Page 78 of Silver Spoon Falls, Vol. I

FIFTY-SIX

GARRETT

"Todd knows about us," Ciara announces as we stroll out of the school board meeting hand in hand.

"Yeah?" I glance down at her, not surprised.

He's been throwing hints around for the last week, trying to get me to confess.

I figured he knew what was up. It's not hard to see the way I look at his sister or the way she looks at me.

Fuck, I'm surprised it took the school board this long to find out about us.

We've been discreet, but I haven't exactly made a secret of the fact that I'm crazy about her.

I'm at the bar with her damn near every night, keeping two eyes on her.

When we aren't at the bar, we're at my place or hers.

I can't keep my hands off of her. We haven't ventured out as a couple, but when she comes to practice or games, my eyes are on her.

Whenever she's close, I'm watching her. I can't help it. She owns me, body and soul.

I'd really like to know who the fuck told Edna Hubbard about us, though. The woman doesn't even have children, but she thinks she's the morality police. She spends more time in everyone else's business than she does tending to her own.

"He says he's known all along," Ciara says with a rueful laugh. "I guess we're not as sneaky as we thought."

"How does he feel about us?"

She stops beside her car, lifting her face to mine. "I was worried that he'd feel like I wouldn't have time for him anymore, but he's happy for us. He idolizes you, you know."

"You'll always have time for him," I murmur, cupping her cheek in my palm.

He likes me, but I think everyone knows she's the one he idolizes.

As far as he's concerned, his big sister walks on water.

I happen to agree with him. "I'll make sure he knows that I'm not trying to steal you away from him.

In fact, he and I need to have a conversation before I put a ring on your finger anyway. "

"You do?"

"Mmhmm. Figured since your dad isn't here for me to ask permission, I should ask Todd."

"Garrett," she whispers, her expression melting as tears well in her eyes. "Don't you dare make me cry in front of your coworkers, all of these parents, and the school board!"

"You aren't allowed to cry, Cherry. I damn near had nightmares the last time you cried." It breaks my fucking heart to see tears rolling down her cheeks. I'm supposed to keep her smiling and happy. When she's glowing, I'm doing my job right.

"Then stop being the sweetest man I've ever met." She sniffles.

"I'm just doing right by you, Ciara." I run my thumb beneath her right eye, collecting the single tear that spills.

"What kind of man would I be if I didn't ask your brother for permission to make you my wife?

It's you and him against the world. I'm not just marrying you, Cherry. He'll be my family, too."

She sniffles again, flinging herself into my arms. "I love you so much."

I catch her against my chest, smiling into her hair. "I love you too."

Edna passes by, sniffing loudly in disdain.

I shoot her a dirty glare, daring her to say a single damn word. I don't care if she is an old lady. She'll show Ciara some respect, or she can kiss my ass. She passes by silently.

"Leone was right about you, after all," she mutters when she's a couple feet away. "It didn't take you two minutes to make a spectacle."

I whip my head in her direction. "What did you just say?"

The old lady keeps walking.

"Edna," I growl. "What did you just say?"

"Don't take that tone with me, Garrett Marsh." She hobbles around to face me, grim-faced and dour. "You're a representative of this school. You don't need to be making out with a guardian in the parking lot like you're in high school yourself."

Ciara goes rigid in my arms.

"I'm hugging my fiancée," I snap. "That's not illegal. And that's not what I was talking about. What did you say about Leone?"

"I said he was right about you causing scenes over that girl." She sniffs again. "She's a bartender, for God's sake. You should be ashamed of your behavior, Garrett Marsh."

My temper shoots sky-high. This old biddy is seriously testing my fucking patience.

" I should be ashamed? This woman has more empathy and compassion in her pinky than you do in your entire body," I snarl.

"She works her ass off to provide for her brother, and she does it without a word of complaint while people like you judge her for it and people like Leone steal from her.

She shows up for her brother every single day, and you judge her for that, too.

Meanwhile, the only thing you do is stick your nose where it doesn't belong and try to make life difficult for people you don't know just because you think you can. "

"Garrett." Ciara places her hand on my chest, shaking her head. "It's okay."

"No, it's not okay. She can be pissed that she didn't get her way today if she wants.

I don't care, but she doesn't get to take it out on you when she doesn't know the first thing about you," I growl.

"She'd be lucky to have someone like you in her life if she stepped down from her high horse long enough to get to know you.

But she's too goddamn busy acting holier than thou to get the stick out of her a?—"

"Garrett!" Ciara cries, cutting me off before I can finish that sentence.

I snap my mouth closed, scowling daggers at Edna Hubbard.

"Well!" Edna jerks upright, her face growing bright red as she sputters at me, "The school board president is going to hear about this, you mark my words!"

"I already heard it," Jacob Laird says, stepping from behind my truck.

He hits Edna with a hard glare. "And it sounds to me like he didn't say anything you didn't need to hear.

Judging Ms. Sharp for working in one of the bars your husband used to frequent, Edna?

Really? You ought to be ashamed of yourself. "

Edna sputters again.

"Ms. Sharp is a valued member of this community and this school," Jacob continues.

"You'll treat her with the respect she deserves, or the school board will hear about it behind closed doors.

And I won't hear another word about their impending wedding, either.

" He hits Edna with a hard stare. "Not unless you want to personally handle the uproar from every parent and student in athletics guaranteed to follow if this comes up again. "

Edna nods curtly and then shuffles off without a word.

Jacob watches her go and then glances at Ciara. "My apologies, Ms. Sharp," he murmurs. "I can promise you she won't be an issue again."

"Let it go," Ciara says quietly. "She has a sharp tongue, but she's harmless."

Jacob's eyes widen in genuine surprise. "You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

Jacob meets my gaze. I lift my chin in a nod, unwilling to counter Ciara. If she wants to let it go, I'll give her what she wants. Whatever makes her happy, so long as Edna doesn't ever speak that way about or to her again.

"Well, you two enjoy what's left of your evening." Jacob waves and slips off, leaving us alone again.

"I've heard stories about her husband and Leone's aunt," Ciara murmurs when he's out of earshot. "Mr. Hubbard and Lucinda Bellotti weren't discreet about their affair. I understand why she feels the way she does about bartenders."

"Jesus. I didn't know about that."

"It was a long time ago. I only know because Leone's brother loves to talk when he drinks." She rolls her eyes. "Of course, the only things he ever talked about were the sordid memories people would probably prefer to forget."

"Sounds like a Bellotti." I sigh, brushing my lips across her forehead.

"Ciara told me that you've known about us for a while." I glance at Todd after practice the next afternoon as we exit the athletics building.

He turns to smirk at me. "You two suck at being discreet, Coach."

"How do you feel about it?"

"So long as you make her happy, I'm good with it," he says. And then he stops walking, sobering. "I know you're my coach and all, and I'm supposed to respect you and all that shi—stuff, but I need a free pass for a minute."

"Shoot," I say, fighting a grin.

He hesitates for a long moment, clearly searching for words.

"I'm just going to say it," he finally mutters.

"Ciara is special. She dropped everything to take care of me after our parents died.

I know not many people would have done that, and I know how lucky I am.

So if you ever break her heart, I will fuck you up.

Maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day when you least expect it, I'll be there, making sure you pay for it. "

"Fair enough." I don't laugh or downplay what he said.

It came from the heart, and he means it.

His sister is important to him. I think if I ever hurt her, he would find a way to make sure I pay for it, even if it took the rest of his life.

"But just so you know, that won't ever happen.

She is special. I'm crazy about her. Have been for a while. "

Todd laughs abruptly, rolling his eyes. "Uh, yeah, I know. You have not been hiding it well."

"You knew?" I ask, surprised.

"Coach, everyone on the team has known for a while.”

Well, shit. I process that as we take off toward the truck again. Kids are a lot more perceptive than we give them credit for. They see things a lot more clearly than we do sometimes. It's never as complicated through their eyes as we tend to make it. It's just… pure.

"Hey." I hold my arm out, halting Todd again before he jogs around to the passenger side of the truck. "If your father were alive, I'd be having this conversation with him," I say quietly. "But since he isn't, and you're the man in your family, it's important to me to have it with you."

"Fuck," he whispers.

I let that slide.

"I love your sister. I'll always love your sister. Taking care of her is the highlight of my day, every day. I'd like your blessing to marry your sister and become part of your family if you'll have me."

He swallows hard, his expression overtaken by emotion. "Yeah," he says, his voice choked as he pulls me into a hug. "Hell yeah, Coach G."

I exhale a breath, relieved as hell he didn't tell me to go kick rocks or something, and pat him on the back. He steps back after a moment, composing himself.

"You're good for her. She hasn't been this happy since…" He trails off.

"Since before your parents died?"

"Yeah."

"What about you? Are you happy?"

"About you and Ciara?" He tilts his head to the side. "Yeah, I'm happy for you."

"Nah, I meant are you happy in general? We haven't talked much since you started helping out at the compound," I remind him. "You keeping up with everything okay? Getting all your schoolwork done?"

"Is this a brotherly chat?" he asks, smirking at me.

"This is me checking in on you."

"I'm good, Coach G. I'm keeping up with everything. The MC makes sure I get my schoolwork done and keep my head down. They're good people." He eyes me critically. "Think you can talk Ciara into letting me get a motorcycle?"

"Uh, sure, when you're about ninety," I say, laughing. "Until then, good luck with that one."

His face falls. "Figured you'd say that," he grumbles good-naturedly.

"You interested in riding?"

"Maybe."

"I'll talk to your sister about having the MC teach you how to ride safely. I'm not making any promises, and I'm definitely not saying she'll agree to let you get a bike, but if it's something you want to learn how to do, the least we can do is make sure you learn from the best."

I clock him when he zones out toward the end of my statement, his gaze drifting toward the front of the parking lot. His brows furrow, his lips pulling down into a frown. "Again?" he mutters.

I glance over my shoulder, trying to figure out what caught his attention. Aside from Grady's BMW, my truck, and Ms. Hauptman's little hatchback, there aren't any other cars in the parking lot. I scan the roadway outside of the parking lot, my gaze falling on a blue town car idling at the curb.

I've seen it before, more than once, in fact. It belongs to Rocco Bellotti, Leone's youngest brother.

"Get in the truck," I order Todd.

He snaps to attention, reading the command in my tone.

He doesn't ask questions or waste time. He simply jogs to the truck.

I pop the locks, allowing him to climb inside.

I keep an eye on Rocco's car as I circle around to the driver's side.

When I go to climb in, the car speeds off, heading toward downtown.

I slam the door, turning to Todd.

"You've seen that car before?"

"Yeah. A few times," he mutters. "It was here after practice yesterday, and I thought I saw it down the street from the house while CeCe was at the school board meeting last night. And I'm pretty sure it was behind me and Grady the other day when he took me to school."

Fuck.

"Buckle up," I growl, pissed beyond belief. That shady motherfucker thinks he can target me through Ciara's little brother? Hell no. As soon as I get him to the compound, Dillon and I are dealing with this shit once and for all.