Love You Always

Pixie: Oh

I don’t have to be there to know her face is scrunched up as she reads my text over and over again. I’d be willing to bet a lot that the face she’s making is the same one she’d made when she thought some other woman had inked my skin. She is territorial and maybe jealous too. She doesn't need to worry about either of those things. I am and always will be all hers.

Pixie: I miss you too.

I pocket my phone as we make the drive to the restaurant the girls are at. Sean and I fall into small talk. He isn't too bad of a guy. Nothing like one would have thought from the small things I heard about him. I’d lumped him into the party crowd but I was wrong. It’s a reminder that you can never believe what is in print or whispered around town.

The same couldn't really be said about me. What they write about me is mostly true. That is mostly because they can't find shit on me. I fight and show up at events when I have to. I take my pictures and get out as soon as I can. I don't mingle.

We roll up to the front of the steak house. I step out of the car and Sean tosses the keys to the valet who does a doubletake when he sees me. I give him a chin nod, heading straight for the door. Sean said we’d hang at the bar while the girls did their thing. That they are likely still working out wedding details.

Will Neily want a big wedding? I’m not sure when it comes to her. What if she’s one of those types of people who doesn’t want to get married? I’ve never given marriage any thought before now but I know I sure as fuck want it.

The door to the steakhouse flies open, almost hitting me, but my reflexes are fast. Neily throws herself at me, not noticing she almost hit me with the heavy wood door. I catch her in my arms.

“I missed you.” She peppers adorable kisses all over my face. The act is innocent and sweet but my cock finds it sexy as fuck that she’s clinging to me with a giant smile on her face. “I’m here to warn you. The moms are crazy.” She wiggles for me to let her down. I don’t; I hold on tighter.

“I want a kiss and then I’ll free you.” She huffs a breath but leans down to kiss me. Her lips are soft as she presses into me. It looks like my text did the trick. She’s far from mad now or pushing me away.

“Is this him?”

“He’s here?” I hear two women ask.

“They found us.” Neily’s eyes open wide. “We could make a run for it. You’re athletic. I think we can make it.”

“I’ll trip him,” one of them says, making me chuckle. I turn to look. I know without a doubt it’s Neily’s mom. They have the same dark hair and heart-shaped face. I release one hand from Neily’s ass, holding it out to her mom.

“I’m Tomas. I promise I’m not running.” The last part is more for Neily than anyone. I’m not going anywhere. She’ll get that soon enough.

Her mom takes my hand as I let Neily slide down my body until her feet are touching the floor. “It’s nice to meet you. I heard you dumped my daughter this morning.” Her lips twitch and I know she doesn't believe whatever Neily might have said.

“I don’t think there is a sane person that would dump your daughter, ma’am.”

“Call me Bree. This is Jona.” She motions to the older blond woman standing next to Alyssa, whose eyes are bouncing between Neily and me. She has a giant smile on her lips that matches everyone else's.

“He didn't dump me. We aren’t together as boyfriend and girlfriend, Mom. This isn't high school.”

“I know this isn't high school, honey. You actually have a man now.” Her mom looks at me. “She had to go to prom alone.”

“I wasn't alone! I went with Alyssa.”

I can tell her mom is teasing her. I keep my arm around her, enjoying the feel of her body against mine. It was clear to me that Neily already told them I spent last night with her.

“Good. Wouldn't want to have to track down prom dates from years ago and kill them.”

Sean walks up to Alyssa. She tilts her head back for a kiss. “Let’s go inside, everyone is staring at Tomas.”

I look behind me to see the valets trying to snap pictures. They pocket their phones when they see me looking.

That’s the thing about being Tomas “Hitman” Holiday: there’s never a moment of privacy. I’ve let my fighting define me for so long but now that I have Neily, I find myself wanting to just be Tomas Holiday.