"Reba, it feels like it's been at least an hour… Can I please just run out there real fast?" He was in the water and I was leaning against a tree with my knees to my chest. I shook my head.
"They'll either A: bring our clothes back, or B: we'll sleep out here and run back to the house tomorrow mornin."
"Your parents get up early, what's your dad gonna think when he sees us bookin it to the door, naked? And your mom? She'll probably have a heart attack. I don't wanna kill your mom, Reba!" I smirked and shook my head.
"You haven't heard any of the stories from when they were younger…" We both cringed and shook the thoughts from our heads. I heard something moving down the path and instantly ran for the water, gasping again at how cold it was. He cleared his throat and I turned to see who it was. Roy, comin down the path very slowly with his eyes shut.
"Uhh… here're your clothes…" He set them down and turned to walk away.
"Hold it!" I said, sternly. "Who took em'?" he hesitated before speaking.
"I don't think you wanna know…"
"Oh.. Yes I do."
"No, no you really don't."
"Roy."
"Rob. It was Rob. He said he was just jokin around…" I narrowed my eyes.
"Most people take the clothes, then run right away. Not wait till the get caught!"
"Yeah, well-"
"When did he leave?"
"Nobody was really payin attention, but probably right after you guys left." I turned to look at Brock and saw his jaw clenching and unclenching. "Can ya make him leave?" I asked Roy, before Brock killed the guy. Roy nodded.
"He's already gone."
"Thank you." And with that, he walked back. I swam over to Brock and stood, since it was shallower, then rubbed his shoulders. "Your fiiinneee…"
"He was watchin us… Lookin at you. I was the only one who had ever seen you. I'm supposed to be the only one who ever sees you." I smiled sadly and kissed his shoulder.
"I'm not the only one who's ever seen you…" I felt his shoulder slump and he started walking out of the water.
"That's different." I crossed my arms across my chest and watched him dress.
"How so?" After he slid on his pants he looked at me and threw his arms up.
"Because! I don't know… but it is." I smirked and raised my eyebrow.
"That's not an answer…" I said, and walked out, putting my bra and shirt on.
"No, you're right, its not. But it makes sense to me. I felt so special to be the only one who ever sees you." I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist.
"You are special."
"Not as special anymore."
"Uhh… if you don't think takin my virginity is special, then we have a problem." He rubbed my arms soothingly and I tightened my grip around him.
"Of course that's special. That's the most special thing in the world to me, but… It just feels like he took something else that was special to me."
"Well, just remember, you're the only guy that I have and will ever be with. Ever. Waitin two years really paid off in the end, huh?" He put his eyebrows together and nodded.
"Ohh yeah…Sooo worth it…" I smiled and kissed him gently, then backed up and we both finished dressing. I grabbed his hand and we walked back, taking our time. When we got there, there was only about 7 people left. These would be the people that end up staying here. We walked up to the fire and they all started whistling and 'wooing'. I just rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
"That waters pretty cold, Brock. How'd ya do?" I felt my eyes get wide and my cheeks get hot. I just closed my eyes and shook my head.
"Ignore him." I said through my teeth.
"Ohh… you guys are no fun…"
"Steffen… Shut. Up."
"Am I embarrassin you, honey?"
"Fantastic. He did absolutely amazing. The cold's never stopped him, ain't that right, Brock?" He looked down at me like I was a crazy woman. "We're goin to sleep."
"Remember your parents are just next door." Steffen said before taking a drink of his beer. I rolled my eyes and when I walked by him I felt him grab around my waist and pull me back.
"You ain't goin anywhere, sit your ass down." In other words, 'I'm sorry I was embarrassing you, don't go in.' I took his arm and pushed it off.
"Are you done?"
"Oh, c'mon Red… I used to always joke with ya."
"And I've always hated it."
"I know." He replied with a smirk. I put my hands on my hips and opened my mouth to say something but Brock interrupted me.
"So… are we goin inside or…"
"What ever you wanna do."
"Well…." He studied my face to see which was the right thing to do, but I honestly didn't care. "Uhh… Well I could use another beer…" He was so unsure.
"Brock, if you wanna nother beer, you sit down and grab yourself a beer. Just cuz she wants to go in don't mean you have to." I turned back to face Steffen again and smirked.
"You can tell he ain't married." Roy said while chuckling.
"And I wonder why." I added. Roy leaned forward, burped and threw his beer can into the fire.
"I don't wanna get married ag-."
"Whys that? Nobody's dumb enough to marry you, so ya gave up?" He shot me a dirty look and I smirked again.
"No, I-"
"Oh… you're just a pig and prefer one-night-stands?" I felt Brock wrap his arms around my waist.
"Reba…" He whispered in my ear.
"Oh c'mon Stef, I used to always joke with ya." I mocked.
"Again." Steffen finished. "I don't wanna be married again."
"What'd you do to screw it up with her?" He stood now and looked angry… He knew I was just jokin…
"If you call a drunk driver runnin a stop sign at 3 a.m my fault… then yeah, I guess I screwed it up." Then he walked to the barn. I felt my heart drop and after a few long seconds I looked at Roy.
"What's he talkin about?" Now Roy stood.
"His wife died in a car accident last spring, they were on their way to the hospital… Her water had just broke." I felt all the air I had left leave my chest. Roy walked to the barn to check on his friend while I stood there, feeling like such an idiot. I turned to Brock with wide, teary eyes.
"What do I do?" I whispered. He hugged me and I let a few tears fall onto his shirt.
"You didn't know…"
"Do I apologize? Wait till he comes back out? I'm sure he hates me…"
"He doesn't hate you…" He hugged me a little tighter before backing up. "I think it's bed time." I nodded. It's been such a long night… We got up to bed, but I couldn't sleep. All I could think about was how terrible of a person I felt like. I knew something was wrong when he wasn't making comments back, but I just figured he was gonna let me win this one.
"Reba…" I heard somebody whisper and shake my shoulders lightly. "I got you some coffee." I opened my eyes slowly to see Brock on the edge of the bed by me. I blinked a few times, yawned and rubbed my eyes.
"I cant believe I said that…" Brock handed me the coffee but stayed quiet. "Is he here?" He shook his head.
"Everybody's gone."
"What time is it?!"
"Almost 7." I rolled my eyes.
"I forgot how bad it sucks to live here in the morning. Everybody is awake by, at the latest, 7..."
"I woke up on my own." I raised my eyebrows.
"Really?" he nodded proudly.
"Yep! I've been up about an hour. I got up, brushed my teeth, drank a cup of coffee, helped your dad with some things out in the barn and breakfast is almost done." I smiled and kissed him a few times.
"Thank you."
"For what?" I raised my coffee mug a little higher.
"Coffee."
"Oh… Your mom made that, I just brought some up to you."
"Well, thank you my little coffee carrier." He smirked.
"Had to do somethin to get ya outta bed!"
"Ha! Have you ever tried wakin you up?!"
"Actually, I did it this mornin and I did pretty damn good."
"Good. I guess you found yourself a new job every mornin then." I said, then took a drink of the coffee. He stayed quiet for a minute, then let it out.
"Okay, that ain't gonna work. I just don't sleep well in a bed that ain't ours… I still need you." I smirked.
"I know." He kissed my forehead, then moved to my lips again and as soon as our lips touched the door flew open. Daddy cleared his throat real loud to make sure we knew he was there, of course as soon as the door flew open I about jumped outta bed.
"Uh… I don't know what's goin on here, but Brock, I think I just found you a nice ol' couch in the livin room to sleep on the next few nights." He said, puffing his chest out. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"Why cant a woman kiss her husband in this house?"
"I don't need to see y'all suckin each others faces off… it's gross." I chuckled.
"Daddy, I just woke up. If you think I have the energy to do anything but drink my coffee and give my husband a peck on the lips then you're crazy." Brock was standing at the end of the bed, lookin like he just had an accident. I chuckled at the look on his face.
"JV!" Whew… Momma. "Don't you dare yell at them for kissin! They are a married couple now and I do believe we were doin waayy more than that before we were even married!"
"Momma, Please…" I said, making a grossed out face. She ignored me and continued scolding my father.
"Now get downstairs. The boy can sleep where he wants."
"He wont if he wants to wake up tomorra…" Then he walked away nice and slow, attempting to make an intimidating face. Of course, it was workin on Brock, but I just laughed silently and shook my head.
"Ignore him, he ain't gonna kill ya… I doubt he'll even hurt ya… that bad." I added, then smiled. He quickly walked over to me and shook his head.
"Oh no. I know whats best for me, Reba, and sleepin on the couch is definitely it." He sounded so sure and confident about his decision, which made me laugh again.
"Brock, he wont hurt you… I've known my daddy 23 years now and he hasn't hurt a fly…"
"None of them flies were your husband kissin you!" I got outta bed and walked over to our suitcase.
"You're bein dramatic."
"He's a big guy, Reba. With guns!" I shook my head and took off the t-shirt I was sleeping in. Brock gasped and turned around.
"What?" I asked, laughing. "Brock, you see me get dressed everyday…"
"Yeah, that's not when your father is in the house!" I rolled my eyes and put on my jeans.
"Scaredy-cat." I mumbled, then went to the bathroom, carrying my tooth brush. I brushed my teeth and washed my face then went down the stairs. "Mornin momma."
"Mornin sweetheart. Sorry about your dad… he's losin it, I swear." I laughed and grabbed my coffee out of Brocks hands as he came down the stairs.
"Is he down here?" Brock asked, looking around the house.
"No, dear. He's outside." Momma answered, talking from the stove. Brock sat next to me at the table, then scooted his chair a little further away.
"Is this how you're gonna be the whole time we're here?!" He nodded.
"Yep."
"Ugh… Momma, would you please tell Brock that Daddy ain't gonna kill him?"
"Uh… Yeah, honey. JV won't kill ya…" I shook my head and smirked, slightly, as momma laughed.
"Sounds super reassuring…" Brock said sarcastically.
"Could be worse… He could be like your mother." I said, raising my eyebrow and taking a sip of my coffee.
"My mom don't own guns! Just a rude mouth and bad temper…"
"Yeah, try mixing that with another rude mouth and bad temper." I stated. He nodded slowly, looking straight ahead.
"I have…" He nodded a few more times while still spacing off. "Don't mix well." He finished.
"Guys… she seemed like an innocent, old lady when I met her at the weddin."
"Shes good, Momma… very good." Brock nodded in agreement.
"Oh, Brock… you know you love her." Momma said as she brought some food to the table.
"Of course I love her, shes my mom, but… don't mean I like her." He paused and saw Momma's look of disapproval. "I mean, she's just a lot to handle… especially around Reba."
"I know, but…" She looked at me, then back at Brock. "Do ya blame her? I mean Reba's a lot to handle…"
"Yes, you're right, but she does pretty well around my mom. She's never been mean or made her clever, little comments or anything like that." Momma's eyes got big and Brock nodded. "I know, it's surprising…"
"Okay, guys… thank you." I said sarcastically.
"Oh, you're not mean, honey. You're just… uh…" She looked at Brock for help and I could see them both struggling. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"I'll tell ya what I am… impatient."
"Uh… well you're sarcastic… and a smart ass…" I turned and gave him a dirty look. "You gotta bit of a temper and don't like to be disrespected. It's your way or no way and you're kinda bossy-"
"Are you done?!" I cut him off.
"No-"
"Well, can ya be?!"
"No…" I rolled my eyes and let him continue. He better be goin somewhere with this. "You're feisty and sometimes just flat out mean, your pushy and the most stubborn, hard-headed woman I've ever met in my entire life!" I sighed and sat up straight, glaring at him. He smirked.
"Now are ya done?" he smiled.
"No." I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms. "You're also caring and loving… affectionate," he added with a wink and I smirked and looked at Momma to roll my eyes and shake my head. "You're fun and never fail to make me laugh… even when I don't want to, like when you make me mad, which you're also very good at…" I smiled and nodded, couldn't deny that one… "Everything you do I know you do it for the best. You're always there for everybody. You're always concerned. Always the first person people call for advise. So helpful… And beautiful." He added the ending with a smirk. "And all of those things are reasons I married you."
"Even the bad ones?" he chuckled and nodded.
"Absolutely." I smiled.
"I think that was better than your wedding vows."
"That's what I was thinkin." Momma agreed. I grinned and leaned over to kiss him but he turned his face and got real stiff.
"I brushed my teeth!" I exclaimed.
"Yeah… but your dad is somewhere within 100 feet of us… Not riskin it."