Page 13 of Big Easy

Riggs is my last ink of the day—an inner bicep tattoo of a skull and roses.

His old lady, Luna, and Sutton are in the other part of their apartment with Aria, Riggs and Luna's daughter.

We hear giggles and water splashing. "Two more days with the same outcome, we may be able to top what we donated last year," I mention, adding the finishing touches to his ink.

"You had a little competition this year from the new tattoo shop in town," Riggs says as I sanitize his skin.

"Yeah, man. Ink Addicts' top artist is a fuckin' beast, and his realism tattoos are phenomenal." I wipe Riggs clean. "Alright, brother. Give it a look."

He gets up and walks to a tall mirror sitting in the corner of the living room near the balcony doors.

"You killed it, brother," Riggs says. I finish packing my gear into a carry case, then toss my gloves into the trash and wash my hands.

"Sure, you and your woman don't want to crash the party goin' on downstairs? "

"I promised my folks we'd have dinner with them tonight," I tell him, then go in search of my woman.

Following the giggles, I find her leaning over the bathtub, playing with Riggs' little girl.

Not wanting to be noticed, I stare at their interactions for a beat and suddenly find myself thinking of settling down and having babies with the beautiful creature who walked into my life not so long ago.

I see her belly swollen with our baby growing inside of her, curled up on the sofa at home while she reads a bedtime story to our unborn child.

The vision is so strong I could reach out and touch it.

"You'll never regret it." Riggs' voice yanks me back from dreaming.

"Regret what?" I ask and grin when Sutton gets splashed in the face with suds.

"Getting knocked on your ass from the love of a good woman."

I'm pulling up the circular driveway in front of my parents' home.

I cut the engine. "When you mentioned your family is well off, I don't think I was expecting this level.

" Sutton takes in the house I grew up in.

She looks down at her ripped jeans and plain white shirt, paired with her favorite Vans sneakers. "We should have dressed better."

I grab her by the hand, lacing our fingers together.

"There's nothin' wrong with what you have on, babe.

My parents aren't the judgmental type. Appearances don't mean shit to them.

As long as you're a good person, that's all they see.

" I kiss the tip of her nose. "Come on." I pull her into my side, and we walk up to the front door, which flies open.

"Jaxson," my mom, beaming, greets with her arms stretched out wide.

"Momma." I smile, seeing her with an apron wrapped around her waist, covered in flour. Releasing Sutton’s hand for a moment, I sweep my Momma off the ground, hugging her tight.

"Put me down before you hurt yourself," she fusses like she always does.

I put her down, and she kisses my cheek.

"Your beard and hair are a tad longer than the last we saw you.

" I run my hand down my beard. "You're as handsome as ever," she declares after she does her motherly inspection, giving me a look over.

"A bit thin, though." Then she turns her attention to Sutton.

"Momma, meet Sutton."

"Hi, Mrs. Carter. It's nice to meet you." Sutton holds out her hand, but instead, my mom pulls her in for a hug.

"It's nice to meet you as well, and call me Alice. Now, come inside, and let's get to know one another." My mom hooks her arm around Sutton, leaving me standing in the doorway.

My dad approaches and laughs. "Forgotten already, huh?"

"Yep," I close the door.

"I've missed you, kid." He embraces me. "Come on.

I do believe the women went straight to the kitchen," Dad shoves his hands into his pockets.

"Your momma has been on pins and needles all day.

" We find Sutton and my mom standing at the kitchen island with wine and pie.

I shake my head. "Told you. Your Momma has been waiting for this day since the moment you mentioned being in a relationship. "

Leaning against the wall, I watch the two most important women in my life as my mom cuts a slice of her famous pecan pie, then pours herself and Sutton some wine.

Sutton searches for me and locks eyes with mine. "Dessert before dinner," she smiles. "I love your mom already." She lifts her fork. "It's so good," she tells my mom after trying her first taste.

"It's my momma's blue-ribbon recipe," Momma says with pride.

I soon feel my dad's eyes on me. "Spit it out, Dad."

"Do you love her?"

"I think so."

"I can tell. There's something different about you. You seem taller somehow, like life isn't weighing you down as much as it used to. I suspect she has a lot to do with it." His perception is accurate, but he's always been able to see things about me most people can't.

"I'd be a liar if I didn't admit that from the moment we laid eyes on one another, I knew she was the one. It's a feeling I find hard to explain." I confess as the two of us talk amongst ourselves while watching the women do the same.

"I get it, Son. I felt the same way when I met your mother." He pauses then smiles as if reliving the memory. "Feels good, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, Dad. It does."

My dad clears his throat, eager to get on with the rest of the night. He claps his hands together. "Alright, woman. I've been smelling the spread you've been cookin' on all day." He strides across the kitchen, snagging my mom around her waist. "Feed me." He plants a kiss on her lips.

Sutton looks up at me after I come to stand beside her. "Babe, this is my dad, Frank." I lean down and kiss her lips, and they taste like caramel.

"Nice to meet you." Sutton looks at him and smiles.

"Same here," my dad replies, smiling back at her.

Stealing some pie, I pop the bite into my mouth, and Sutton beams. "Your mom is going to give me the recipe to take home." Her dimples show her happiness, and she doesn't even realize the significance of my mom's gesture as much as I do.

How'd I get so fucking lucky?

"It's a family secret. You know what that means, don't ya?"

"What?" Sutton asks.

"I'm fuckin' keepin' you forever babe," I say, then kiss her before she has the chance to respond.