[fifty]

Max’s POV

It was always nice to win a game with my parents in attendance, and even nicer with Lillianah and her family there as well. It was a well played game by us, beating the Kings four to one, and Sidney was able to see his boyfriend Jack. Without any significant play in the game, I was able to skip out on the post game pressers and head straight for the shower. Of course on games where Sidney played the best he can, it was hard for me to get out of there in a timely fashion. It was the sacrifice I took having my locker next to his. I pushed my way through the reporters to my locker and didn’t care if any of the cameras got a snap shot of my bare white ass, I wanted to get dressed and get out of there. With my tie throw around my neck, I slipped out of the locker room and in to the family lounge where my parents and Lillianah’s were chatting away and Lillianah was talking with Vero. I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. I kissed her neck, right on her tattoo and smiled at Vero. “So we still on for dinner tomorrow night?” Vero asked and I nodded my head. “Yeah, thanks for letting me know Max,” Lillianah laughed as she turned in my arms and kissed me on the lips. “Sorry, I must have forgotten. Flower and I were just talking about it this morning. Want to get out of here?” She nodded her head and I grabbed her hand before wishing Vero a good night. We rounded up our parents and headed out to the parking lot, that’s when it hit me. How were we going to get home? “Umm, here dad, take my car. Lil and I will take a cab,” I announced as I tossed him my keys, he nodded his head and climbed in to my car. I turned and looked at Lillianah. “Want to walk home? It’s nice out, and it’s just over a mile?” I asked as I looked up at the night sky, seeing all the stars were out. “Yeah, I’d like that,” she smiled at me and we began out trek to the South Side. “You look good in my jersey by the way,” I smiled and felt her squeeze my hand.

Once we were back in the house, we were exhausted from our walk and quickly fell in to bed, pretty much ignoring our parents chatting in the family room. “They’re getting along so great, it’s like we don’t even exist,” Lillianah laughed as she climbed in to bed. “It does seem that way doesn’t it? We could probably sneak away and they wouldn’t even know it.” I climbed in to bed next to her and within moments we were both fast asleep. I woke up the next morning with Lillianah’s hand in the back of my boxers, and she was still fast asleep. I climbed on top of her and kissed her jaw, slowly waking her up. “Hey sleepy head,” I smiled down on her. “Hey, what time is it?” “Just after nine, I’m taking my dad and yours out, male bonding or something like that. Flower is coming with us, and Vero is coming over to hang out with you girls.” She nodded her head and wrapped her arms around my midsection. “Do you think they will be able to hear us?” “I can be quiet, if you can.” She smiled and nipped at my bottom lip.

I kissed Lillianah before leaving and handed her my car keys. “Have fun shopping,” I laughed knowing how much she hated shopping with groups of women. She kissed me one last time and I headed out front and climbed in to Flower’s car. “So what’s on the agenda?” I asked from the back seat. “Gun range,” Flower announced and I tensed up. That was not something I wanted to do with Steve. Especially if I plan on asking him his permission to marry Lillianah. At least it wouldn’t be just him and I, I’d have Flower and my dad to protect me if needed, even though my dad wouldn’t even hurt a fly. And Flower was too skinny to protect me from Steve. I was on my own. Twenty minutes later we arrived at a rifle club just north of downtown. We all piled out of Flower’s car and headed inside, the loud bangs of guns filled my ears and I looked over at Steve who had a grin on his face starring at me. Is this what Mario was talking about? Was I about to get the speech? While Steve holds a gun in his hand? The whole room got hot and I could feel myself sweating and I hadn’t even said a word yet. Maybe asking him his permission was just the wrong thing to do, especially today. “Hey lighten up, this was Steve’s idea,” Flower laughed from next to me as we stood at the counter and waited to sign up or whatever it was we needed to do. “Oh of course it was, let’s take the future son-in-law to a shooting range,” I whisper yelled at him as Steve looked over his shoulder and I smiled at him. Once we were taken back to a room, guns were handed out to us. “I’ll tell you what Max, there’s nothing like holding a gun in your hand. You’re in control 100%,” Steve smiled at me as he admired the one that was placed in his hand. Then it occurred to me, this was going to be me in twenty years, when my daughters start to date. “I’ve never held a gun before,” I announced as he pushed me up to a booth and pointed to a target at the other end of the room. After a few instructions, I was shooting at the piece of paper, and sure I felt empowered, but it didn’t turn me on. My dad on the other hand, looked like a mad man. Posing every which way, thinking in his head what a bad ass he is. A few times him and Steve would laugh and high five like high school kids.

“Hey Steve, can I talk to you?” I asked him once we finished lunch at the range and headed outside to the larger shooting range. “Yeah sure Max, what’s on your mind?” “I guess I just need to throw it out there. I’m- well- I’m asking for your blessing in marrying Lillianah.” His lips went in to a straight line and he looked down at the ground. “I see.” I nervously brought my hand up to the back of neck and looked around for an escape, I needed some fresh air. Then I realized we were already outside. It’s impossible to suffocate outside. “Well Max, I have to think about this. She is my baby girl after all.” I nodded my head and quickly found my shoes more interesting than the conversation. I wiped the back of my hand over my forehead, wiping away the sweat. When I looked back up Steve was smiling at me. “You’re kidding me?” I laughed and Steve pulled me in to a hug. “I had a feeling you would want to ask me, so that’s why I brought you here. If you were serious, you would still ask, even if I was holding a gun in my hand.” Sneaky bastard! “Don’t ever do that to me again,” I laughed as he pulled out of the hug. “Just take care of her okay? If you break her heart, I’ll bring you right back here.” I nodded my head and turned to look at Flower and my dad smiling at me. “Let’s shoot some things shall we?” My dad asked holding a shot gun up in the air. I could only shake my head and laugh. “Hey can we stop somewhere on the way back home? I need to pick something up?” I asked the guys before we took our spots to shoot some skeet’s and they all nodded their heads.

Lillianah’s POV

“So ladies, what are we doing today?” I asked after I finished getting ready and met the girls in the family room. “Umm, you guys are helping me look for a wedding dress,” Vero smiled and I internally groaned but my mom and Lucie squealed with excitement. “Alright let’s go,” I smiled as I grabbed the keys off the counter and we all headed down to the garage. “You should talk Max in to getting you a car,” Lucie smiled as she climbed in the passenger seat. “Oh no, I rarely drive. I don’t need my own car.” I opened the garage door and started the car. I managed to back out without hitting the people walking the street. Vero gave me directions from the back seat and in no time we were parked outside of a wedding dress shop. I watched the three of them walk in and I stayed back for a moment, taking a deep breath before walking in. I couldn’t help but think what Max was doing with the guys, if it was as torturous as this was? The three women went crazy through the dresses and I stayed on the outside, only giving my opinion when asked. “Lily! Look at this dress! You must try it on!” My mother gushed as she spun a dress around. “No! Oh no!” “Oh come on,” she pleaded finally stopping to show me the dress. It really was stunning. “No mom, we’re here for Vero.” “Oh come on Lil, just try it on,” Vero laughed as she stepped out of the dressing room in a gorgeous organza dress. “Isn’t it bad luck to try on a dress without actually being engaged?” My mom looked at Vero, who then looked at Lucie, who then looked at me, “no.” I groaned and stood up from the chair I claimed and took the dress from my mom. I was pretty sure it was bad luck, but if I kept refusing, they would keep pushing.

A woman who worked at the shop, zipped it up in the back, and it was then I noticed how much weight I had lost. She used clamps in the back to pull the dress tight and when I turned around and looked at myself in the mirror my breath caught in my chest. “I can’t. I . . . no I can’t.” I stuttered as I looked away from the mirror and watched as the curtain was pulled back, exposing Lucie, Vero and my mom. “Honey, you look beautiful,” my mom swooned as she looked me up and down. Lucie’s eyes were watered over, and Vero wore a big smile on her face. “Can . . . can I take it off now?” I asked as tears threatened to fall. “Lily, what’s wrong?” My mom asked just above a whisper as she stood next to me, taking my hand in hers. “It just, it’s feel too right. Things weren’t suppose to happen like this. I wasn’t suppose to fall in love like this mom. I want to marry him, I want to spend the rest of my life with him . . ..” “But?” “But, I’m not ready. I’m far from being ready, and I’m tired of hearing about Max and I getting married. It’s not going to happen, not anytime soon. Can I take the dress off now?” My mom nodded her head and the three left me to myself in the dressing room in the white wedding dress. I took one last look at myself in the mirror before breaking down completely. This was all too real for me. As a little girl, I always imagined my wedding day, but as I got older, I never thought the day would come. The day still isn’t coming, but it’s more of a reality now than ever. “Can you take it off before I ruin it?” I sobbed as I asked the lady who helped me in to it. She unclasped the back and then unzipped it. I slowly stepped out of it, and she carried it out of the room. I looked at myself in the mirror and was disgusted with what I saw. Who would ever want to marry me? I was melting away. I could see the bones in my elbows. I pushed my shoulders back and could see the faint lines of my ribs in my chest. “Honey, you okay?” My mom called in to the room. “I’m fine, just give me a minute,” I shouted back as I wiped my eyes and quickly tossed my clothes back on.

Once I collected myself enough, our attention turned back to Vero. There was no question about it, she was going to be a beautiful bride. Everything she tried on looked amazing on her. And I mean everything. “Lil, you have to help me pick one out. My mom is flying down next week and I want a few picked out to show her,” she pleaded with me as she spun around in her eighth dress. “Well, I love the first two you tried on, and this one is gorgeous,” I smiled to her as I took in the long layers of lace dripping down from the waist. “I like those too, okay. I believe you need a drink after the trauma we put you through,” she smiled as she disappeared in to the dressing room and changed. Once we left the store, Vero told me to head to the brewery the boys went to a lot. And as I vaguely remember, Sidney’s girlfriend owns the place. I parked on the street and we headed in, greeted by Avery. “Hey Lil, it’s good to see you again. I think the last time I saw you, you were still in that cast,” she smiled as she gave me a hug and I quickly introduced her to my mom. “So we kind of forced Lil to try on a wedding dress, and now she needs a drink,” I overheard Vero tell Avery. “Everything is on the house then. Has Max asked yet?” I tried to act like I was engrossed with what my mom and Lucie were talking about but I was still eavesdropping. “No, but Marc told me he’s carrying the ring around, just in case. He’s waiting for the right time.” At this point I felt the need to interrupt. “Um, is beer all you sell, or do you have tequila?” I asked as I looked around the bar and noticed Max’s jersey hanging ahead still had the two hearts and whip attached to it.

Whispering and giggling with Vero in the backseat, I knew I had one too many shots of tequila for it only being 3 in the afternoon. Yet the whole dress debacle and the thought of Max with a diamond ring in his pocket were now far from my mind. My mom pulled in to the garage and I spotted Marc’s car across the street, so I knew the boys were home. Vero and I held hands as we walked up the stairs and were greeted by the four men in the living room. I walked up to Max and bent over to give him a kiss. “You smell like Diesel,” he mumbled against my lips. “The girls took me to the brewery,” I smiled at him before whispering, “because they tortured me today.” He laughed and stood up grabbing my hand. He walked up to his mom and hugged her, before hugging my mom and then Vero. “So I got you a home warming gift,” Max smiled as he let go of my hand and walked in to the kitchen. I was about to follow, but my mind was moving a little slow and by the time I took my first step, he was already in front of me. He placed a rather large thin box down in front of me and prompted me to open it. I looked around and the girls looked on with curious eyes and all the guys had smiles on their faces. I lifted the top off the box and saw what was inside. I dropped the lid and covered my mouth. “What is it?” I heard Vero whisper to Marc, but he didn’t respond. “Maxime Talbot! You did not!” I shouted as I turned to him, my hands still over my mouth. “Oh I did,” he smiled before he kissed my jaw, underneath my hand. I moved the lid once again and pulled the red dress out of the box. “Wow Lily, that’s beautiful,” my mom smiled as she looked at it, running her hand over the bodice. “It’s vintage Armani mom, I wore this on one of our dates. I borrowed the dress from the vintage shop. Max, why did you do this?” I asked not taking my eyes away from the dress. “It’s more for me than for you, believe me. You look absolutely gorgeous in it, I wanted to see you wear it more than once.” I finally brought my eyes up to his and kissed him, a little bit harder than I would have liked in front of our parents, but my day just turned for the better.