Love You Always

13

Tomas

“You going to buy it?” Sean asks me as I stand on the empty lot of land. It is a giant piece of land with a big lake in the back. There are a million things you could do with this place. I can't wait to see what Neily will come up with for it.

“Yes.” How could I not buy it? Her best friend is moving into the house next door. The same friend that my little pixie has been sad over moving out. If I could fix it I would. Sean smiles, looking as happy about me getting the land as my girl will be.

“Good.” His hand comes down on my shoulder. I jerk my head to look at him. He lifts his hand.

“You know you can’t hit me.” He lets out a laugh. “Might make your girl mad.”

“You going to tattle on me?”

Sean smirks. “Maybe. I’m sure my wife will have a million questions if I come home with a shiner.”

“She’s not your wife yet.”

“Neily's not yours either.”

I grind my teeth together. I might like Sean, but if he keeps saying shit like that, I might just suffer the consequences of giving him that shiner. I scrub my hand down my face, trying to figure out why I am in such a shit mood.

“How about I don’t poke you and you won't poke me?” Sean offers. “I have a feeling we’re going to be spending a lot of time together. We’re better off allies. Those two are thick as thieves.” He’s right. “They will try to get away with murder if we let them.”

“Is your wife going to text you when she’s done dress shopping?” I ask instead of agreeing outright to our truce. Plus I want that piece of information. I’m not letting my little pixie slip away from me again. It’s only a matter of time before she figures out that I turned on her shared location with me.

“She will. I left Smith there. He’ll let me know if they try and sneak out.”

“Sneak out? Why the hell would they sneak out of a dress shop?”

“From the stories I’ve heard about Neily, she can get them into all sorts of situations.” He shrugs. I hate that he knows things about Neily that I don’t. But I don’t find it shocking that my girl can get herself into situations, as some might call it. Another reason why she needs someone like me in her life. I won't stop her from doing anything she wants, but I can keep her safe.

“She’s a free spirit,” I admit. She lights up the fucking room. That’s not a light you try and dim. You just try to bask in it and make sure it never goes out. That’s my plan anyway. I want to soak as much of her up as I can without her losing what makes her so damn special. I’ve seen enough darkness for the both of us in my life.

“They are going to get dinner,” Sean tells me, putting his phone back into his pocket. I’m guessing the pizza wasn't enough. “The moms are”—Sean shrugs—“excited.”

“I get it.” My mom was the same way.

“Let’s go get a steak. Keep an eye on them.” I follow him back to the car, pulling out my own phone. I send a text to Neily telling her that I miss her. It’s cheesy as hell and never something I thought I’d be doing, but I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks when it comes to her.

Pixie: Is that why you left me this morning?

I stare at her words, trying to get a handle on her emotions. I think she might have a few more insecurities than I realized. Is she pushing me away before I can push her away? Is that her thought process?

“Neily’s parents are happily married?”

“Yep. Alyssa’s too. They grew up together like sisters. Their moms are best friends.” Sean lets out a laugh. “They even live next door to each other. I guess history has a way of repeating itself sometimes.” All of what Sean is saying falls into place.

Me: I should have woken you but you looked so peaceful. I have a standing date with a bunch of rowdy boys down at the community center. It’s my way to give back to the community. If I missed they’d never let me live it down.

That was the only thing that could have gotten me to leave her this morning. I would have let her sleep on me all day, but I knew how disappointed the boys would be if I didn't show up. I’ve been working with them for years. I know how important places like that are. It had been the gym for me when I was young. It had given me a purpose in life and kept me out of trouble. It had been a place where I could focus my anger instead of getting in trouble out on the streets. I owed my life to that place and I wanted those young boys to have the same opportunity.