Goliath as I eavesdrop at the Saloon one afternoon. “But I’m not Fuse. If you see shit that isn’t working, tell me. If you think I’m acting like a fapsock, speak up. I’d rather hear it from you than from Cooper Johansson during one of his visits. Better for you to call me out than for some asshole to take me out. Get it?”
Goliath does get it. He’s finally accepting how he can be himself with the Reapers. River and Shane don’t want bootlickers. They’re looking for men who can hold the fort when they’re out of town or busy with family. Goliath is exactly the kind of man to keep Shasta safe.
I’m so proud of my man, but he only rolls his eyes when I compliment him. Goliath trusts the club more than he does me. That hurts sometimes, but I force myself to remember how he’s never been close to a good woman before. He still worries I’m fucking with him, and the real Shelby will show up to crush his heart.
But I know he loves me. Not because he says it. We’re not there yet. But he wants me to be happy, and he knows my parents mean everything to me. That’s why before he formerly meets them at a Christmas bash with a bunch of Ellsberg people, Goliath gets a haircut. I have no idea about his planned makeover, but I assume he told the lady to give him the Shane haircut-and-beard combo.
Holy hell, does Goliath clean up real nice! He was already a handsome man, but fucking shit! I can barely keep my hands off him once he loses the mountain-man vibe.
“You’re so shallow,” he mutters when I want to ride his dick again after running my fingers through his thick, dark hair.
“Shut up and enjoy my tits, Mister Deep Thinker.”
Goliath just smiles. I think he worried I’d give him shit about changing his appearance. I can’t even imagine the amount of mental turmoil he went through.
Why should I change? I don’t want her parents thinking I’m dirty hillfolk. What do I care what they think? Fuck those people. Let them hate me. Screw that shit. Why should I let them think I’m something I’m not? What if I get a haircut and then look like a bitch? What if Shelby doesn’t want to fuck me if I clean up my beard? Fuck her for not wanting me!
Despite all his muttering about me being shallow, I know he wants the reassurance, and I give it to him four times that night.
Goliath doesn’t really charm my parents. He’s agitated during the entire party thrown at the Saloon. My parents do the heavy lifting. Dad talks to Goliath about bikes, construction, sports, and my dogs. Mom decides to stick to food talk. Does he like stew? How about cheesy chicken casserole? Is he a fan of pot pies? What about potato skins? That goes on for a while before Dad gets back to sports talk.
Overall, the night goes well. I’m sporting a tiny bump by this point, and people start teasing about how my baby’s going to be huge. Goliath, at first, gets grumpy when he thinks people are making fun of his kid. Then Cooper talks about how his grandson is big for his age because he comes from a family of giants. Goliath accepts the big-baby thing is normal and settles down. He even reaches down to rub my belly a few times when people aren’t looking. I spot some pride in his gray eyes.
By Christmas, I need preggo pants for my growing baby bump. Maude isn’t nearly as big, but she’s done with stripping and hunkers down at home. Max is nearing the end of her pregnancy. Now on bedrest, she struggles with her inability to feed everyone. Cooking is her form of therapy. We stick her in the TV room during the day and take turns entertaining her. Her mom quits working at The Barnyard and moves into the Victorian to help out. River does a renovation on one of the sunrooms to allow his mother-in-law more privacy.
The house is officially overstuffed.
“You can move in with me,” Maverick suggests one day at The Barnyard as the whole group eats breakfast.
I smile at his attempt to fuck with Goliath, which totally works.
“Why would she move into your place and not mine?” grumbles the giant man.
“You don’t have any room for a baby at yours. I have two spare rooms. I’m fucking flush with space,