20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Pike

Pike’s large size meant he had to hunch over to the point of almost resting his head on his knees if he tried to fit in Cora’s small car. She wrinkled her nose at his Caddy but agreed to drive to the monthly BBQ in that instead, making Pike breathe out a sigh of relief.

She’d already called her dad to warn him they’d be late. Once the sun was down, they’d all gotten into Pike’s rust spotted car. At least it wasn’t hot because the car’s air conditioner probably hadn’t worked since 1982. It wasn’t the car’s only failing, but in the San Diego heat, it was a big one.

“I guess you can’t argue with the room in here,” Cora commented as they drove. The front seat couldn’t accommodate all three of them, so Kimble had climbed in the back with Cora. Pike felt a little like a chauffeur. Or maybe the Wish version of an Uber.

“The room and price were the major selling points,” Pike agreed.

“Did you bargain the guy down to a dollar or did you have to pay full price?” Cora teased.

“Hey, don’t talk about the Caddy like that,” Pike admonished with a chuckle. “To tell the truth, I didn’t pay anything for it. I traded. It’d been sitting in his driveway for years. He lives in my parents’ neighborhood and needed two trees cut down. I was able to do it in a weekend and he gave me the car. ”

“We’ll have to see about getting you a better vehicle,” Cora said. “Something you’re comfortable in but that still has working shocks. I think my spine broke on that last pothole.”

“And doesn’t leak when it rains,” Pike said wistfully, but then guilt hit him hard. “But I don’t see that happening. I owe you so much money for all the blood you bought, and the coffee table Kimble destroyed. Finding your mate is supposed to be amazing, not destructive.”

“Don’t be silly,” Cora responded, reaching forward to muss his hair. “You’re not paying me back shit. Besides, we have an agreement, remember? You cook and clean, and I bring home the paycheck. We’re in this together until Kimble’s all better.”

Pike hated it when she said things like that, as if the three of them were temporary. He knew she did it as a type of defense mechanism, but that didn’t make it any less painful.

“I provide,” Kimble announced, far louder than necessary in the confines of the car. He was probably feeling guilty too. “Not yet, but soon. Provide for my flock forever.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Cora said. “I’ve got you. I’m not going to be buying Jaguars or mansions, but I can keep you two comfortable. I’ll look around for something used that will fit all three of us comfortably and is in the budget.”

Kimble grumbled but otherwise didn’t argue with her. A glance in the rearview mirror showed the vampire cuddling up to the human. It didn’t look sexual. It looked more like an apology.

As he drove, the two in the back murmured to each other, leaving him to his thoughts. That wasn’t a good idea because one thing kept playing out in his head: the bad impression he’d made when he’d first met Cooper.

What if Cooper told Cora’s family that Pike was a horrible person? They’d all hate him before they even got a chance to meet him!

The closer they got the more nervous Pike became. He was sweating by the time he drove onto a gravel drive that opened up to a gravel parking lot in front of a house.

“Dad doesn’t believe in lawns,” Cora said as Pike parked between a truck and a sporty compact. The two story, stucco house lacked a single decorative flourish anywhere. No pots of flowers, no curtains in the windows, and the color was a bland beige. It was completely different from his parents' small craftsman house with the colorful pollinator garden in the front that his mother was so proud of.

“It looks very, uh…” Pike was at a loss for a descriptor that wasn’t as bland as the house.

“Practical,” Cora finished for him. “That’s my dad.”

The moment he shut off the engine, he could hear people talking and laughing. The smell of roasting and burnt meat was heavy in the air, making him wrinkle his nose. Humans always insisted on ruining perfectly good meals with over cooking. Bracing himself, he decided that no matter how badly cooked the meat was, he’d choke it down.

Because the Caddy was a two door, Pike had to get out first and flip the seat forward to let Cora and Kimble out. He waited, his hand held out for her to take, but she didn’t move. The look of reluctance on her face matched his internal struggle.

“I’m sure everything will be fine,” he lied. “I’ll be super friendly, and we’ll say Kimble is learning English, so they won’t expect much conversation from him.”

“It’s not them liking you I’m worried about,” she admitted, taking his hand and climbing out of the car. “I’m worried they’re going to make you mad. My family is really good at pissing people off and a few of my early relationships ended because I brought the guy to an event like this one.”

“They must all know that you’re in a relationship with two guys,” Pike said, voicing one of his fears. “The most they could do is try to shame you into ending it, and we all know that won’t work.”

Cora snorted as she stepped away from the Caddy to give Kimble room. “I promise, that’s not going to be an issue. Dad’s bi. He was dating guys before he fell in love with Mom. In fact, when they met, he was living with two of his lovers. Cooper is married to a man, and Trevor and his wife are looking into the poly scene. My family would never give us a hard time about a non-traditional relationship.”

That information made him feel a little better, but he was still nervous as hell. Kimble followed Cora out of the car, and Pike slammed the heavy door shut. The entire Caddy rocked and squeaked a little.

Standing next to it, Cora stared at the house. “Promise me something. ”

“Anything,” Pike said without hesitation. Kimble grunted as if to say he agreed also.

“No matter what they say to you, come talk to me first,” Cora said. “My family is really good at hurting people’s feelings.”

“They can try,” Pike said. “But I’m confident in us, which makes me almost invulnerable to insults.”

Cora didn’t look convinced. “We’ll see.”

***

“You’re fucking massive!” someone exclaimed as Cora led them around the side of the house.

“Nice welcome, Carson!” Cora yelled.

Pike stumbled to a stop when everyone at the gathering turned to stare at them with varying degrees of curiosity.

“There’s a lot of people here,” he mumbled. Kimble put a comforting hand on his back, and Cora tangled her fingers with his.

“They’re all dumb, but nice,” Cora said in a faux whisper.

“Hey!” Cooper yelled, holding up his beer. He had an arm around another man, probably his husband who stared at Pike with wide eyes. “Nice to see you again, Pike.”

“Oh babe,” the husband whispered, but Pike’s bear hearing made it easy to overhear. “You said he was big, but you didn’t say he was the size of a house! He could’ve killed you!”

Cooper looked down at his husband. “Nah, I’m a tough asshole.”

The husband snorted. “You got the asshole part right.”

Their little exchange helped Pike relax. It seemed everyone was hard on each other in this family.

“Pike!” a bunch of guys yelled together, holding up beers and then taking long drinks. Cora chuckled and waited until the drinking was over to start talking.

“This is Kimble,” she said, pointing.

“Kimble!” the men yelled and drank again.

“You guys are idiots!” Cora announced, but she was smiling as she led him and Kimble deeper into the backyard yard. The place was large, bordered by tall, full trees. Just like with the front, there wasn’t any lawn at all. At the center was a rectangular pool surrounded by lounge chairs, tables, and umbrellas. The back third of the space was a child’s play area with swings, a climbing structure, and a wooden platform on squat springs. The ground was some kind of springy composite painted in bright colors.

About a dozen kids stopped playing long enough to look over at them, then went back to their activities. No one was in the pool, but by the looks of the wet footprints, there’d recently been children in there.

“Your timing is perfect!” a feminine voice said and stepped out from behind a smoking grill. “Dinner’s finally ready.”

“Hi Janet!” Cora said with a little wave of her free hand. “We ate earlier, but if you brought some of your peanut butter brownies, I’ll have an entire plate of them.”

“I’ll grab you some,” Janet said before bustling off into the house.

A silver-haired man with a graying beard stepped away from the grill with a large shiny spatula clutched in his hand.

“You already ate? What kind of bullshit is that?” he asked with a frown.

Cora didn’t respond to the question, and her smile turned forced. She tightened her hold on him as they walked toward the man. This was clearly her father. Unlike all the brothers with their darker skin tones and long, thin faces, Cora's pale skin and round face resembled this man. Her siblings must take after her mother while she took after her father.

“Hi Dad, this is Pike and Kimble.”

“I heard,” he grunted, first eyeing Kimble, then turning his attention to Pike.

Cora ignored his grunt and finished the introduction. “Guys, this is my father, Daniel.”

Pike tried to smile and held out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

Daniel eyed Pike’s hand before accepting the handshake and then letting go as if he was afraid Pike would try to crush his hand. “Cooper wasn’t exaggerating, you’re a big motherfucker. Built like a brick shithouse!”

Pike winced and tried to figure out what to say. He wasn’t used to all the casual cussing with so many children running around. Thankfully, Cora saved him, or maybe avenged him would be a better word.

“Watch your language Dad,” Cora hissed .

“What?” Daniel feigned innocence. “These kids got to learn how to talk like men.”

“Fuck yes they do,” Cora agreed in a mock shout, then nodded her head toward the house. “Let me just grab Janet and tell her what you said.”

Daniel looked momentarily scared. “She brought an extra pan of brownies for me. It’s yours if you don’t say anything.”

Cora grinned. “Deal.”

Daniel shook his head and turned his attention to Kimble. “Why are you wearing sunglasses at night? It’s all kinds of suspicious, don’t you think?”

“Sensitive eyes,” Kimble answered, deliberately making his accent thick.

“He’s got an issue with his vision and needs them,” Cora added.

Daniel frowned at Kimble. “Where’d you come from?”

“Cora’s home,” Kimble answered.

Pike stifled a laugh as Daniel’s frown turned to a scowl. Cora didn’t bother hiding her amusement. “No more questions, Dad. It’s been a rough few weeks for all of us, and I want to hang out and relax.”

“Then you’re going to need this,” said a black-haired man as he swooped in with three bottles of beer clutched in his hands.

“Thanks,” Pike said as he took one. They’d agreed earlier that Kimble should take whatever anyone offered, and Pike or Cora would consume it when no one was paying attention. That way, it would be less obvious Kimble wasn’t drinking or eating.

“Thanks, Caleb,” Cora said before taking a sip of her beer.

“No prob,” Caleb said before moving his gaze between Kimble and Pike. “I’m the oldest of the siblings.”

“And my greatest disappointment,” Daniel grumbled.

“Go flip your burnt burgers, old man,” Caleb said without any heat. “He’s still holding a grudge because I went to law school instead of trade school. Anyway, let me point everyone out. Don’t worry. There won’t be a quiz later.”

Three children ran past them and jumped into the pool as Caleb gave them a crash course on Cora’s family. Pike tried to remember everyone but there were a lot of people. All the siblings except for Cora and Tim were married and most had children. Caleb proudly pointed out his foster kids jumping into the pool along with his biological daughter.

It seemed the Walsh Clan was ready to include anyone whether they were born into the family or not. It made Pike feel better about Daniel’s disapproval. He was simply protective of his large family.

It might take a little time, but the Walsh family would accept him and Kimble as permanent parts of Cora’s life.

No one sat down to eat, everyone held plates in their hands and chatted as they consumed burgers, chips, and sliced up veggies. Unable to resist, Pike grabbed a plate and loaded it down with the veggies. The bear in him couldn’t pass up fresh bite sized cucumbers, carrots, and broccoli. Oh, there were grapes and melon balls too!

Cora got called over to discuss zoning laws and Kimble followed, leaving Pike alone at the table to graze.

Everything was going great until he found himself alone with Trevor, Cooper, and Ted. The three of them boxed him in against a shed, mostly hidden from the rest of the backyard, and Pike prepared himself to take some hits. He’d let them get a few punches in before putting them on their butts, so it would make them less likely to be angry with him later.

Instead of hitting, the three of them leaned in close and started whispering.

“I’m only saying this to be kind,” Cooper started. “But you should break up with her now before Cora gets a chance to stomp all over you.”

Ted nodded his head, eyes wide and sincere. “She doesn’t do long term, and you seem decent. That Kimble dude, not so much, but you have ‘nice guy’ written all over you.”

“You don’t deserve what she’s going to do to you,” Trevor said. “No guy does.”

“Get out before she destroys you,” Cooper added.

“Let me tell you a story,” Ted said and the other brothers nodded their heads as if they knew what he was going to say. “It starts with a meet-cute between a tiny she-demon named Cora and a helpless, romantic guy named Seb.”

“What the fuck is a meet-cute?” Trevor asked Cooper in a whisper. A glare from Ted had them both shutting up .

“As I was saying, this story starts out sweet, but turns dark and ugly fast. So begins the tragic tale of Seb and Cora.”