“Yes, we’ve already gone over that.”
“Tell them that, Lee. You’re fucking happy, and you don’t plan on changing it. Why are you letting your happiness depend on Violet and Scarlett? Who, by the way, aren’t going to judge you the way that you think they will. They’re friends, Lee.”
Leelee leaned forward and rested her forehead against mine. “I’m so scared that this isn’t going to work and then I’m going to look like an idiot.”
“If this doesn’t work out, the only one who is going to look like an idiot is me for letting you go. There is no one else on the Earth for me, Lee. There’s only one other way to say it, but I’m pretty sure that’ll send you running for the hills right now.”
Leelee shook her head and whimpered. “Please don’t say that, at least not yet.”
I rubbed her back and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “I know, Lee. Just know I feel it.”
She wound her arms tight around me and clung to me like I was about to disappear.
I held onto her even though I wanted to scream that I was in love with her, but I knew she needed to just figure things out on her own and I could tell her out loud when the time was right.
I just hoped I gave her enough time until she figured it out.
I was here to stay, and she needed to wrap her head around it quickly.
********
Chapter 22
Leelee
“Mama said I can sit by you while she and Violet do the dishes.” Levi set his plate of banana cream pie on the coffee table and climbed on the couch next to me. “Can you hand me my plate, please?”
“You think you got a big enough piece?” I joked as I handed it to him. Half of his plate was full of pie, and he also had three Oreo cookies. “Where did you manage to snag the cookies from?”
“Kurt. He was in the pantry when I walked by. His mouth was full, and he had cookie crumbs on his shirt.”
That definitely sounded like Kurt. “Did you happen to see where Kurt went?” After the huge meal Violet had made, I managed to make it over to the couch where I was sprawled out and wondered when I was going to give birth to my food baby.
“He went downstairs with Luke and Mitch. I was going to go with them, but mama told me to come keep you company.”
“Well, that was very nice of you, Levi. I know it’s more fun to hang with the boys.”
Levi shrugged and picked up an Oreo. He twisted off the top and licked all the cream off from the inside. “I like you, though. You’re like a guy but totally a girl.”
I laughed. “Thanks, I think.”
“It’s a compliment. You’re, like, the best of both worlds.” Levi dropped the two cookie halves into the pie and stirred it around. “Like pie and cookies together.”
“I’m gonna have to take your word on that one, little man.” I watched as Levi stirred and the cookies were starting to make black skid marks all through the pie. Not my idea of the best of both worlds.
“Mama said you and Kurt are married.”
Oh, Jesus. Even Levi knew now. I didn’t want to keep hiding it, but I just wish it was a non-topic when people found out. “Yup, we sure are.”
“How come I didn’t get to be your ring guy?”
“Huh?”
“You know, the guy who keeps the rings and then gives them to you after you tell Kurt that you love him.”
My throat tightened at the thought of telling Kurt I loved him. That was a whole other mountain I needed to climb. “You mean a ring bearer?”
“Yeah, that too. How come you didn’t have me carry your rings?” He spooned a huge bite in his mouth and waited.
“Uh, that would be because Kurt and I didn’t get married like that.”
“That’s dumb. Everyone knows you need a ring guy and a flower chick.”
“Chick?” I giggled. Hearing a five-year-old say chick was comical.
“Yeah, I take care of the rings, and she takes care of the flowers. You can’t have a wedding without either of them.”
“You can. When Kurt and I got married, it was just us two and then a judge.”
Levi shook his head and handed me his plate. “When Mitch marries mama, I’m gonna be the ring guy and then I find a girl to be the flower chick.” He hopped off the couch and headed back into the kitchen. “Mama, Leelee didn’t have a ring guy at her wedding or a flower chick,” I heard him tell Violet and Scarlett. They both busted out laughing, and I couldn’t help but laugh too.
“That’s too bad. Maybe they can have another wedding, and you can be the ring guy,” Scarlett suggested.
“Leelee,” Levi called as he ran back into the living room. “You’re getting married again, and this time, I’ll plan everything since you messed up the last time.” Violet and Scarlett cackled in the kitchen, and I ruffled Levi’s hair.
“If Kurt and I ever renew our vows, you’ll be my first call.”
“Sweet,” Levi beamed.
“Alright Mr. Wedding Planner, how about you grab your plate and head into Mitch’s room. You can watch some TV before bed,” Scarlett pointed down the hallway and Levi pumped his fist in the air.
“Heck yeah. I am so watching Transformers.”
Scarlett shook her head and followed him down the hallway. “Why am I not surprised,” she mumbled.
Violet laid down on one end of the couch, propped a throw pillow under her head and looked at me. “We’ll wait for Scarlett to get back out here.”
I rolled my eyes and tucked my legs underneath me. “Is this really going to happen?”
“Damn straight it is. We’ve got questions, and you are going to give us the answers.”
I had been hoping I had bypassed the twenty questions. Dinner had gone surprisingly well with Kurt not punching Luke or trying to trip Mitch. I really did need to give the man more credit. Although it had been a bit tense the first couple minutes, Levi had broken the ice when he informed Kurt that he made his mama buy special metilalicy markers just to sign Kurt’s cast and then demanded one from Luke. After we had figured out metilalicy was metallic, Levi then made all of us sign it.
Violet had asked me to help her in the kitchen, and she didn’t take no for an answer when I tried to fend her off. Mitch had been watching drag racing on TV, and the boys had all sprawled out on the couch and watched TV until dinner had been made. Violet and Scarlett had kept their questions to a minimum, but the second Kurt walked into the kitchen to get a soda and pressed a kiss to my temple, both of their eyes bugged out of their heads. I should have known I wasn’t going to be that lucky to miss their interrogation.
“Alright, sister, spill,” Scarlett demanded as she sat on the other end of the couch and crossed her arms over her chest. Looking back, I should have sat in the chair because now I was surrounded.
“Spill what?” I asked. I wasn’t going to give them any information unless they asked for it.
“The kiss,” Violet chirped.
“And the way his hand lingered on your waist after dinner,” Scarlett put in.
Jesus, they were watching me like a hawk. No one had been around when Kurt had put his arm around me and asked if I was okay. I think I had scared him during my rant on not having anything to wear and the breakdown of not knowing what the hell I wanted. “It was a kiss, and he put his arm around my waist. Next question.”
Violet grabbed the pillow out from under her head and chucked it at me. “Duh. We mean, what in the hell changed for him to kiss, touch, and look at you like you’re the only person in the room?”
I clasped my hands in my lap and tried to figure out when everything changed.
“Hold on,” Scarlett interrupted. “I think we need to start from the beginning. Like the beginning where you and Kurt got married and decided not to tell anyone.”
Ugh, the beginning. They were going to have to get the condensed version because I really didn't want to talk about the part where I pushed Kurt away because I was an idiot. “CPS was going to take Jay away because my parents s
kipped town and we had no idea where they were. Kurt was there the day I found out, and I had no idea what to do. It came down to Kurt suggesting we get married, and we did because there was nothing else to do. Jay had already lost the parent lotto; he didn’t need to lose me too.”
“Jesus, Leelee. You know if we would have been friends, I would have helped you. Scar and I both would have helped you.” Violet looked like she was ready to cry for me and that was the last thing I wanted.
“So, we got married, Kurt started hanging around, I got scared, told him to leave, and then Kurt got pissed. That about covers the last year or so.” I looked at Scarlett who was shaking her head.
“Girl, why the hell did you push him away?”
“Because I didn’t know what the hell was going on and I felt like he was there because he felt he had to be, not because he wanted to be. The last thing I want to be is an obligation to someone.”
Scarlett smirked. “Well, from the way that boy is looking at you, I’m going to have to say that you guys got over whatever the hell was keeping you two apart.”
I still didn’t see what they did when Kurt looked at me, but it was nice to know Kurt wasn’t trying to hide us being together, although I wouldn’t be against a little more discretion. “It’s a bit awkward, especially with you two noticing everything.”
Violet rolled her eyes and waved her hand at me. “We’re happy for you, Leelee. I’ll try to keep my gasping and aweing to myself.”
“Does this mean Kurt is going to come back to the shop?” Scarlett asked.
“Um, I don’t think so.”
“What? What is he going to do, then?”
“He’s not going back to California, is he?” Violet piped in.
“No, as far as I know, he’s not going back to California. He plans on staying here, and he has a plan, but he hasn’t shared with me what that plan is yet.” Which was another thing that was annoying the hell out of me. Kurt still disappeared all day, and I didn’t know what he was doing. I figured he had been working on his car before, but I had a feeling he was doing more than that.
“So, are you two together?” Violet and Scarlett asked at the same time.
Violet laughed. “Great minds think alike.”
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure we are. Kurt told me he’s done doing whatever the hell we were doing before.”
“Thank God,” Scarlett whispered.
Violet giggled. “I do have to tell you, you and Kurt sure do know how to keep a secret. I swear, Luke’s head was going to explode when he found out you two were married.”
“Mitch just kept saying he knew something more was going on with you two. Vi and I had the same feeling, although it sure wasn’t that we thought you two were married.” Scarlett laid her head back on the armrest and crossed her arms over her chest. “Here I had thought that Violet and Luke would be the first to get married. Hell, you beat them before they even knew each other.”
“You missed so much by getting married at the courthouse.” Violet sat up and a huge grin spread across her face. “You two need to get remarried, and this time, you need to do it right.”
“Hell yes!” Scarlett agreed. “A bachelorette party and everything.”
I stood and shook my head. “No. I really doubt Kurt would want that. I think we need to get to know each other before we renew our vows. Hell, Kurt could really get to know me, you know, the real me that no one had ever seen before, and decide that he’s out.”
“Nonsense,” Violet hushed me as she strode out of the kitchen and sat back down on the couch with a notepad in her hand. “Do you plan on staying with Kurt?” she asked as she opened the notebook and grabbed a pen off the coffee table.
“Well, yeah,” I stuttered. I had no plans of breaking up with Kurt, but I couldn’t tell the future.
“Then, you need a wedding to match the happily ever after you plan on having.” Scarlett clapped her hands together and sat in front of Violet. “Sit down, Lee, and start acting like the blushing bride you never got to be.”
I sat down, not knowing what else to do and listened as Scarlett and Violet tossed around ideas of what kind of dress I should wear and where we should have the party.
I was apparently having a wedding re-do. I just hoped my groom showed up.
********
Chapter 23
Kurt
“So, when are you coming back to work?” Luke asked.
We were standing outside of the shop looking at the GTO, and for a second there, I thought things were going to be different between Luke and me. Except he still figured I was going to come back to work and fall into the life he had planned for me. That wasn’t going to happen. “Not planning on coming back, Luke.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “So, what are you going to do then?”
“I got something going. It’s looking to be a good thing.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and waited for Luke to blow.
“What the hell do you have going on that is better than working with your brothers? This is supposed to be a family business, Kurt. You’re just going to jump off the train and run off to fuck around by yourself?” Luke ranted.
“This,” I swung my arm toward the massive Skid Row Kings building, “is not mine, Luke. That isn’t Mitch’s either. It’s fucking yours, and we were just your Goddamn workers who happened to have the same last name as you.”
“If you believe that, you’re fucking insane. I started this place so we would have a place to be together and make money. I paid you damn good, Kurt, let you make your own fucking schedule and have full reign of the fucking garage. I don’t know what the hell I could have done differently.” He ran his hands over his head, and he looked like he was about to bust a blood vessel in his forehead. “You’re not going to get it any easier anywhere else.”
I shook my head. “Easy? Is that what you think I want? Easy is the last fucking thing I want.” I couldn’t even believe Luke thought that was what I wanted. “I want something that is mine. That I have to work hard for. Put my blood, sweat, and tears into something that is mine and that no one can take away from me because I fucking did it all. I don’t want a premade fucking life that I’m just supposed to slip into and not say a fucking word against. I don’t want what you are offering, Luke. I know there are millions of people who would take what you’re offering and not bat an eyelash, but I’m not that person. I need to do this on my own.”
“So, that’s it. You’re just gonna walk away from all of this? From this family?” Mitch asked.
“This business is not what makes us family, Mitch. We were brothers before we had Skid Row, and we’re going to be brothers after Skid Row.” I didn’t want to lose my family, but I couldn’t keep going the way I was.
“Skid Row isn’t going anywhere, Kurt,” Luke growled.
“And I don’t want it to go anywhere, Luke. I know that this is your blood, sweat, and tears. I didn’t build this place. I come in, punch the clock, work on some cars, and then I punch out. That’s not building something that is mine. That’s working on your dream to make it better.”
“This is all of ours’ dream. We got out of the fucking gutter, and I made a better life for all of us.”
“You! You made a better life for us, Luke. I don’t want what you’re forcing down my throat anymore,” I screamed. I didn’t know how else to get it across to Luke. I wanted out of the shop, but I didn’t want to lose him or Mitch. “Why can’t you just accept the fact that I want to do something that doesn’t involve you?”
“And why do you have to do something that doesn’t involve us? You wanna start new; then I’ll sell this fucking place, and we’ll start over.”
“Do you hear yourself?” I asked. “Why in the hell would you do that? Do you have to be a part of everything? This is yours, and you should be damn proud of it, Luke. Now, let me go make my own life to be proud of. You don’t need me to run this place. I can give you a list as long as my arm of guys who can come in and do the exact same thing
I had been doing.” Hell, if I were honest, they would probably do better than I did and give Luke less attitude.
“I don’t want anyone else,” Luke bellowed.
“Well, you don’t get a fucking choice in this, Luke. I’m out, and I’m not coming back.”
Luke stalked off behind the garage, and I closed my eyes. Did he finally get it? Or was he just taking a break, trying to figure out his next plan of attack on what I wanted?
“You gonna yell at me next?” I asked Mitch who was standing in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest.
“No.” Mitch shook his head and sighed. “I get what you’re saying, Kurt. But don’t shit on what Luke and I are doing. I don’t feel that I’m just working for Luke with my thumb up my ass. A shop with my brothers was my dream too.”
“But it’s not my dream, Mitch. I need to give up everything I want because you and Luke want the same thing? This isn’t something that majority wins, and I just get to be the odd man out who gives up what he wants. I’m out. I’m done. I can’t do this anymore.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m opening up my own shop.”
Mitch shook his head. “So, you’re going to open up your own shop and take work away from Skid Row.”
“No. That’s not what I want. This is a big fucking town, Mitch. You really think that there can’t be two shops in town? Plus, Luke does it all. I want to focus on the racing crowd. Mods and upgrades.”
“And you think you’re going to do this all on your own?”
“Yes, but I’m also going to have a partner, and Nos has agreed to take care of the front end.”
“So, Nos is your partner?”
“No.” I shook my head. “He’s just going to work for me.”
“So, who is your partner?” he asked.
“Someone that has no idea.”
“Holy fuck,” Mitch breathed out. “You’re fucking taking Lee with you, aren’t you?”
I ran my hand through my hair. “Yes, if she’ll fucking come. I know she loves working at Skid Row, but I know she also wants something that is hers. She struggles with the assholes who come into the shop and treat her like she’s just a girl who doesn’t know anything about cars. Lee knows cars better than I do. Having her as an equal partner is one of the smartest things I could do.”
BangShift: Skid Row Kings Series, Book #3 Page 16
