Maxed Steel by M.J. Fields

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Max

“Blue,chill. I swear to you that it’ll be fine,” I say, pulling up in front of the Bayside complex.

“Do not tell me to chill. I am literally going to strangle you.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Breath play has never been a fantasy, but if you’re going to literally choke me, could you do it when I’m up inside you, coming?”

“Listen, smartass, you’re on freaking speaker phone, and Lindsey is in this … this … car.”

“Cool. How far out are you from Mantoloking?”

“You are so incredibly frustrating!”

Starting to get a bit worried, I say, “Okay, so maybe the last-minute change wasn’t cool. Maybe you should let Lindsey drive.”

“Lindsey sucks at driving.”

“Not nice, Mila. Redirect your anger. Or, better yet, change it into sexual frustration and take it out on me, it’s rightful heir at bedtime.”

“She’s not wrong. But on the bright side, my parents’ insurance agent gets to send his kids to a fancy school because of me.” I shut off the engine. “Love you, Mila. Mean it. See you at casa Steel soon.”

“Get pictures!” Lindsey yells.

“Whose fucking side are you on, anyway?” Mila snaps at her.

“The side that the HEA ends in good sex and a fat bank account.”

Laughing, I hang up, hop out of the truck, and head in.

I gave Cia a heads-up about the daddy/daughter date, and when I told her I thought that Saylor would feel more comfortable if she was there, she agreed without any hesitation or lip. Can’t blame her. She’s been on house arrest for a few days now. She even sent a thank you text when she got the shipment I had sent of some new clothes for the long weekend.

When she answers the door, wearing the sundress with the black Docs that I know damn well she did it to be rebellious, I tell her, “Edgy. It’s a cool look.”

“Yeah, sure.” She rolls her eyes. The one that was black and blue is now a nice shade of purple and, although I promised I would stay the fuck out of it, I want to kill the twenty-year-old who says Cia told him she was eighteen and swears up and down he had nothing to do with her getting jumped. His father assured Ranger that he would deal with it. Ranger buys it. I don’t. But Ranger promised he would let him know that, if anything happens, his boy will see time. For now, I’m leaving it alone. Well, sort of.

Cia steps back and waves her hand in front of her. “Aunt Pam is getting Saylor ready.”

“Cool.” I pull my phone out of my pocket, tap in the password, and then hand it to her. “The house.”

“I don’t want to leave here. Aunt Pam won’t make me.”

“Straight-up, Cia, you’re sixteen; you should not be making decisions like that. And you’re in luck; you don’t have to.”

“I’m not starting school on Wednesday. You can’t pull me out and make me start somewhere new. That’s cruel.”

“That’s a conversation to have later. But, right now, I wanna ask you something important.”

“You can only have one wife,” she says with a cocky, little attitude that makes me want to laugh. But I gotta adult.

“When Mila and I get married, we want two last names to change, along with hers—Saylor’s and yours. She told me you’d tell me no, but I’m asking you to feel it out while we’re at my parents’ house. You like the Steel vibe, Mila and I want to adopt you.”

“That’s stupid. Why would anyone want that?” She wants it, too.

“Because Mila and Saylor love you. Because I’m gonna love you, too. Because, when we all live in that big house together, I want that little sign that says Home Of to have one name. Because you’re gonna be family, regardless. Because you want to walk in a new place and not give them your story; you simply say you’re adopted by some rich-ass who wants enough kids to have a baseball team or some shit. Because, Cia, like it or not, you belong somewhere that’s not here, and that somewhere is with us.”

“Whatever,” she says, turning around so I can’t see the tears in her eyes. “I’ll consider.”

“Max Daddy.” Saylor comes running down in a cute, little, poufy blue skirt, white shirt, wearing pink, sparkly shoes and a pink, lightweight cardigan.

I squat down and open my arms, just like I saw Mila do, and she runs full steam into them.

“Hey, Saylor girl.” I hug her tight and feel all sorts of emotional.

She pulls back, slaps two hands to my cheeks, and smiles. “We go on date?”

“We sure are.”

She hops back and jumps up and down, clapping. “Yay!”

Swear to God above, I have never seen a happier kid in my life.

She hops over to Cia and holds out her hand. “Come on, C; we go on date.”

I look at Pam, whose eyes are tearing up. “Don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”

“You just did.” I walk over and give her a hug.

* * *

We did two things today,both of which Mila suggested. We went to the marina, which Saylor loves, and we went to the aquarium, which she told me Cia loves. I took a million pictures of the two of them, hoping to fill one wall of the house with, so that I never forget our first date.

I see Mila sitting at the gas station that I told her to meet us at as we roll up to the corner, and she nods for me to go ahead, so I do.

Two miles down the road, I see balloons and shit on the mailbox and shake my head.

“Max Daddy, see balloons?” Saylor points.

“Yeah, that’s where some of our family lives. Obviously, they’re a little excited to meet the two of you.”

“They’re excited to meet Saylor,” Cia says, trying to act like that shit doesn’t bother her. It bothers me. Then again, I know better.

“It’s never a dull moment,” I say as I pull over onto the shoulder.

Mila stops behind me, and I stick my arm out the window, point to the house, and wave for her to go. Looking in the mirror, I see her face, and she’s not happy. I wave again, and she finally goes.

I look over at Cia, and she’s smirking. I can’t help but laugh, and Saylor starts laughing, too.

Still laughing, we follow Mila and Lindsey into the driveway. I stop and throw the truck in park. Then I reach over and unbuckle Saylor from her seat.

Cia is sitting there, staring at my folks’ house. I give her seat belt release a push, and she doesn’t even move as I continue the task of unbuckling Saylor.

“We at the mall?” Saylor asks as she slides down in her seat and stands on the floor console, gripping the dashboard and looking up and out the window.

“This is someone’s house, Saylor,” Cia says as she opens the door then jumps out.

I open the driver’s side door, get out, and hold my hands out. “Come on, Saylor girl.”

She climbs up on the seat then dives into my arms, laughing.

“You know who’s here?”

“Max Daddy and Cia.” She grins.

“And your mommy,” I tell her.

“Mommy, where you?” she yells.

Mila hops out of the car and hurries to her. As soon as she gets close, Saylor attempts to escape, laughing and squealing, “See you!”

“I see you, too,” Mila says, scooping her into a hug.

“Lindsey, this is Cia. Cia, this is your sister’s roommate at JU.”

“Look at you!” Lindsey says as she hurries over to her and hugs her.

I give her a stern look when she stands there, lifeless, and then she pats her on the back twice. “Look at meeee!” she pretends to cheer.

“Hey, Cia.” Mila walks over and gives her a one-arm hug. “You keeping the shades on?”

“Absolutely.” Cia nods.

“Hey, Saylor. I’m Lindsey, your mommy’s best friend.”

“Look at meee!” Saylor mimics Cia’s reaction, and we all crack the fuck up.

“Question,” Cia says.

“Shoot,” I return as I kiss the top of Mila’s head as she and Saylor rub noses.

“Why wasn’t it funny when I said it?”

“It was, Cia.” I throw my arm around her shoulders and pull her into a half-hug. “It totally was.”

“You’re so weird,” she huffs.

As soon as our feet hit the bottom porch stair, the door flies open, and they all yell, “Surprise!”

I look down at Mila, who looks shook until Saylor throws her hands up in the air and yells, “Surprise!”

I look over at Cia, and her lips are swishing from side to side.

“It’s okay to laugh; they won’t mind, and they won’t change it, either.”

“A little extra, isn’t it?”

“No, nope, not at all.” I laugh. “It’s a lot extra.”

Mom waves us inside. “We have lasagna and garlic knots that Momma Joe brought over.”

Mila asks Saylor, “You wanna go in with Daddy?”

“Yep.” She dives into my arms.

“You ready to meet more family?”

“Big or little?” she asks.

I glance at Mila, seeking clarification, and she shrugs.

Taking the stairs, I tell Saylor, “How about you tell us when we get in there and meet everyone?”

Cresting the stairs, I see three South Shore paddle boards standing in a row, each personalized—Max, Mila, and Cia. Up a few more stairs, I see a little one with Saylor’s name on it. On the ground in front of them, a sign. “Our Forever Home” is etched on the sign that look like the boards.

Saylor slaps my cheeks on either side and turns my head to look at her. “What dat, Max Daddy?”

“They’re paddle boards, Saylor girl. Those are one of the coolest toys on the planet.”

She starts shimming, and I squat down to set her on her little feet.

“Hi, Saylor, I’m your grandma Carly.”

“Hi. I Saylor.” She points toward the paddle boards. “I play toys?” She takes Mom’s hand.

“I would love to.”

She pulls Mom over to the boards, and Mom gets down on her knees.

“This one says Saylor.”

Saylor jumps up and down, clapping. “For me?”

“Yeah, precious girl, it’s for you.”

Saylor stretches her arms and jumps into Mom’s. They hug for a beat, and then Saylor leans back, her hands on her face, and says, “Thank you, Gigi Carly.”

“Love that.” Bella laughs as she makes her way over to Mila and me. She gives Mila a hug, and I watch Mila smile as she hugs her back. “She’s totally adorable.”

“Where are your kids?”

“We decided that, if they were here, none of us would get even a second of attention from Cia or Saylor,” Kiki says as she gives Cia a hug. “Nice to meet you.”

Cia hugs her back. “You, too.”

She gives me a peck on the cheek and says, “Sweet little crew you got here.”

“Thanks, Kiki,” I say, practically feeling my chest puff out.

Kiki steps up to Mila as Bella walks over to Cia.

“Hey, Cia. How old are you?” Bella asks as she hugs her.

“Sixteen.” She hugs Bella back.

“Time to get her tatted up, Max.” Bella then kisses me on the cheek.

“She needs to commit first.” I wink at Cia.

“Don’t let him do it.” Dad’s voice comes from behind us. “Heard he had an unsteady hand.”

“Do what exactly?” Cia asks, and Kiki and I look at each other.

“Oh, it’s a tradition, apparently.” Dad throws an arm around Cia and looks disapprovingly at Kiki and me. “Show her, kids.”

“No shame in my game.” Kiki holds up her middle finger. “Fly that thing, Maxie.”

“No, I think you got it covered.”

“Um, so, I’m usually quicker than this”—Cia shakes her head—“and I got nothing.”

I reach over and turn Kiki’s finger. “At sixteen, we get finger ink.”

“Nice placement. What does it say?”

“Take your shades off, kid.” Dad winks. “We know what you’re hiding. There are no secrets in this family.”

She slowly takes off her shades, and everyone cringes.

Dad swings his head toward me. “This little fuck best be walking with a limp. He is walking with a limp, right?”

“No,” Mila says. “We decided to let it go.”

His eyebrows jump up, and he looks back at me. “No?”

“He wasn’t the one who jumped me. His girls did,” Cia blurts out.

“Ranger took care of it. And Mila and I are trying to figure out our next step.”

“Don’t want to step on any toes, but C and I have plenty of time to hang with any of our kids.” He looks at Cia. “Commit. I’ll do your ink, too.”

“What the hell?” Kiki laughs. “We got our asses chewed for doing it when you all found out.”

“Yeah, lot of good that did.” Dad laughs as he steps up to Mila and looks down at her. “You’re shorter than I expected.”

“Sorry to disappoint you on go,” Mila jokes.

“Not disappointed at all. You’ll be good for Max. No doubt he’ll be good for you.” He opens his arms. “Bring it in, short stuff.”

While Mila and Dad are hugging, I hear, “Who dat?”

A grin spreads across Dad’s face as he lets go of Mila and turns around. He looks down at her. “Hey, Saylor girl.”

She hops off Mom’s lap and steps in front of him, craning her neck to look up at him and then cocking her head to the side.

Dad smiles. “I’m Max’s dad, so that makes me—”

“Max Daddy?” She smiles and starts jumping up and down. “You Big Daddy!”

“You wanna tell Gigi that?”

Everyone laughs, and Saylor joins in as she lifts her hands up, wiggles her fingers, and jumps up. Dad catches her, and then her little hands land on his face, and she giggles as she scratches at his stubble.

“Saylor girl”—Dad shakes his head—“you’re absolutely adorable.”

“Big Daddy”—she grins as she hugs him—“I am.”

He closes his eyes and smiles. “Love you, Saylor Steel.”

“Love you, Big Daddy.”

“Group picture.” Lindsey sniffs as she steps out from behind Mila. “In front of the boards.”

* * *

Lyingin my old bed at night, Saylor clonked out on my chest, Mila on her side, her head propped up on her hand, just staring at us, she rubs her back.

“I can’t wait until this is our every day,” she whispers.

“Gonna be.” I kiss the top of Saylor’s head. “Don’t wanna fight with you, Blue; wanna give you options.”

“Yeah?” She laughs softly.

“We can either go balls to the wall, get the house done in two weeks, and spend a mint. I can drop out for a semester and—”

“Not a chance.” She pushes my hair back. “You promised Gigi Carly.”

“Or we rent the place Dad found, close to JU. It’s in the same school district the house is in, so Cia can start school there and not even walk into Bayside High.”

“This is insane.”

“This is us, Mila.” I kiss Saylor’s hair again then take Mila’s hand and kiss it. “And straight-up, this is beautiful.”

She leans in and kisses me. “Love you. C, please.”

I can’t hide the smile. “We Forever Steel, Blue?”

Lips back on mine, she says, “No other way I wanna be.”

~~~ The End ~~~