Sucker Punch (TKO 4)

I’m back and no one will keep me down.

***

I step out of the shower and go straight to my room. Ruston isn’t here, big surprise. I don’t have to ask where he is because I already know. I’m waiting for him and Tamilyn to just go ahead and move in together. I figure it’s only a matter of time. I check my phone and when I’m sure Paige has Darla in bed, I decide to call her. The phone only rings twice before she answers.

“Hello?” she answers quietly.

“Hey, babe. How was your day?”

“Long. I forgot to tell my mom about Darla meeting Brendan, so she heard it from her and I had to explain.”

“Oh, what did she say about it?” I ask.

“She said the motherly thing. You know, be careful and all of that. She’s glad, though, that he wants to be in her life. Oh, and I told her about you.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, she wants to meet you. What are you doing tomorrow evening? She asked me to invite you over for dinner after I get off of work.”

“I’m going to dinner. What else would I be doing?” I chuckle.

“I can stop and pick you up after work if you’d like,” she offers.

“Of course, that’s fine.”

We talk a little longer and there’s no denying I’m falling a little more every day for the nurse that helped me get through the news of losing my arm. How I got this lucky I’ll never know. I tell her goodnight and we hang up the phones. I lie in my bed staring at the ceiling for a while, just thinking. The brain can be a dangerous thing, but not mine right now. For the first time in my life, things are finally seeming to be right where they need to be. I finally got the girl of my dreams and I’m about to get back into the ring. Life is good.

Chapter 31

Paige

Work was long because I am anticipating the dinner that is about to happen. Mom and Dad haven’t met anyone since Brendan, and that was years ago, so this is a big deal for me. Mom said he must be pretty special if I let him meet Darla. She knows I haven’t dated anyone since Darla was born, so there’s been no one to meet her until now. I drive to Austin’s apartment and I knock on the door.

A girl answers and I almost turn around and walk off. I can’t believe there’s another woman in here. What am I thinking? Why would I be the only one for him?

“Hi! You must be Paige. I’m Tamilyn.” She grins as she pulls me in for a hug.

Reluctantly, I hug her back. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Come on in. I’ll tell Austin you’re here.”

I walk inside and she shuts the door. I notice she walks up to another guy in the kitchen before disappearing for a second. Before Austin comes out, the guy in the kitchen turns to face me.

“Hey, Paige, I’m Austin’s cousin Ruston. It’s nice to meet you. It’s nice to see him happy again,” he tells me.

“It’s nice to meet you too.” I smile. I realize now Ruston and Tamilyn are together, and I was foolish to even think otherwise.

Tamilyn and Austin come walking back into the kitchen and his face lights up when he sees me. He’s dressed quite nicely in a pair of jeans and a tight fitting black t-shirt. “I’ll be back, Rus,” Austin says.

We tell everyone bye and walk outside to my car. “You look nice,” I say as we get into the car.

“Thank you. I want to look good for your parents.” He chuckles.

“You do, don’t worry,” I tell him as I buckle my seat belt.

Austin leans over before buckling and softly kisses my cheek. I turn to face him and wrap my hand around his neck, pulling him closer. With his lips just in front of mine, my heart is racing. I want to taste his kiss. He leans in closer to where our lips are barely touching. He softly kisses me and I moan as I press my lips a little harder against his. I don’t want to break this kiss, I don’t want this moment to end, but we have to get to dinner before my mom starts wondering where I am.

“Your lips are so soft. I could kiss them all day,” Austin whispers.