Pulling back, I had to catch my breath. I’d never seen my father cry. One lone tear slowly moved down his cheek. “Oh, Lauren, I wish I had answers for you. Love is such a crazy thing. Do I think it’s bad that Colt makes you feel safe? No, absolutely not. The person you are in love with should make you feel safe. Being in their arms should be the safest place in the world, Lauren.”
“Was it like that with you and Mom? Was she your everything, Daddy?”
Placing his hand on the side of my face, he slowly nodded his head. “She still is, Lauren.”
Grinning until my cheeks hurt, I took a step back. “I’m glad you didn’t kill him, Daddy. Because I really love him.”
Laughing, my father rubbed his hand on the top of my head. “Don’t think the thought didn’t cross my mind.”
Draping his arm around my shoulder, my father led me to the front door. “Come on. I’ll treat for dinner.”
Walking outside with my father, I’d never felt so happy in my life. For once everything seemed to be perfect.
THE ENTIRE TIME we sat at the restaurant and ate pizza, I couldn’t push the image of Lauren wrapped around my body out of my mind. I could see the lust in her eyes, and I was dying to know what she was going to say to me before the onslaught of parents showed up at our door.
Glancing across the table, I watched as Lauren talked her father’s ear off about an idea she had for his breeding business. I knew how much she loved her family’s business, and I was glad she shared her fears with me and the reasons why she had been pushing me away.
Scott caught my stare and I smiled politely. When he walked up and took my arm back at the house and said he needed to speak to me outside, I thought for sure I was dead. I felt better when my dad followed behind me.
“So, Colt, tell me all about what’s going on in your world. I feel like I hardly get to talk to you anymore.”
Turning to my mother, I couldn’t help but smile bigger. My mother was breathtaking. An older version of my sister, Alex. Her blue eyes seemed to have a sparkle to them always. My father loved my mother with his whole heart. I can remember Alex and I sitting at the top of the stairs many a time, watching my father swoon my mother with something as simple as a dance in the living room. The way she would look at him is what I longed for with Lauren. I saw it today when we made love for the first time. I’d do whatever I could to see that look as much as possible.
Bumping my shoulder, my mother asked, “Colt? Are you lost in thought?”
Letting out a chortle, I nodded my head. “I guess I was. School has been good so far. Hard to tell with it just starting up again for spring semester. I’m ready to start spring practice.”
“We’re really proud of you son,” my father said as he placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
Turning to him, I was overcome by the look on his face. I knew my parents were proud of me and Alex, but they never failed to tell us and show us that support. “Thank you, Dad. That really means a lot to me.”
He nodded but then something changed in his eyes. “Don’t get distracted with school or your commitment on the field.”
Pulling my head back, I gave my father a blank stare. Why would he think I’d get distracted? Stealing a quick look toward Lauren, my father went back to eating. Did my father think my relationship with Lauren was going to be distracting? Hell, our push and pull game the last three years was a much bigger distraction. Everything would be better now that Lauren and I were finally together.
Picking up my pizza, I took a bite as I listened to Lauren telling her dad about a horse in Kentucky she had been following. Smiling, I took my surroundings in. My parents and Lauren’s parents stopping by, I think, made things even clearer to me.
Life from this point on was going to be different. Things were finally turning around for me and I could see nothing but happiness in my future.
LAUREN AND I stood outside and said our good-byes to our parents. It was almost midnight and we had been at the pizza place until they closed. We came back here and talked for a while, Lauren showed her parents her project, and we made plans for spring break week. I had to admit, it was nice getting to spend some time with my mother and father. I knew Lauren felt the same way. She was an only child and super close to them.
As the two cars pulled off and headed to the Marriott Hotel, Lauren and I waved and watched until both cars turned and were gone.
Lauren grabbed my hand and dragged me back inside the house. The second the door closed, she jumped into my arms and pushed her lips against mine. Moaning as she pulled and sucked on my lower lip. “I never . . . thought they would . . . leave.” She panted between kisses.