Page 58 of Tucker
“I’mnineteen!” he huffs, sounding offended and making the rest of us laugh.
“Whichis still two years short of legal,” Zoe reminds him.
Justuschuckles and lowers his voice. “And we all know we’d never break the law.”
Hannahsmacks his chest. “None of us would give alcohol to a teenager.”
“Ow!Take it easy! You’ll damage the merchandise.” Justus brushes off his chest, andhis sister rolls her eyes.
“Sadie,you’re a saint. I don’t know how you put up with him.”
“Thebig cock helps,” Justus says.
“NowI really need a drink,” Hannah grumbles, walking away.
Tuckertakes my beer, opens it, and hands it back to me.
Agrin leaps onto Justus’s face. He gestures between us. “What’s all this?”
“Allwhat?” I reply, trying to remain inconspicuous.
“No,no, no. I saw that. You two are…” He makes a hand gesture that causes the boysin the pool to crack up, and Sadie shoves him.
There’sno point in denying it, but I still look to Tucker to see what he wants to do.No indecision exists on his part, and he slings his arm around my shoulder andstares at Justus, daring him to comment.
Ofcourse, he does.
“Ohshit. Somebody get some milk to keep Tucker’s teeth alive until we get him tothe hospital.”
Ignoringhim, Sadie hugs me. “I’m happy for you both.”
“Metoo,” Zoe adds.
Silencefills the night when Derek and Ayda walk in. Derek’s eyes go right to Tucker’sarm around me and his lips press together.
Withouta hello, he barks, “Tucker, a word?” He gestures for Tucker to follow him backinside.
“No,”Tucker says. “There’s something I want everyone to know.”
Heatfills my face as everyone falls silent and all eyes are on us.
Tuckerdoesn’t look the least bit uncomfortable, though, as his deep steady voicefills the night. “I’m in love with Leah.” He looks down and tucks a lock ofhair behind my ear. “And I’m one lucky son of a bitch because she feels thesame way about me.”
Derekglares at him. “She’s young and she has plans for her future.”
“No,you have plans for my future,” I argue, stepping forward. “I’m happy with mypresent.” I approach Derek and look him in the eye. “I know you’re trying tolook out for me, just like you’ve always done. I can never thank you enough forall you’ve done for me. I’ll always be grateful, but I’m not a child anymore.You helped raise me, Derek, and now you have to let me go live my life, justlike everyone else.”
Istep forward to hug him, and he squeezes me tight. “I love you.”
“Ilove you, critter,” he mumbles. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Ilove him.”
Tuckerwalks over to Derek, and I hold my breath, waiting for the worst.
“Ilove her. She’s it for me, Dare. I know you don’t like it. You don’t have tolike it, but I want you to know I’m serious. I will always take care of her andput her needs first. One day, when she’s ready, I’ll make her my wife. So hitme again if it’ll make you feel better, because someday we’re going to befamily.” A smirk pops up on Tucker’s face. “Brother-in-law.”
“Fuck,”Derek scoffs, shaking his head. It feels like the whole universe is holding itsbreath, waiting to see what he’s going to do until he takes a step forward andsticks out his hand.
