I smile and say in the sexiest voice I can muster, “You’d better believe it, and who can blame me?” I look at that Lauren girl and mouth, “Isn’t she hot?” motioning toward Serena. Lauren’s jaw drops as I pull Serena next to me and kiss her. I can hear Lauren gasp as we move away. Serena giggles.
“One down, a few more to go.”
“You were awesome. I love the little head pat.”
“Yeah, I did, too. I think I’ll use that on those asshole boys. I’m sure some of them won’t have hair.”
As we circulate, I can see all the men giving Serena the eye. And I mean the huge look over. We get to the bar where I get us sparkling waters, and a man sidles up to her other side and starts chatting with her.
“Do I know you?” he asks.
She checks him out from head to toe and I want to laugh. The dude is classic. Khaki pants and a button down shirt that’s so tight it looks like the buttons are going to pop, he looks like he’s put on a few but hasn’t updated his shirts to accommodate his new girth. He’s an eyeful. But his stand out feature is the comb-over hair-do. The dude is on fire. It’s the worst comb-over I’ve ever seen.
“As a matter of fact, I think you do. It’s been a long time, Jeremy. You used to cut off chunks of my hair in class and on the bus. Serena Callahan here and this is my husband Sabin.” She extends her hand and he stands there with his jaw on the floor.
He finally discovers his voice and says, “Uh, Serena, you’ve changed.”
My nostrils flare because this is one of the asswipes that fucked with my wife’s hair and made her cry. My eyes pin him and he knows. He knows I recognize him for the bully he is. Or used to be. And this little fuck wouldn’t stand a chance against me.
Serena puts her hand on my arm.
“So you remember me, Jeremy.”
Jeremy eyes Serena and slowly nods.
She starts in her sing-songy voice again and I know this is going to be good.
“So Jeremy, what’s been happening with you? Are you married?”
He nods again and croaks out, “I’m married to Lauren. Lauren Lincolnwood.”
Oh shit. This is gonna be real good.
Serena claps her hands like an adolescent. “Really. How wonderful! I was just having a lovely chat with Lauren and she never mentioned you.” Serena makes a moue with her mouth. “Tell me you’ve given up your bullying ways, Jeremy. See, the thing is, you live in this small town so you think you’re a big fish in a small pond. But the world is a huge place these days and small towns change, Jeremy. And you know what else? When you bullied me every day—wrote nasty things on the backs of my blouses and cut off my hair—I was unable to fight back. But that’s not the case anymore.” She leans in close with her hand on his chest and says, “I know how to fight, Jeremy, but the truth is, I don’t have the time or energy to waste on things like that.”
Jeremy only stares.
“I hope you’ve matured over the years, Jeremy, and become a better person.” She stands back and pats the top of his head. The entire comb-over shifts, and now he looks even more ridiculous. “Whoa, use a little product there, huh, Jeremy?”
I can’t help the snicker that escapes.
“You know, you’re a lot quieter than you used to be. You got kids, right?”
He nods.
“There’s something I want you to do. I want you to teach your kids not to bully. You understand me?”
He shakes his head up and down.
“Good. You’d better be a very good teacher. In fact, I want you to spearhead an anti-bullying campaign in town. Am I clear on this? I want you to take the lead. And Jeremy, I’ll be checking up on you. See my husband behind me? He will, too. We’ll follow up to make sure this is an ongoing thing, because no one deserves to be treated the way I was in school. Sometimes being different is good. Understand?”
He nods.
She leans in and kisses me. “Thanks for the drink, babe. I think we need to leave Jeremy to his own.”
“You were very poised, there. I knew I loved you for a good reason.”
“I love you, too. Hey, I’ve had enough of this place. I mean, look around here. Check these people out. Is it just me, or do you feel like you’re trapped in an episode of The Brady Bunch? I mean look at the hair in this room.”
“Sweetheart, I would agree with you if I knew what The Brady Bunch was. But …” I hold up my hands in surrender.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot. I was forced to watch those awful reruns with my mother. Ugh. It was a TV show from back in the ‘70’s. The hair and the clothes … just ick. And to think these idiots made fun of me!”
“Those were my thoughts when I got a good look around here. But there’s one thing I need to do before we leave here. What are all the names of the douches who cut your gorgeous tresses?”
“Why? You’re not going to do anything crazy, are you?”
“Depends. But if you mean bodily harm, then, no.”
“Okay. Well, there was Jeremy, Randy, and Jessie.”
“Point out Randy and Jessie, please.”
She does and I tell her to have a seat at the bar and I’ll be back. In about fifteen minutes, I return with Jeremy, Randy, and Jessie in tow. They all come up to Serena and apologize, but she has a hard time keeping a straight face. There’s a good reason for this. All three of them are completely bald. I’ve taken the liberty of shaving their heads. But here’s the catch. They have no idea. I’ve sort of put them in a little trance. When they come out of it and look in the mirror, they’ll get the biggest shock and so will their significant others when they see them. For Jeremy, it’ll be an improvement. But the others, they had thick heads of hair. They won’t be happy. Oh, and I forgot to mention. I didn’t shave them clean. I did a sloppy job of it. Left spots here and there so they look rather mangy.
After they walk away, Serena says, “Good thing you’re not a hair stylist.”
I laugh at the image they make from the back. “They deserve worse, but I wish I could hear everyone’s remarks.”
“Yeah. I’m sure they’re catty. Let’s get out of here for good.”
As we walk out into the moonlit night, I grab her and ask, “You’re not sorry you left, are you?”
“Not in a million years. I wouldn’t trade my life with you for anything.”
“Okay, last stop. You ready for this one?” I ask.
She rubs her hands together. “Oh, you bet.” Then we transcend to the front porch of her parents house.
We walk in, and her mom sits on the recliner and her dad on the couch. Neither of them bother getting off their asses to hug or greet Serena.
“Hi Mom and Dad. I was in town for the reunion and I wanted to stop by to introduce my husband.”
Her mom’s expression is priceless. I know I have an effect on women, but I don’t pay much attention to it. After a while, it got old, and I was over it. But the scrutiny her mom gives me is something else. I don’t think her mouth closes for a full five minutes.
Then I turn on my charm, by using all sorts of mind reading and trancing. I don’t totally trance her. I only get her to agree with nearly everything I say and have her eating out of my hand.
Serena’s dad doesn’t stand a chance either. Of course, in all fairness, he’s a spineless human to begin with, so he is easily manipulated.
Our visit’s ultimate moment for Serena is when she shows her mother pictures of our home. But then says it’s in another country and she won’t be coming home very often to visit.
“And oh, Mom, I have tons of servants and a top-notch chef that prepares the most amazing dishes. You wouldn’t believe what Kernell comes up with. Isn’t that right, honey?”
I kiss her and say, “Yes, dear, Kernell is the best.
When we get up to leave, Serena promises to tell her mom when the baby arrives.
“Baby?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I’m pregnant. Well, we have to go. Our private jet is waiting.”
We say our good-byes and leave. Serena told me we wouldn’t have to worry about not having a car. They don’t get out of their seats to say good-bye to notice.
Once outside, I ask her again, “You sure you don’t miss your life here?”
“You’re not serious, are you? Did you look at them and see the love?”
She’s right. There was none. But I wasn’t referring to that. “I am a little serious. I mean you loved diving. Would you trade what you have for another dive here?”
“Not even a gazillion dives here. I have the most important thing standing right before me and inside of me.” She rests her hands on her belly. “And all the dives in the universe can’t even come close. Now let’s go home, husband.”
And that’s all I needed to hear. As long as Serena’s by my side, my life is complete.
Six months later, Serena and I are sitting by the pool when she goes into labor. Giving birth on Nyan’trua is much easier than on Earth. The medical advances have found a way to block the pain without the use of drugs. Within a short time, our daughter is born. Then I realize I will have to protect two females, and the idea of that turns me into an overwrought, agitated husband and father.
“What’s wrong?” Serena asks.
“We have a baby girl.”
“And?”
“We should’ve let them tell us the sex.”
“Why’s that?”
“I could’ve been better prepared. What the hell am I going to do with two women now? And when she grows up, there will be boys trying to get into her pants.”
“Sabin, calm down. I think we have a little time before we need to worry about that.” And then Serena has the damn nerve to laugh at me.
“It’s not funny. If anyone tries anything with her, I’ll kill them.”
“Jesus Christmas, Sabin, don’t you think we need to name her first?”
I rub my face and stare at Serena as she holds our daughter. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Here.” She hands me the baby.
“What am I supposed to do with her?”
“Hold her. This is your bonding time.”
My hands tremble as I take the bundle in my arms. She’s so small she can almost fit in my hand. As I look at her tiny face and see the patch of downy fuzz on her head, I’m completely smitten. She puts her teeny hand around my thumb and squeezes. I laugh.
“What?”
“Well, she’s inherited my Nyan’truan strength and she’s every bit as beautiful as her mother.”
“So, what shall we name her?”
“My mother’s name was Dreeanna. Would you mind if we named her that?”
“I like that. Dreeanna it is.”
As I look at the setting of our little family, it’s hard to believe how my life was so different only a short time ago. I guess in some weird way, I have Kor to thank. If he hadn’t put into motion what eventually turned out to be the way I met Serena, I never would be here now.
“Serena, have I told you how much I love you?”
“Yeah, about a dozen times in the last hour. I love you too, Sabin.”
About the Author
Reader, Writer, Dark Chocolate Lover, Ice Cream Worshipper, Coffee Drinker, Lover of Grey Goose (and an extra dirty martini), Puppy Lover, and if you’re ever around me for more than five minutes, you’ll find out I’m a talker.
A.M. Hargrove divides her time between the mountains of North Carolina and the upstate of South Carolina where she pursues her dream career of writing. If she could change anything in the world, she would make chocolate and ice cream a part of the USDA food groups. Annie writes romance in several genres, including adult, new adult, and young adult. Her books usually include lots of suspense and thrills and she sometimes ventures into the paranormal, sci-fi and fantasy blend.
Other Books by A. M. Hargrove
The Guardians of Vesturon Series:
Death Waltz, A Praestani Novel
The Edge Series:
The Tragic Series:
The Hart Brothers Series
The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart
A Note From The Author
I hope you enjoyed reading about Sabin! When I wrote him into The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart, I loved him so much I knew he would earn his own novel. If you have followed my writing from the beginning, you know I’ve always had a thing for hot aliens. Going back to sci-fi was something I had been thinking about so Sabin and The Seven were the result. I hope you weren’t disappointed. Speaking of Juliette and Kade Hart, if you would like to read more about them, you can in
The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart
(A Hart Brothers Novel). This is part of The Hart Brothers Series, but it is a stand alone novel.