Love Entwined

by M. C. Decker

  “Tanner James Roberts! You’re being rude to my friend. Now apologize!”

  “I don’t want to apologize. I just want to go home. I’ll just call Mom to come and get me.”

  I knew I should probably leave and let Bentley and Tanner finish their conversation in private, but I found myself frozen in place.

  “Sorry,” Bentley mouthed in my direction before turning his attention back to his son. “You’re not involving your mother. You’re lucky I didn’t force you to stay in your room for the entire night.”

  “I’m lucky? I’m only not in my room because you wanted to drag me over here so you could kiss your girlfriend. This doesn’t have anything to do with me!”

  My cheeks flushed and my jaw dropped.

  “That’s enough, young man!” Bentley said, sternly. “First you’ll apologize to Ireland and then we’re leaving. You’re grounded for an entire month!”

  “A month?!?! But I was supposed to go to the Lions’ preseason game with Jeremy in two weeks. Please, Dad. I’m sorry. I take it back.”

  “Too little, too late,” Bentley said, his jaw ticking.

  “But, Dad, please! I’m sorry, Ireland!” he shouted, tears streaming down his cheeks.

  “Bentley,” I said, barely above a whisper. “I—I accept his apology. I think you should reconsider and let him go to the football game.”

  “You do?” Tanner questioned, surprise evident in his voice.

  “Yeah, I do. And, I forgive you. Actually, I’d like it if you’d both reconsider and stay a bit longer. If you don’t like my video game selection, then maybe we can find a movie?”

  “I guess we could watch a movie. If it’s OK with my dad,” Tanner said, hesitantly. I could already tell that his hard exterior was softening. “What do you say, Dad?”

  “I think we still need to go home, Son. We have a lot to discuss,” Bentley said, his anger subsiding.

  I gave Bentley a pleading look. I knew this was about punishing Tanner, but I really needed a chance to make this work with his son. “I really wish you would reconsider. I even have a Boston cream pie in the fridge. I was going on the assumption that it was still your favorite. I hope I’m right.”

  “Well, I have a hard enough time telling him no. I’m definitely screwed if I have to tell you both no. And, you throw in Boston cream pie, which is still my favorite, by the way, and I’m a dead man walking.”

  “Looks like you’re staying then. Let me go slice that pie.” I said, clearing the table of the dinner dishes. “Tanner, why don’t you pick out a movie.”

  “Would it be OK if I actually look at your video games first? I really wish I would’ve brought my Madden game over. I honestly never expected you to have such a cool video game system.”

  “Oh, I actually have the new Madden game,” I said nonchalantly.

  “You do?” they both said in unison.

  “It just came out a week ago,” Tanner added, shock evident in his voice.

  “Uh yeah. You might actually be surprised by what you find over there. I’m kind of a video game nerd.”

  Bentley helped me carry the rest of the dishes to the kitchen as Tanner started rummaging through my games.

  “I have to admit, I didn’t see you as much of a video game enthusiast either,” Bentley said, as I ran some hot water to soak the dishes.

  “Really? We always played them as kids? Why did you think I wouldn’t still?”

  “I figured you only played them to humor me. I was always under the impression that you never really cared too much for them.”

  I paused for a moment and bit down on my lip before responding. His question seemed simple enough, but my emotions were raw.

  “You’re right. I did only play them because you liked them, but then when you weren’t there anymore they still brought me comfort. When I played them I would think about all the times we were together and all the memories we shared. I saved my allowance money and bought every game thinking you’d probably bought it too and I would pretend we were still playing them together,” I rambled, keeping my eyes locked on the floor. “I know it probably sounds stupid.”

  “Ireland, look at me,” Bentley said, placing three fingers on my chin. “It doesn’t sound stupid at all. In fact, since we’re being so honest, I’m kind of turned on by it,” he added, wiggling his eyebrows.

  I smirked and swatted him in the chest. “You really are crazy.”

  “Crazy about you,” he said, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. We hadn’t even shared a real kiss tonight, but my body was buzzing for him. How he was able to do it with such a simple gesture, I’ll never know, but I wanted him to take me right there on the kitchen island.

  “Wow! You really do have some awesome games, Ireland. I don’t know what to choose,” Tanner yelled from the living room. I pulled away from Bentley, remembering that only a wall separated us from his son.

  “We should probably get the pie ready,” I said, grabbing the tin and the Reddi-Wip can from the refrigerator. Before I had a chance to spray the whipped topping onto the pie, Bentley grabbed the aerosol can from my hands. He shook it and sprayed a huge dollop into his mouth.

  “I can’t believe you just did that!” I exclaimed.

  “Why not? We used to do it all the time as kids! You don’t remember?” he mumbled, spraying whipped cream as he spoke.

  “Of course, I remember!” I chuckled, yanking the can from his grasp and spraying my own mouth.

  “I forgot how good this stuff tasted,” I laughed, swallowing the airy confection.

  Bentley came over and licked the corner of my mouth. “Sorry, you had a little whipped cream on your lips. I couldn’t let it go to waste.”

  “I wish I’d left more,” I whimpered.

  “I wish I could just have you for dessert. Why don’t you pack a can of this for the weekend,” Bentley whispered in my ear. “We won’t have any distractions—nothing to come between us. Just you and me.”

  His promise left me speechless. I just stood there looking up at him like a deer caught in headlights. It wasn’t until we heard Tanner telling us that he’d decided on Madden that I remembered we were still standing in my kitchen and that I had a pie to serve.

  “Ready for me to kick your ass?” Bentley asked, grabbing the entire pie and one fork.

  “Whatever! And, you need to share that pie,” I screamed, running out of the kitchen behind him.

  “Touchdown!” Tanner screamed. “Dad, Ireland is totally kicking your butt. That’s her fourth TD.”

  “Thanks, Son. I can see the score. I didn’t really need the reminder,” Bentley chuckled.

  “Interception!” I yelled, jumping off the couch.

  “Are you letting her win, Dad?”

  “Obviously!” Bentley said, as my guy ran the ball into the end zone to score my fifth touchdown of the game.

  “You wish, Roberts!” I said, as I stood and shook my bootie around the living room.

  Bentley laughed, “What are you doing? Get back here so I can make my epic comeback.”

  “I’m doing my victory dance!” I said, blocking his view of the screen.

  “Well, now you just aren’t playing fair,” he said, pulling me down on his lap as the game clock expired.

  “Why don’t you show me your touchdown dance? Oh wait, you would’ve had to score a touchdown first,” I said with a smirk. “After all, I thought you were going to show me how it was done.”

  “You’re asking for it, Shamrock. I’m rusty that’s all. I haven’t played this game in months. I’ll get you next time,” Bentley insisted.

  “Dad, what are you talking about? We just played this last night,” Tanner piped up.

  “Busted!” I screamed as Bentley started tickling my sides and pulled me in for a quick kiss. Somehow this really had turned into a perfect night. Bentley held me on the couch for a few more minutes while Tanner was distracted by the game stats.

  “Unbelievable. She had over five hundred passing yards!” Tanne
r mumbled to himself. “Ireland, are you ready to face me now?”

  Bentley gave me another chaste kiss on the cheek and looked down toward his watch. “Tanner, I think we better get going. I have to work tomorrow and your mother will be at the house early to pick you up for the weekend. Maybe we can come back next week sometime and you can face Ireland,” Bentley said, sounding hopeful.

  “Please, Dad. Just one more game.”

  “I can take him down quick. Just like you taught me all those years ago,” I whispered in Bentley’s ear so only he would hear.

  He gave me a knowing smirk. “OK, but just one more and then we’re heading home.”

  Just as promised, it was only a matter of minutes before I had Tanner begging me for mercy.

  “Ireland, how did you get so good?” Tanner asked. “I really thought my dad was letting you win, but I see now that he wasn’t.”

  “I had a good teacher,” I said, glancing over at Bentley. “Your dad and I used to play this when we were kids. He was the one who got me interested in gaming. The day I met him he actually was playing Gameboy.”

  “Gameboy?” Tanner asked. “What the heck is that?”

  “Wow, kid. Way to make your old man feel—old.”

  “But, Dad, you are old.”

  Bentley and I started laughing uncontrollably on the couch and before we knew it, Tanner had started in. The sound was music to my ears. Maybe this would actually work out after all.

  When we all had time to catch our breaths, Bentley announced that it was time for the two of them to leave. We all sat up and headed to the door. “I’ll see you on Friday,” Bentley said, pulling me against his body and placing a soft kiss on my lips. I didn’t want to pull away from him, but I knew Tanner was watching us.

  “I’m looking forward to it,” I said, giving him another quick peck on the lips.

  “It was nice meeting you, Tanner,” I said.

  “You too, Ireland,” he said, placing his arms around my neck for a quick hug. “I actually had a really good time tonight. I hope we can have a rematch soon.”

  I wasn’t expecting Tanner to hug me, but I was glad he had.

  “You’re welcome here anytime, Tanner,” I said, as he walked out onto the porch giving Bentley and me a moment to ourselves.

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. And, if I didn’t tell you earlier, good game,” he said, spinning me around and slapping my ass like I was one of the guys in the locker room after a high school football game.

  I just smiled and stood on my tip toes to give Bentley a chaste kiss. He deepened it briefly before pulling away.

  “If I don’t stop now, I won’t be able to walk out that door. Just know, I’m not stopping this weekend,” he whispered, before turning to leave.

  I closed the door behind them and sank to the floor in relief. Tanner had been able to steal another piece of my heart right along with his father. I rested my head against the back of the door and said a silent prayer that I would recover if I ever lost them.

  Bentley was coming to pick me up in just a few short hours and I still hadn’t packed a thing. I sat on the floor of my walk-in closet with a pile of clothes strewn about. I was only going for a few days, but I felt like I needed to pack for an entire month. It was the middle of summer, but we were going to the mountains. I could be in shorts and a bikini top during the day, but would need a hoodie at night. And, I didn’t know what Bentley had planned for the evenings. I knew he’d want to spend some time with his mom during the day, but knowing him he’d made reservations for dinner at some fancy restaurants—which would require at least one little black dress, and jewelry to accessorize. And, shoes—footwear was an entirely different predicament all together. Where is Katie when I need her. I sighed in frustration as my phone jingled beside me.

  “Seriously, how did you know I needed you right now?” I said, without even properly greeting my best friend.

  “Instinct,” she laughed. “I knew you were leaving with Bentley in a few hours and I figured you were going crazy. I take it by your ‘hello,’ or lack thereof that I’m correct?”

  “I don’t know what to pack!” I yelled in desperation through the phone. “Seriously, I wish there were like some sort of time travel portal that could get you from Bora Bora to my bedroom with a snap of my fingers.”

  “Sorry, no such luck,” she said.

  “We really need to get on that then. Think of all the millions we could make.”

  “OK, well you contact the investors on that Shark Tank show and tell me when to show up.”

  “I’ll get right on that, but in the meantime, I need some serious help. What the hell am I supposed to pack?” I said, frantically.

  “I’m still not following. Does it really matter? Won’t you be walking around ‘nekked,’ and getting busy on a bearskin rug the entire time?”

  “There’s not a bearskin rug, asshole.”

  “Caught ya! You didn’t deny walking around in your birthday suit, or getting busy! Oh, and there’s totally a bearskin rug,” Katie chuckled.

  “Whatever. I will not confirm, or deny anything. And, how the fuck would you know if there’s a bearskin rug?” I said, wiping the tears from my eyes from uncontrollable laughter.

  “Greg told me about it. He went down there on some boys’ fishing weekend a few years ago. He says it’s the cheesiest thing ever, but he secretly wants to get one for the bedroom. He won’t admit it, but I know he wants one. It’s right up there with a mirror for the ceiling.”

  “Eww, seriously! I’ve heard enough. I don’t need to know about your weird sexcapades. Besides, you need to tell me what to pack already. Bentley is going to be here in less than two hours and I still need to shower.”

  “Don’t forget to shave—everywhere,” she interjected.

  “I’m ignoring you.” I said, scrunching my face with the realization that I did in fact need some maintenance down there.

  “You do know that if you were really ignoring me, you wouldn’t have first told me you were ignoring me.”

  “Ugh! Would you stop being a smartass and help me pack. Why do I get the feeling that you’re drunk anyways?”

  “I’m not drunk. Well, unless you count the three mimosas I’ve had at every meal since I’ve been here,” she said, hiccupping.

  “Oh my god. You’re ridiculous. I’m hanging up and Facetiming you so you can see my closet. You’re helping me even if you’re plastered.”

  “I’m not pla–.” I ended the call before she’d even finished denying her current inebriated status. I quickly dialed her again using the Facetime feature on my iPhone. “stered,” she finished as she answered the call.

  After about thirty minutes, I’d finally packed three suitcases. It was probably way too much, but Katie really wasn’t much help and I ended up packing everything around me—I figured I’d rather have too much than too little.”

  “Seriously, four suitcases?” Bentley asked with a raised brow.

  “No, I only have three, thank you very much.”

  “One, two, three, four. There are definitely four bags there, Shamrock. I think you need to watch the counting episode of Sesame Street again. You know the one with the stuffed Muppet, Dracula guy.”

  “The Count?” I deadpanned, not amused by his attempt at humor.

  “Yes, that’s it. I guess that would’ve been the obvious name choice,” he laughed. “Do you want me to check the showtimes on Public Broadcasting,” he asked, grabbing his phone out of his pocket.

  “Really? Are you done? Because the fourth bag you pointed at isn’t a suitcase—it’s my purse.”

  “Well when your purse is big enough to hold everything and the kitchen sink then I count it as a suitcase.”

  “Why do I continuously allow myself to fall for you?” I said, shaking my head, as I tried to suppress my laughter.

  “Because I’m irresistible,” he said, placing a lingering kiss on the corner of my mouth.

  I didn’t know how he was able to do it
with such a simple gesture, but again Bentley had been able to take my breath away.

  “Yeah, I guess you are,” I sighed.

  “As much as I’d love to kiss you here all day we should probably get going. I’d like to make it to the cabin before the sun goes down.”

  “OK. If you insist,” I agreed, pulling away from his hold.

  “I do, but seriously though, do you really need all that stuff? We’re only going for a few days.”

  “I know! I really tried, but I have no idea how hot or cold it’s going to be. I just want to be prepared, that’s all. After all, it can get pretty cold up in the mountains at night.”

  “I can think of plenty of other ways to keep you warm, Ireland,” Bentley said, his eyes penetrating mine. “And, if I’m really being honest I’d rather you not bring any clothes at all.”

  His words left me tingling between my thighs. Two can play at this game.

  “Well, if you’d like, we can leave that suitcase behind,” I said, pointing to my pink, over-the-shoulder bag.

  Bentley eyed me curiously. “OK. But why that one?” he asked, suspiciously.

  “Because that one is full of my lingerie,” I said with a wink, before retreating into the SUV as quickly as possible. I shut the door and burst into laughter. After several seconds, I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Bentley still standing behind the car with his mouth wide open.

  Looks like I won this round.

  “Are you one of these guys that only stops when his fuel tank is on E? Or am I allowed to ask for potty breaks? I asked as Bentley backed the Range Rover down the driveway.

  “Depends,” he said, without continuing.

  “On what?” I asked.

  “Are you one of those girls that has to piddle every hour? Because if that’s the case then I’m most certainly the guy that only stops when we need to fill the gas tank,” he smirked.

  “No, I think I can hold it for more than an hour,” I laughed, slapping him on his rock-hard chest. “Does that mean I can ask then?”

  He sighed. “I suppose, but only because I like you,” he said, taking one hand off the wheel and resting it on my thigh. It was such a sweet, romantic gesture. I knew it now more than ever that in just a few days this man had been able to find a way into my heart. I was going to tell him this weekend. I just needed to figure out how.