by Mj Fields
When she had to stop to use the restroom, I knew where I had to stop. I wanted to plant a different memory in Katy’s head, so it had to be Carlin’s, it had to be that song I sang to her—someday, I’ll probably show her the video recording I have on my phone of it … along with a million cropped group photos with just her in them—and it had to end in me kissing the right girl this time.
Thankfully, she admitted she liked my voice or that would have been a fuck of a lot harder to do. I have always been more nervous singing in front of her than in front of a sold-out stadium. But now, all bets are off.
The way she looked at me when I was singing to her … for her was second only to the attention she gave my bruises and my lips earlier today, which became second to what she looked like lying under me.
That will be rectified … often.
I slow down as we crest the hill and see the sign for Falcon’s Landing. Glancing over, I notice Katy begins to fidget.
“Talk to me, Katy girl.”
“What if they hate me?”
“Not possible. They already adore you.”
“I’m pregnant. What if they think I am some weirdo fan girl who did it on purpose?”
“They’d never think that.”
“How do you know that?”
“Katy—”
“Brandon, I am eighteen years old, got kicked out of school, am pregnant by … you, and—”
I pull over to the side of the road, throw the truck in park, turn, grab her face, and kiss her.
“Not, hel … hel … helpin—”
“Mmhmm,” I say as she starts to kiss me back.
A horn sounds, and she jerks back.
I turn and look out the window.
“Brandon, Katy”—Dad chuckles, pulling up next to us—“glad it all worked out.”
“Oh my God,” Katy whispers.
“Meet you two at the house.” Dad chuckles as he pulls away.
“What did he mean by glad everything worked out?”
“Might have told him I was buying a house to get the girl,” I admit.
She closes her eyes. “You’re insane.”
Walking into the house, holding Katy’s hand, I sniff the air. “Smell that?”
“Really more focused on trying not to throw up here,” she grumbles.
“Shit, you okay?”
She scowls, and it brings an immediate smile to my face.
“What is wrong with you?” she hisses.
“Not about what’s wrong anymore. Matters what’s right.”
Her lips pop out a bit, and she looks at me with all sorts of sweetness.
“Talk to me, Katy,” I whisper, tightening my grip on her hand.
“I don’t want them to hate me, because …” She stops.
“Because what?” I pop a kiss to her hand.
“Because …” She stops again.
“Katy, come on, girl.” I take her face in my hands. “Talk to me.”
“I wanna love you, but what if they think I’m some sort of crazy—”
I pull her in and hold her as every lingering doubt that I had disintegrates.
“I love you, Katy. You need permission, it’s granted.”
“I love you back,” she whispers.
“She may change her mind when we tell her about your Katy phase that you never outgrew,” Mom says from behind me.
I step back and look down at Katy. Her face is red, but she’s got a little smirk playing on her lips.
“Thanks, Mom.” I feign embarrassment, but I’m not, especially now that Katy admitted she loved me back.
“What happened to your eyes?” Mom gasps.
“Messing around with Patrick.” I shrug it off.
“Boys.” She rolls her eyes. “Come on, you’re late. Let’s eat.”
“Ten minutes isn’t late, Mom.” I chuckle.
“Fifteen, and I made your favorite stew,” she says before I hear her walk away.
“Stalker,” Katy whispers with a smile.
“Fan girl,” I whisper back.
“Get in here, you two,” Dad calls from the kitchen.
When I hear my voice coming from the kitchen and Mom cooing, “Aw,” I know Janice must have recorded my little performance and sent her a text.
“Oh my God,” Katy sighs as I pull her toward the kitchen.
“Oh, wow,” Katy then says as she looks around the kitchen. “Is this different?”
Dad laughs. “Remodeled a long time ago.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Last time she was here was years ago,” Mom tells Dad, who’s watching the video from over her shoulder. “When Max was born, right?”
I answer for him, “No, about ten years ago, Fourth of July.”
Mom raises an eyebrow and looks at Katy. “See.”
“No shame in my game; she knows it.” I take her hand, and her eyes widen as she quickly looks at my mom and then my dad, who are still watching the video.
When applause breaks out on the video, I know it’s the part where I was kissing her. When the video has ended, they look up, and Mom smiles softly at Katy. “Let’s sit and eat.”
Dad and I both pull out the chairs for Mom and Katy at the same time. Dad looks at me with pride, obviously pleased with the fact that I’m treating Katy the way a woman should be treated. Not that they talk much about the past, but from what I gathered, a hell of a lot more went down than what I know.
“Well, it looks amazing.” Katy brings the conversation back to where it started.
“Garrett and Brand do good work.”
Dad sits down. “Brand wasn’t sure about the kitchen at the beach house. What do you think, Katy?”
“I think it’s nice. Functional.”
“Sterile is the word Brand used to describe it. Thinks it needs more personality,” Mom says as she passes me the basket of biscuits.
“Actually, he said he wanted it to act like more of the center to the house—”
“He likes to cook,” Mom cuts Dad off.
Dad laughs. “Because he has the appetite of a horse.”
“Speaking of, where are Brady and Bryce?” I ask as I ladle out some stew for Katy.
“Processing some deer down at Gage’s place.”
“The ones we got Wednesday?” I ask.
“Yep.” Dad winks. “Yours should be about a hundred and thirty pounds. Kept the rack, too. It’ll look great mounted. You like venison, Katy?”
I glance over and notice she’s holding her belly. “I’ve never had it.”
“It’s in that stew, so you’ve had a taste. What do you think?” Dad asks.
Her cheeks puff out a little, and she looks …
“Excuse me.” She stands up and heads toward the bathroom.
“Fuck.” I stand up and follow her.
She shuts the door behind her, leaving me standing outside.
“I’ll take that as a no.” Dad chuckles.
I try the door, but it’s locked.
“She okay?” Mom asks.
“Yeah, she’ll be fine,” I answer.
After a couple minutes, Katy walks out.
“You okay?” I whisper.
“Yeah.” She walks past me, and I take her hand.
“You sure?”
She nods.
When we sit down, Katy’s bowl is gone and Mom’s at the stove.
“Sorry about that, Katy. I’ll get you some with beef.”
She looks up at me and shakes her head, her face starting to pale again.
“Hey, Mom, don’t bother. Meat’s not settling well with her today.”
Mom looks back at us. “How long have you been sick?”
“Um …” She looks up at me, eyes damn near pleading.
“I got this.”
She nods once.
“Mom, Dad, Katy’s gonna be fine … probably around the end of May, beginning of June.”
“Honey.” Mom starts to walk toward her, face showing deep concern.
“Jules,” Dad says her name
with a smile.
She stops and looks back at him. He smiles at her.
She gets it really quick. “Oh my goodness.”
After we all exchange hugs, congratulations, and Mom spills a few tears, we chill in the family room with a much more relaxed Katy Steel.
I snuck off into my bedroom and called Gage to let him know, too.
I know my parents don’t mind—hell, they encourage the relationship—but I wanted him to hear it from me alone, just like I wanted to give my folks the same courtesy.
He laughed. “Knew this day was coming, but was hoping you’d give it a few years. Guessing her folks felt the same.”
“Odd you mention that. Jase seemed pretty chill.”
“That’s a good thing.” He chuckles. “I hope.”
“Guessing her being pregnant kind of seals the deal. Besides, Patrick already gave me two black eyes.”
Mom shakes her head, and looks down, hiding a smile.
“Xavier’s kid?” He laughs. “Isn’t he your friend?”
“Yeah, I may have manipulated that a bit. I deserved it. Owned it. We’re good.”
“I’m glad, Brand. Do me a favor; stop by before you head out. Would love to see you.”
“What times does Mags go to sleep these days?”
“Not for a few more hours, but don’t rush your visit. You stopping back at the Landing before you fly out to Germany?”
I had planned on it, but now I want to spend every second before I leave for four months with Katy.
He lets out a breath. “Yeah, didn’t think so.”
“No, it’s just—”
“You wanna be with her. I get it. Trust me; I get it.”
“How’s Phoenix?”
“Most amazing woman I’ve ever met.” I know he’s smiling. I can hear it in his voice. “Little ass buster, too.”
“Happy for you, Gage, truly.”
He laughs. “Brand, I’m happy for you, too, bud. She’s going to keep you on your toes. Always has.”
When I walk back down the stairs, I hear my brothers laughing and, in the background, Katy singing “Why Can’t I.” I hurry down the stairs, wanting to kick them both in the ass.
I slide on the wooden floor and stop just before I end up in the fucking fireplace.
“The hell are you doing?” I scold them.
“It’s cool.” Katy shrugs.
“Wait for it, man.” Bryce laughs.
“Katy, babe, I have no idea what’s next.”
Smiling, Katy pats the spot next to her. “Sit down, and we’ll find out together.”
“But then Kiki came up and kissed me square on the lips!”
Everyone starts laughing, including Katy.
“Two kisses in one night?” Garrett asks.
“So, then Bell looks at her, and I smile and say, ‘Oooo, I think this is the start of something.’ It’s gross, Dad. Kiki is a baby.”
Whoever’s holding the camera drops it, and when it finally comes back into focus, I’m walking out the door like a little badass.
Well, shit, I think as I look over at Katy, who isn’t a baby, not anymore, and she’s carrying mine. “I love you.”
“I know.” She rolls her eyes.
“Burn!” Bryce shouts.
I hear my voice on the TV again, “Because she’s mean, that’s why.”
“She’s not mean,” Mom says as she squats down in front of me.
“She is so. I try to be her friend, and she gives me this look”—I scowl—“or sticks her nose in the air, like this.” Now I’m scowling and sticking my nose in the air. “And she never smiles at me anymore.”
“Might mean she likes you, bud,” Dad says in the background.
“Well, that’s a stupid way to show it,” I huff.
I look over, and she scowls, sticks her nose up, and whispers, “Don’t talk to me.”
I whisper back, “Doesn’t piss me off anymore; gets me hard.”
She laughs really loud, and everyone looks at us. She buries her head in her hands.
Brady asks, “What did we miss?”
“Not a damn thing.” I smile and take her hands away from her face.
Another clip starts, and I hear Mom giggle softly.
“And here we are at the Shore.” It’s older me. “Labor Day weekend with the Steel family.”
My buddy Ty groans. “Good eats.”
“Shut the hell up, man.”
“Tell me the one in pink isn’t hot.”
He’s talking about Bella.
“Ty, respect, and she may be hot, but her sister … she’s fucking beautiful.”
“The one in the tight shirt and short skirt with the dark hair and resting bitch face who hissed fuck off when you said hello?” He laughs.
“Look at her.” I zoom in on her.
“Bro, what are you thinking? She hates you.”
“Yeah, but the day I make her smile, she’s gonna be mine.”
“All right”—I laugh—“that’s enough.”
I look over at her, and she rolls her eyes and screws her lips up, hiding a smile.
I lean in and whisper, “Summer before “Short Skirts, Tight Shirts.” All you.”
She shakes her head and smiles. “Perv.”
Dream Land
Katherine
I don’t know how long we watch old home videos, but when I look out the window, it’s snowing and getting dark.
“You two should stay the night.” Garrett points to the window overlooking the field and down to the lake. “Head back after breakfast?”
My stomach does a bit of a summersault at the thought of staying the night here, with Brand.
“I’m good with that. Just let me call Katy’s parents and—”
“I’ll call them,” I cut him off.
“I’d like to,” he says.
“Yeah, no, I got it,” I say, standing up and starting toward the bathroom.
“Katy, head up to Brand’s room, first door on the left at the top of the stairs. You’ll have more privacy.”
“Come on; I’ll show you.” Brand takes my hand and walks to the stairs.
I’ve always loved this house. It looks like a barn on the outside, everything raw and rustic. The inside mirrors it, but in a couture rustic way. The stairs leading up are sawed logs and the railing is even a log.
“You good?” Brand asks as he waits for me to start up the stairs.
“This place is amazing. It’s you. Are you sure about the beach house?”
“You really like it?”
I look around and smile. “Of course I do. I mean, the mounted deer head may be a bit overkill, literally, but yeah.”
He smiles, and it’s as bright as the sun. “Cool. When you finish high school, we can build up here and chill in the winter and fall and hit the beach in the spring and summer.”
“Um, college?”
“Katy, we can do it all.” He winks.
I stop when Brand opens the door to his bedroom. It’s a surreal moment, one I never really thought would happen, and I want to take it in. I’m pretty damn sure that some of my hesitation also has a lot to do with the fact that I know how badly we want each other.
“You okay?”
I lean in and look around. Fireplace, king-sized bed, with three cowboy hats hanging over the log headboard, a desk, two huge dressers, and an entire wall with at least ten guitars hanging on them.
“Katy.” He smirks.
“So, you like music, huh?”
He laughs as he pulls me inside and kicks the door shut. Then he picks me up by my hips, and I grab his shoulders. “Yeah, I’m a pretty big deal in the music industry.”
“Really? I’ve never heard of you.”
“I’m guessing, by the time you leave this room, you’ll never forget me.”
I lick my lips to wet them in anticipation of a kiss as he sets me on his big old bed. It shocks me when he steps back.
“Call your folks before I do.”
His us
e of the word folks makes me laugh. “All right, random guitar-playing cowboy big shot, I’ll do just that.”
His lips curve up into a delicious smile as he turns and walks to the fireplace, grabs something off the mantel, squats down, and then lights a fire. Then he turns back. “You just gonna sit there and watch me, or are you gonna make that call?”
“I think I left my purse downstairs.”
He reaches into his pocket, pulls out my phone, and tosses it to me on the bed. “You left it in the truck.”
“You bring your new one in so we can set it up?”
“Shit, no. I’ll go grab that and your bag.” He walks to the door then stops, turns around, comes back, and kisses my cheek. “Be right back.”
I watch him walk out and shake my head. Brand even looks amazing from behind. Broad shoulders, thick arms, and a nice ass.
Once he’s out the door, I hit Mom’s number on my phone. Yep, Mom, because I know Dad will be over the top.
When he answers, “Hey, Katy girl,” he sounds tired … which is unusual.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, just a long day.”
“Black Friday shopping, huh?” I ask, trying to bring humor to the conversation, hoping it doesn’t get too heavy.
“Yeah. Long day for sure. You on your way back?”
“About that … It’s snowing pretty heavy here, and Julianna asked if maybe we could stay here tonight and head back in the morning.”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
I wait for it, the sarcasm, the demand, the over-the-top “fathering,” and I’m met with none of it.
“Dad, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Katy; why?”
“Well, you left me this morning with Brand, and now you’re okay with me staying the night with him?”
“What would you like me to do, demand he stay the hell away until you’re done with school? Tell you no, you can’t spend the night with your … whatever the hell he is?”
“Maybe?”
“Katy …” he sighs. “We’re past that.”
“And you’re sure you’re okay with me staying here, all night, with Brand Falcon?”
He doesn’t say anything for a second. “Yeah, it’s better than driving all the way back in a snowstorm.”
“Okay, then. Is Mom—”
“She’s asleep,” he cuts me off.
“Mom’s asleep?” I gasp.
