Leaving The Way: Book Two (The Way Trilogy), стр. 39
Around the table there seems to be an equal number of shaking and nodding heads, but in the end it only matters what each of the leaders think. Sure they’ve included us, let us voice our opinions, but their votes are the only ones that count.
Mateo stands before leaning over the table supported by his outstretched hands, and then voices his vote. “I’m ready to vote on the proposal. This has been going on for two days, and I’d like to try to play to the Vater’s conscience first. At least if it fails, I’ll know I tried. I vote in favor of a parlay.”
Ash and I both simultaneously lean over to Luke and whisper, “What’s a parlay?”
Laughing under his breath he explains as I hear Dakota stand and speak. “I vote against a parlay.”
Now that I understand what a parlay is, I sit back and watch Dakota reclaim his seat while Lord Paul pushes his chair back and stands. “I vote in favor of a parlay.”
And just like that. Parlay it is.
chapter 14 - I Feel Like A Pirate
ANNA
Yesterday a decision was reached to play to any decency left in the Vater and request a parlay. I didn’t know what a parlay was until Luke explained it to me, but now that I know, I can’t stop saying it. Rolls right off the tongue. Parlay. Parlay. Parlayyy! Also, I feel like a pirate every time I say it.
When the vote was complete, Dakota had said it was a fair vote and the Osage would uphold the decision, but when we woke up this morning he was gone, along with his men. He didn’t leave a note or a message, he just left. We assume that means he won’t be at the parlay. Ha, I said it again. And that if it comes to a fight with the church he won’t help. Mateo doesn’t seem too concerned, nor does Lord Paul. Both made similar comments at breakfast this morning. Something to the effect of, we have the numbers without them.
Luke on the other hand, left breakfast and went to our room to skulk. And that is where I find him now as I step through the doorway to our bedroom.
“You look broody,” I comment, seeing him standing, arms crossed, staring out the window.
Looking over his shoulder he tries to give me a smile, but he isn’t fooling anyone with that. I cross the floor, coming in behind him and wrapping my arms around his waist. Pressing my cheek to his back, he drops his arms to cover mine and lets out a sigh.
“I just don’t know if we’re making the right decision, Little Minx,” he says, as he strokes the back of my arm.
Making my way around to his front, I reattach myself to his middle, getting his attention before responding. “I get it, but I don’t think there is a right decision.”
I lean my head into Luke’s firm chest as he begins making long strokes up and down my hair. I can hear his heart beat. Strong and steady, yet quick. Luke is a good man, so if this goes south and people get hurt, he’ll blame himself. But none of this is his fault. Nothing that’s happened, and nothing that’s coming is his fault. Yet I know there is nothing I can say to convince him of that. Just like no one can convince me I’m not to blame for what happened to Ash, at least the severity and longevity of it.
So instead, I try to take his mind off it. “Tell me about you.” Raising my head, I see his eyebrow raise, a cheeky smile spreading from his lips. “I just mean, I’m a horrible girlfriend. I don’t know anything about your life, what your favorite color is, your parents. Tell me something.”
“Girlfriend?” He asks with a grin.
“Um, well I just mean…” So maybe I misinterpreted how far along we are in this relationship. Sure I thought of him as my baby daddy from day one, but I guess we hadn’t really openly put labels on it.
I know I’m blushing as he leans down, brushing a kiss across my parted lips, and then he calms my fears. “You are so much more than a girlfriend, Little Minx.” And then we’re kissing.
Making out is a more accurate description because sweet, baby Jesus! Probably shouldn’t be bringing Jesus into this as Luke deepens the kiss, picking me up and depositing me roughly on the bed. We bounce as the springs compensate for our weight, Luke rolling me so I rest on top. Luke bites my lip and I lose it, grasping his shirt before wrenching it over his head. My hands rest on his solid warm chest, and I want nothing more than to be skin to skin.
And then there’s a mother bleeping knock at the door.
“Go away!” We both yell, irritated.
Only whoever it is doesn’t go away, instead the bedroom door opens, and then I hear a giggle. Followed by several more giggles, and then the bed dips as Ash climbs up beside us.
Rolling my eyes in the direction of her sneaky little smile, she says, “You want a baby? Because that’s how you get a baby.”
“That’s my line,” I growl, as Luke grips my butt moving me to sit between him and my ex-BFF.
“Paybacks a bitch, Little Minx,” Ash says, in her best Luke impersonation.
Actually it was pretty good, even Luke laughed.
Flopping back on the bed as dramatically as possible and staring up at the ceiling, I ask her what she wants.
“Well, the letter went out this morning. They plan for it to be delivered tomorrow at noon on the dot. And Mateo decided on one week from today, but he plans to go two days