Page 107 of Rough

“There’s more?”

“Just a little,” I said. “Anyway, I tell her she can have the job, ‘cause as far as I’m concerned, she’s earned my respect. At the time, I know I ain’t got to like her, but she’s earned my respect. So, I tell her there’s one condition. She can’t tell my pop.”

“Yeah, Bradley would have your ass if he knew that.”

“Well, we go in the house, and Pop says what the fuck did you do, hire Super Girl? And I said what? And he said I saw her kick your ass. And she turns to him, looks him in the eye, and says I ain’t got an idea of what you’re talking about.”

“I’ll be damned.” He gazed down at the floor. “She is a tight-lipped little fucker, isn’t she?”

It wasn’t much, but I knew he’d like that about her. It was the entire reason I wanted to tell him the story.

Proudly, I nodded. “Yep.”

“I knew there was a reason I liked her.” He looked up. “Now I know why.”

“’Cause you can trust her?”

“Nope. Because other than me, she’s the only one I know who can kick your ass, Peeb.” He slapped me on the shoulder. “And that makes her special in my eyes.”

Well, she’s special in mine, too.

But for different reasons.

THIRTY-THREE

Tegan

If success was measured in smiles, the party was a huge success. Brad’s uncles, aunts, and cousins were in attendance, as were people from their church, the neighborhood, and a few of his and Deann’s classmates from school.

And, although it wasn’t an MC function, the men, throughout the course of the evening, all stopped in, one by one, and paid their respects.

My heart had never felt such warmth.

Everyone, at some point, was smiling.

Peyton and I had the place decorated with glittery gold from top to bottom. A huge “50” and “Happy Golden Anniversary” hung over the center of the shop.

The best part was that after winning a fifteen-minute-long argument with Crip, we used paint rollers to roll glue onto the south wall – in the shape of letters – and then tossed $100 worth of gold confetti against it. The five-foot tall hand-made letters glistened from the strobe lighting we’d placed on the floor below.

“Bradley and Deann 4-Ever”

After seeing it, Crip was disappointed he didn’t come up with the glue idea.

“This is something,” Brad said. “Seeing all of these people.”

Seeing him in a tuxedo was the highlight of the evening. I admired him for a moment, and then looked around the shop. “It sure is.”

“You two did one hell of a job,” he said. “And you look beautiful.”

Hearing him say it made me feel special. He could tell me a thousand times, and I’d never get sick of hearing it.

“Third time tonight you’ve told me that,” I said “Thank you.”

“I might tell you again. I love that little black dress. It does wonders for your already great ass.”

I blushed a little. “Thank you, again.”

“Look at this shit.” He motioned toward the center of the shop. “They’re dancing. Kind of.”