LOLA, AKA DADDY’S LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER

Once Emmett gets involved with my drama with Val, Duke decides to jump into the fray. The two dads end up deciding on a wedding date. I get the sense they both expect me to complain or back out.

Duke seems crankier than when we arrived. I don’t know if someone rubbed him the wrong way or he’s struggling with how Basin Rock’s future rests with the people on this homestead.

Having wandered over when Duke and Emmett started planning, Poppy asks, “The dates you’re suggesting are less than a month away. Is that long enough to plan a wedding?”

Before anyone can respond, I remind her, “The wedding is only a formality.”

Offended maybe, Poppy Mercer shoots me a dirty look. “My son deserves a quality wedding. He needs a cake and the best wings in the state. Can that be organized in less than a month?”

I frown at Duke who seems like he’s lost interest in the conversation and is daydreaming now. He barely acknowledges the food requests. Clover is no help since she has decided she will glue herself to Roxie and Alexis to avoid engaging with anyone older than twenty-three.

“This is a fine wedding,” Zeb Earlham announces as he walks over to our group. I’m shocked by the sight of such an old man. The geezer wears a brand-new red T-shirt with the tag still dangling from the sleeve. He’s also dressed in overalls and flip-flops. A fishing cap sits on his bald head. “This wedding needs more booze.”

“The moonshine man,” Mucky murmurs, and the other Blood Red Suns members nod approvingly.

Val’s great-grandfather is a rather famous local moonshiner with a bad reputation. The first time I ever saw him was during a county fair when he screamed at a carnie over a game. Duke told Clover and me to stay away from Zeb.

“He might look old and scrawny, but the bastard’s a biter.”

As I consider how I’m marrying into a locally infamous family, Zeb circles us while dragging his feet to keep his flip-flops on.

“We haven’t had the wedding yet,” Poppy tells him in an overly loud voice. “This is an engagement party. Do you know the difference?”

“I know there’s no good booze at this party. Where’s my sandwich?”

“We don’t have sandwiches,” Emmett mutters and stands over the smaller man. “You can have ribs.”

“Have you lost your damn mind, thug? I ain’t got the teeth for that.”

“I’ll drag meat from the bone for you,” Tuesday offers and cajoles the man to follow her. “Come on, fella. I’ll get you tender meat and soft potatoes. Won’t that be nice?”

When Zeb makes a move to bite her, Tuesday takes off running. She gets tripped up by her flip-flops and ends up in the grass. The old man stops and laughs at her before losing interest and wandering toward the meal table.

“Does that level of crazy run in your family?” I ask Val when I notice Duke frowning hard and likely second-guessing the situation.

“Yes,” Val says with utter sincerity as he takes my hand and presses it against his chest. “If our children reach the ripe age of a hundred and ten, they too will become weirdo hillfolk. Like, even if they’re super educated and classy, they’ll devolve into that monstrosity.”

Val waves at his great-grandfather who flips him off. “It’s a sad fate.”

Poppy acts like nothing just happened and we’re still having the same conversation. “I think we need more time to plan the wedding.”

“Won’t this wedding be another Hee-Haw affair like your other two?” Justice asks her younger sister.

“West and Tuesday both enjoyed their weddings at the homestead. You’re right, elder sister. Thanks for the assist.”

“No,” Duke says, remembering how to speak.

His gruff tone sets off the men around me except for Val who still has my hand trapped against his chest. I try to tug free, but he only shakes his head.

“Quiet, hot stuff,” he murmurs, holding my gaze. “The menfolk are speaking.”

When I move to shove him, Poppy steps in the way.

“Don’t hassle my son.”

“It’s foreplay, Ma,” Val whines in her ear as he winks at me. “She’s just a rough lover.”

Duke frowns at me before gently dragging my ass behind him. “We aren’t having the wedding here. We’ll do it in a hotel ballroom or something.”

“What’s wrong with our homestead?” Emmett demands. “Not good enough for you Basin Rock royalty?”

“We haven’t solidified our alliance yet,” Duke replies, hiding his temper so he’ll sound like the reasonable one. “Why are we doing everything in your territory?”

Court grunts. “Fine. We’ll have the wedding at the Holiday Inn.”

“Fancy,” Alexis whispers to Oana in a voice that isn’t particularly quiet. “I popped my cherry in a hotel.”

“Me, too.”

“I lost mine behind the police station,” Tuesday announces, still on the ground from earlier. “It was magical.”

“Everyone shut up,” Emmett bitches. “I don’t know about this. Why is Val getting stuck with Duke’s troublemaking daughter?”

Duke forgets to hide his temper and asks, “Are you really pointing fingers when your daughter just announced where she lost her virginity?”

“She’s lying. I’ve heard a dozen versions of that story.”

We all look at Tuesday who has convinced Bullet to sit in the grass with her. She notices our gazes on her and smiles.

“I volunteer to go dress shopping with Lola and Clover.”

My sister balks. “Why do I have to go?”

“You’ll need a frilly bridesmaid dress,” Tuesday says, and Clover turns her horrified gaze to me. “Something with ruffles and lace.”

“She’s just talking. Don’t take it personally,” Val says before I can reassure my sister. “We don’t want this thing to be too fancy. I’m not looking to shave my balls here, okay?”

“Be quiet, son,” Emmett mutters.

“No, seriously, fancy pants are always too tight on me. I’ll need to shave my balls to make room.”

“Just get bigger pants,” West grumbles at his little brother.

Val reaches over to shove West. “Baggy pants will hide my fine ass.”

Duke glances back at me. His gaze asks if we should forget the whole thing. I instantly shake my head.

After all, no matter how annoying Val’s family can be, I like how they aren’t stuck up. Besides, I’m looking forward to seeing whether Val shaves his balls.

“The Holiday Inn sounds nice,” I tell my dad.

His blue eyes turn soft in response to my words. While Val and West break out into a shoving match, I hold my dad’s gaze and let him feel okay with our choice.

The Rawkfist Motorcycle Club might be small, but they’re tight-knit. Duke used to talk about Court Bayer as a solid man and certified killer. Emmett Mercer rode with the Charleston club and was smart enough to bail once they turned psycho. Donovan Mooney is part of the local Mooney family who runs the county sheriff’s office. The homestead families might be weird, but they’re the top dogs in this county.

With Duke’s temper back in check, he focuses on Emmett. “Let’s pick a date and get things moving along. The Charleston club won’t wait around for us to make things official.”

“Do you really think they’re keeping watch?” Court asks, seeming dubious of my father’s fears.

“Their people have been spotted riding around our territory while wearing their vests.”

Emmett looks around before muttering, “If they’re looking for war, maybe a wedding isn’t what we should be planning.”

Emmett and Duke eyeball each other until Court steps between them. “I haven’t decided about patching over your club. I’m not interested in giving a shit about anything in Florida. Maybe we’ll just align our clubs, so if Charleston shows up in your area, we’ll ride to the rescue. You’ll do the same for us.”

“Won’t work!” Zeb yells out. “You’re bound to fail!”

Court shakes his head. “Ignore him. He doesn’t even know what we’re talking about.”

Justice slides between the men and hugs her husband. “It’s true. My grandfather said the exact same thing when I mentioned adding cayenne to my potato salad.”

Duke pulls out his phone. “Let’s pick a date.”

Everyone’s phones come out, and dates are rattled off. One is dismissed for being too close to a birthday. Another date falls on the same day as a dental appointment. I try not to pout over how my special day is less important than a dental cleaning.

After they pick a date, Duke acts like he’s ready to go. I think he worries we’ll spend too much time with the future in-laws and botch the agreement.

Even though I’ve long known I wouldn’t have a real romance with a happy ending, I can’t help feeling shafted by my family’s curse. I see how Val’s family is where the women and men are gaga over each other. Why can’t my family be silly in love like that?

Totally pouting now, I say a quick goodbye to the homestead folks and follow Duke, Clover, and Grandma Erin. Before we reach the SUV, Val runs over and tugs me away from my family.

“You can’t just leave.”

“We’ll be married soon. You’ll be able to annoy me every day.”

Val only smiles at my nasty tone and words. He kneels before me and takes my hand.

“I’m going to marry you again in five years. We’ll have a wedding here at the homestead and the reception will be at your family’s diner. Our kids will be waiting with me at the altar. Your dad will be my biggest fan by then. You’ll know my family like your own. Everything will be better. Best of all, you’ll know I’m marrying you because you’re Lola, not because you’re Duke McGraw’s daughter.”

His words feel cruel because I truly believe Val means them. He wants to fall in love and have the fun marriage he saw his parents enjoy. His siblings have found their perfect people. I saw them having fun during the party. Why shouldn’t Val want the same thing?

But with me, Val won’t get his happily ever after. In five years, he’ll know how my family curse is real. Everything he wished for was a bust because he chose the wrong girl.

Val stands up and cups my face. He covers my lips with his fantastic ones and kisses me until I can feel only him. Everything around us fades away. I grip Val’s shirt, lean into his embrace, and believe in him.

For a full minute, as he deepens the kiss, I can imagine the future he described. I want Val to be mine in five years. I would love nothing more than to have him love me like his father loves his mother. I want to get old with Val, still laughing at his jokes and rubbing up against his fine body. That dream feels close enough to touch.

Eventually, a few people clear their throats to signal for Val to stop fondling me in front of my dad. As his lips leave mine, I’m back in the real world, and his dreams feel impossibly far away again.

I mumble a goodbye, saying I’ll text him and thanking everyone for the party. Duke ushers me away from the homestead folks while the club guys climb on their motorcycles. The day gets loud as engines rumble.

Settling in the back of the SUV, I don’t know how to feel. I’m depressed about how my life is clouded by a long-ago curse.

As much as I want to pout, I still feel Val’s lips on mine. He’s an amazing kisser. Once we’re married, I’ll get to enjoy his lips every day. Love might not be on the table between us, but we’re bound to have fun.