Cocky Secrets (Cocker Brothers #29)

84. Meg

EIGHTY-FOUR

Meg

T he cast on his left arm gave Antonio an excuse to stick around Nevada City after his club went home two days following Christmas.

Before they left, Jett, Luna and their daughter stayed with us during their visit, in my parent’s old room, and I got a chance to know them a little.

Jett has an amazing sense of humor, and he and Antonio mess with each other like they grew up together. When I told them that, they said that something happened right after they met Luna. They wouldn’t get into the specifics because it was private, but when she was in danger of going to jail, Honey Badger had made a choice which helped save her. That decision, and the loyalty that spawned it, had brought the two men much closer together and now they were best friends.

I also got to hear all about Jett’s real brothers over in Atlanta, and the way he described the five men made me hope to meet them someday. He said they were all very different, good men who’d been raised right by their mother. He didn’t have nice words to say about his father, though.

Fuse, Tonk, and their families stayed at The National Hotel those two days, and Antonio told them if they didn’t go to The Truffle Shop they were idiots. They went, and practically bought up the whole place, much to the happiness of its owners, and the chagrin of the tourists behind them in line.

Scratch and Mona took over the Bridal Suite reservation, saying they’d always wanted a second honeymoon. After Christmas dinner we never saw them again. The other Ciphers said they were getting re-acquainted and deserved it, with all the time he spent on the road.

On Christmas day when Antonio forced the doctors to let him leave that day, everyone took over my house for an unconventional dinner. We packed up all the decorations from his hospital room and used them to make my house bright and festive. I hadn’t bought a tree since I was feeling a bit sorry for myself that year, so I suppose now looking back on it, Antonio gave Christmas to me, too.

The house was filled with laughter and shouting — The Ciphers aren’t quiet.

Antonio was so happy I don’t think he ever stopped smiling.

Melodi did most of the cooking which blew my mind considering how many people there were and how well she planned it all to come out at the same time. We didn’t have time for a turkey so she made lasagna, garlic bread, mashed potatoes, and sautéed broccoli that was bright green and more delicious than I’d ever had it.

She wouldn’t let me help much, and Luna whispered in private to me that Mel is a control-freak and a mother hen. I liked the blonde immediately because she was so ballsy and loud, the opposite of me, but I’ve now learned Luna was right.

I adored Luna and was so happy to have more time with her after everyone left that night, since they stayed in my home. She’s a gorgeous Latina with no fear in her bones whatsoever, and she can drink me under the table, not that that’s hard to do. Still, I was impressed. Or just drunk. Or both.

She and I got to be friends over the next couple days. I told her that her daughter Sofia Sol is going to be a true heartbreaker. She nodded with a sneaky smile, but Jett balked and shouted that Sofia wouldn’t be allowed to date until he was dead.

When taxis drove them all to the airport, Honey Badger and I watched them go. Then while we were still on the porch he asked me to quit the hotel and, giving two weeks notice, I did.

When it was up and I said my final goodbyes to my co-workers, Flo called me over and gave me a hug. She claimed full responsibility for bringing us together. I think she gives more power to her cocktails than she should. But who knows. Maybe there is some magic in them?

When my love was well enough to have sex, if we were careful of his healing ribs, we pretty much stayed in the bed until food was needed. Then we ate and climbed back in. It was heaven.

I bathed him and he allowed me to, with promises that he would reciprocate when he was well again. We told each other stories from our very different lives, cooking or ordering take out if we felt lazy, and binge-watching television together. For movies, he wanted to watch The Godfather with Marlon Brando and Al Pacino a thousand times, but I said twice was enough for me. He begged for one more time, so I caved on condition: that he watch Fried Green Tomatoes.

He fought me hard, but had to admit when it was over, “Not bad.”

As time passed neither of us spoke about future plans. We were too busy enjoying the present. Looking ahead felt too serious. But then one morning I awoke and felt the need to tell my parents what happened. In the calm light of morning while he still slept naked in my bed, I wrote and told Mom and Dad that I had met someone, and that I cared about him very much, and hoped to marry him one day. I didn’t tell him I’d written until their return letter arrived on the day he would have his cast removed…