Damien Pierce

“Doesn’t mean that they’re the only ones that are talking about you though, my love. I do listen to what people are saying, and they’re all lucky I have to show some restraint with you. It’s hard enough to not wrap myself around you constantly for myself, but also to throw it in their faces that you’re mine.”

“... People talk about me? That’s new. but I’m not going anywhere, Val, I love you,” he said without really even thinking about it. “You don’t have to worry.”

“Well you can tell those cougars that your girlfriend is fairly possessive of you,” Valentina reminded him warmly before leaning up to kiss him briefly. 

“Those cougars are related to you, Val. Or to me.” He laughed, shaking his head. “And none of them are hitting on me, so much as telling stories I didn’t need to know, so you have no reason to be worried.”

I’m usually fairly specific with you.

I know you are. Everyone else is too, but sometimes it’s a little much. At least when it’s my mom’s friends.

He is very intelligent, something I think most people don’t realize at first. That sounds like them. She’ll be fine, though, I know you haven’t probably seen any of it before, because when she had your sister you were so young. As much as it monumentally sucks it’ll be over soon.

I’m not that freaked out by all of this, actually. It’s not any weirder than the fact I only just met my dad and that my grandparents are centuries old. I’m worried more in the...if some curse, or something takes this one from her too, I don’t think she’ll recover.

He…probably read a lot of books when I had Rebecka…and then probably some more when I had Noah.

I always heard about how smart he was, but it’s...creepy. At least when it’s about my mom. I think he started doing it to mess with Josh, but then he just...kept going, for some reason. 

What?

...Why does Kellan know so much about what labor feels like? It’s...weird.

I don’t want anyone cooler, Damien. I want you. There’s no sexier boyfriend, besides when are you going to realize that I’m actually into the awkward nerd and not some cool jack ass jock?

You know, my uncle gets on my case about that too, I don’t ever have an answer for Josh about it either. It’ll happen eventually.

I’m thankful that she didn’t take you though. What would I do if she kept you from me?

You’d probably be dating someone whose a lot cooler than I am.

I know that you are, but honestly you should be spending time with your sister and getting to know her. Which is why I’m taking you this weekend before I force you to spend a few days with her while I take time with my aunt Reagan.

I think our mom has kidnapped her from the general public with no intention of giving her back. Honestly, if she wasn’t hugely pregnant, I’d probably be stuck there too. But I’ll spend time with her, I promise.

I don’t even know if any of this could constitute as normal though. But I suppose for this town it is about as normal as i could be to get overwhelmed.

I think the boat on normalcy sailed...a long time before we were born, Val. But I’m here, alright? You’re not going through it alone.

Yeah. Somedays are just hard being surrounded by so many people.

I get it. I mean, for sixteen years it was just my mom, and now I’m living in a house with my dad and younger sister, and...my grandfather and uncle, both of who still really freak me out. Being freaked out by it is normal, I think.

I just want to be locked away from the world for a few days with you.

You doing okay?

I was wondering if you wanted to spend the weekend with me.

The whole weekend? Of course I do.

“I’ve been trying to behave myself so I wouldn’t overwhelm you. But I’ve been dying to spend time with you.”

“Any chance I had of not being overwhelmed here didn’t really ever exist. I would really like to get to know you, I’ve heard a lot of stories.”

“Well maybe I’ll make you a second batch to take to your girlfriend so you can win some points with her.”

“You don’t have to do that unless you want to. But I’m planning something for her this weekend that’ll hopefully not be a failure.”