Taboo (Merle Dixon x OFC)

Chapter 2

As I walked into the living room, Mama slurred, "Was that Merle? He usin' Daryl's truck?" 

She was peeking out the front window. The entire room smelled like vodka. She was on one of her binges.

"Yeah." I tossed my bag on one of the armchairs. "He gave me a lift from Jimmy's. He said he was goin' in ta town anyway."

"I figured as much. Daryl wouldn't o' hugged ya like that. Ya know Merle's gotta thing fer ya," she said, slumping back down into the armchair she was occupying.

Oh, great. Now she had something to say. I rolled my eyes but stayed quiet.

"Yer daddy knew 'bout it. Merle never said nothin', but Jake knew. He said it started when ya was 'bout 16. Ya know that summer ya spent away at camp? When ya came back is when Merle started actin' different towards ya. Jake said it was weird watchin' 'is best friend crush on 'is daughter. I never noticed when ya was younger, but now that I've had time ta think 'bout it, he was right. Merle treats ya decent and with respect. He don't respect no one. Ya know that." 

Mama was FUBAR, but I understood every garbled word.

"Merle thinks yer special," she added, her eyes twinkling. "He picked out yer name, Autumn Rose Stone, but ya already know that. It was his suggestion because me and yer daddy couldn't decide on one. Beautiful first name with mine as a middle name. Me and yer Daddy liked it, so we kept it."

"He's known me since I was born." I shrugged, ignoring the pull at my heart. "Merle's always been decent ta me. He helped me a lot when Daddy died."

"I know. That's another thing. Merle don't help folks out the kindness of 'is heart. He always expects somethin' in return, but he never expected shit from you. Not one thing. Yer Daddy died okay knowin' Merle's still around ta look out fer ya. He was alright with the fact that Merle was infatuated with ya."

I rolled my eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time. Mama was in one of her alcohol-infused truthful moods. I wished she would shut up. I didn't want to hear it.

"He ain't infatuated," I denied. 

"Yes, he is. Ya know Merle was yer first crush, right?" she teased. 

"So? Who cares? Merle's adorable."

"You were just a toddler. You smiled and blushed like he was the most gorgeous thing on earth while ya sat in 'is lap and hugged on 'im. It was cute as hell. Merle liked the attention, that's fer sure."

"I remember. Merle's an attention whore. Always has been. Merle's good lookin' now. He was handsome when he was young, too."

I snatched the bag of pretzels she had in her hand, startling her. I giggled. Mama laughed. 

"Hey! I was gonna eat those!" 

Holding the bag out of her reach, I stuck out my tongue and popped a pretzel in my mouth. I was glad she was a happy drunk and not a mean one. She was a cuddler, too.

"Merle was good lookin' back then, but he looks better now. He ages like fine wine." She winked.

"I have ta agree with ya on that." 

Smiling, I sat next to her in the chair. We embraced like we always did.

"That's cuz ya have the same taste in men." Mama chuckled and took the pretzels.

I grinned. "I know. Ya have good taste." 

"Did ya break up with Jimmy like ya said ya was gonna do?" she asked.

I grimaced. "Yeah. He wasn't happy at all. He accused me o' cheatin', called me a whore," I said under my breath.

Mama sighed and patted my arm. "Don'cha pay 'im no mind. He's a dick. He didn't deserve ya."