. Thank you, sir.”

“I heard you guys are officially dating now.” He winks at me.

“We are.” I feel my cheeks flush a little, which is weird because I’m not the type to be shy or embarrassed, but this time I am meeting my girlfriends’ parents for real. Last time had been easier, knowing our situation was fake.

Annie’s mom sits with us at the table for dinner. She is making cordial conversation and asking about our plans for the rest of the semester.

After dinner, her parents say they need to speak with Annie, so I head over to the guest room and get settled. Being back here feels nostalgic. I take a shower and remember getting myself off to thoughts of Annie. I had been a goner for her from the start. Our real relationship is still new but we also feel solid. I only worry with the semester coming to an end in a couple of months we will be faced with some serious decisions. I want Annie in my life. Dad has been feeling out some teams for me in the Midwest. Minnesota seems to be very interested but nothing is set in stone and, at this point, I don’t see my life without Annie in it.

It takes Annie about an hour to come find me. A knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I say to her.

She walks in.

“I thought we were past knocking,” I say to her.

“We are. My parents are divorcing and for the first time in my life, they seem to be agreeing about everything and getting along. How ironic is that?” She crawls beside me on the bed and curls into my side.

A loud yawn escapes her. She falls asleep in my arms, curled against my body. She fits perfectly against me and I know this is how I always want us to be.

Annie

My eyes shoot open and for a moment I’m confused by my surroundings. I fell asleep in my clothes, tucked into the side of Cade’s body. A place I feel safe. I inhale his sandalwood scent and move out of his arms. He shifts a little but he doesn’t wake. I quietly leave his room, not wanting Daddy to catch me sleeping in here. I am twenty-one years old, almost twenty-two. I’m an adult, but Daddy has house rules and I want to respect them.

I slowly trudge upstairs to my room and take a shower. I need a bottle of shampoo so I open the cabinet where I keep an extra stash of supplies and see my box of vibrators. Being with Cade doesn’t even compare to using those toys. I really didn’t know what I was missing out on all this time. I shower and shave everything that needs shaving. I get dressed in a pair of jeans and an oversized wool sweater. I dry my hair quickly and go downstairs to the kitchen.

“Morning,” I say to Mom, who is sitting at the table reading a paper. “Aren’t you working today?”

“I took a few days off work. I know I’ve behaved badly where you’re concerned. I’m not asking for forgiveness, but I’d like a chance to show you I can do better,” she says, surprising me.

I fill a glass with orange juice and drink half of it. “I’m not sure what to say. You’ve been crappy to me my whole life. I can’t just turn some switch on inside me and say now everything is going to be okay.”

“I get that. I do. You don’t know this, but your grandpa and I had a strained relationship. It’s only after he died that I felt sorrow, but it was too late to change anything,” she explains. She looks sincere, but I don’t know if she will flip or change her mind because something sets her off.

“I can’t make any promises. We can’t force things, but I am willing to try,” I say to her. I’m not the type of person to hold grudges, but I also don’t see myself ignoring her poor behavior for as long as I can remember. “I also expect you to treat Cade with respect. Ford and I are never getting back together, and I need you to accept it.”

“Look, you make your bed, and you sleep in it,” she replies.

Well, that didn’t last long. I give her a flabbergasted look. “Seriously?”

Her shoulders sag and she winces. “Sorry, it’s going to take me time. I’ll show Cade the respect he deserves.”

“Thanks.”

I pour another glass of orange juice and take it to the guest room. I walk in and Cade opens his eyes. “Good morning.”

He grins when I pass him the OJ. “Thanks.”

“What are you in the mood to do today?” I ask.

“We didn’t get to take that horseback ride the last time,” he reminds. Cade is thoughtful, I shouldn’t feel surprised he remembers, yet he never ceases to amaze me.

“I like that idea. I’ll let you get dressed.”

I stand away from the bed.

“Oh, Annie, we should also say hi to Sally.”

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