The Newcomer (Thunder Point #2)(31)

“I’ll tell you something, Gina,” Mac said, pulling her closer. “It would have been a lot worse if I didn’t have you. Here I was, so freaking scared to get involved again because of what happened in the past, yet today I found out what it means to have a solid relationship when the shit hits the fan. I told them today. I told the family. I told them about us. Eve was a little panicked, asked if I was going to let her mother come back and it just came out—I said their mother left our marriage a very long time ago and I love Gina. There’s no coming back, there’s only moving forward.”

She leaned against him. “God,” she whispered. “Being in love with you can be stressful.”

“Not being in love with you can be more stressful. If we ever get our families under control, we’re going away. Just for a weekend, maybe, but away.”

“They’ll all know we’re having sex,” she said.

“Well, what the hell! They’ve all been having sex!”

“Not all of them,” she said with a laugh. “In fact, I think Lou’s the only one in that boat at the moment.”

“I don’t think Eve is there yet—Lou promised me she’s got that covered. Eve’s more comfortable talking to her about that part of her life. And Ashley’s in a bad place right now, but she’ll recover and move on and...I don’t care, Gina—I don’t know how we can blend these two crazy families into one circus yet, but we deserve a little break. Don’t you think?”

She kissed his cheek. “Yes, I think so. Maybe when Ash is better and the most beautiful woman in the world has left town.”

“The most stupid woman in the world is more like it,” he said. “She doesn’t seem to understand how much advantage she would have if she took things slow. A few cards, phone calls, maybe a lunch or trip to a pizza parlor before she sics the lawyer on us.” He shook his head. “She might come up against their anger and find out she’s not snuggling up to some precious little babies who long for her. She’s facing off with some kids who were dumped on a very hurt, very angry father—and they’re not willing to suffer fools gladly. They might rip her apart. A part of me hopes they would.”

He put down his beer and pulled her into his arms, covering her mouth in a deep kiss. “Never be afraid again, Gina. Don’t be afraid of some mean woman just because she has a good haircut and fancy clothes.”

“Okay,” she whispered. “We’ve had such a hard time getting this romance off the ground....”

“Patience,” he said.

Just then Gina’s cell phone rang. She picked it up and saw that it was Ashley calling from inside the house. “Hi, Ash,” she said.

“Where are you?” her daughter asked through tears.

“I’m on the front porch, having a beer with Mac. Is something wrong?”

“I need you! Now!”

“Hmm,” Gina said to her lover. “My daughter, calling from her bedroom, having another meltdown.”

“This happen a lot?” he asked.

“Lately? Regularly. Want to wait for me?”

“I do want to wait, but I should go home, scrape poor old Lou off the floor and pour her into bed. Her worst nightmare came to town today—by now she’s probably drunk. I’ll call you in the morning.”

“I’d like that. And listen, thank you.”

“For?”

“Two bottles of beer and a little reinforcement. I love you, too.”

He kissed her again. “We got the shaft,” he said. “We got together when our baggage was so heavy. I’m going to make this up to you somehow.”

“No, don’t worry. This is good. I like you this way. Once I got over the first guy, I got really hot for responsible men.”

“Are you sure that’s sexy?” he asked with a smile.

“I am so sure.”

* * *

Gina went into Ashley’s room and saw her sitting cross-legged on the bed, her laptop perched on her knees, her phone clutched in her hand, tears streaming down her red face. “Mom!” she shrieked, holding the phone toward her.

Gina looked at the text message including photo and there was her daughter, eyes seductive slits, mouth open in a very sexy pose, br**sts bared. For a moment she was completely confused. The message read, Say hi to Downy’s ex psycho slut.

Huh?

“Her! It’s her! Downy’s new girlfriend! She sent it out to everyone in Downy’s phone directory! Oh, my God!”

“Ashley?” Gina asked, still not believing.

“It’s fake, Mom,” she sobbed. “I would never let anyone take a picture of my boobs! Those aren’t my boobs! Oh, God.”

Gina felt her knees go weak. She sank onto the bed, staring at the grotesque photo on the phone.

“And on Facebook! She put it on Facebook! I saw it because she’s Downy’s friend and Downy’s my friend! Oh, God, people are going to think it’s me—that I posed for that picture and sent it to Downy or something. Oh Mom, I’ve never been so...embarrassed!”

“Why is she doing this?” Gina asked. “Ashley, have you been calling and texting Downy a lot?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Not in a long time. Not since I started counseling and group. I agreed to stop reaching out to him. Why is she doing this to me?”