“Don’t worry about us,” Kade said.
“What’s for lunch?” Keir piped in.
“Uh, I kind of forgot to pack one this morning. I was worried about detention and getting there on time, and I guess the hit to my noggin didn't help any,” she said, giving herself a gentle tap to the head with her fist to make her point.
War immediately handed over one of his Tupperware containers to her. “Do you have any allergies?” he asked.
She opened up the container to reveal it was packed full, with everything divided into neat little sections like a bento box. There was half a sandwich with the crust cut off, fresh strawberries with the stems plucked and pineapple cut into bite-size pieces, a bit of soft cheese and whole grain crackers, plus what looked like a butter tart with some pecans on top.
It was a bigger lunch than she ever got to eat. Everything looked homemade, prepared by his mother. War really was lucky to have someone like Ruby in his life that cared so much for him. It shouldn't have made Tess think about her mother but it did.
Maddy never made lunch for her ever since Tess was old enough to pull some food out of the fridge and slap it into a box herself, which would have been around grade 1. So why was she feeling teary looking down at the well put together lunch that War had handed over to her?
“Um, thanks,” she said, voice tighter than she liked.
“If you don’t like it, Keir should have something better for you or Kade. They're both allergic to normal food,” War said. He got hit in the forehead with a green grape from Keir.
“Nope, I don't have any allergies. What are you going to eat if I take this?” Tess asked.
“That is my second lunch. Mom makes me take one for the afternoon and another one for after school. I kind of need a lot of food,” War admitted with what sounded like some embarrassment.
“He can eat while on the run, literally,” Bastion said. “I can grab War something from the cafeteria to make do with after school. I don't think he has hockey on Tuesdays, anyway?”
War was quick to shake his head no. “Practice is on Wednesday and Friday. Games are on Saturdays.”
“You guys better make sure she picks up proper lunch components when you go out shopping with her later,” Bastion said.
“I know how to do my own grocery shopping,” she said, picking up a strawberry and deciding she was going to eat her dessert first.
Bastion watched her eating the strawberry. “I saw the macaroni you ate yesterday, and now you have nothing. War got to look at your cupboards and fridge last night. Looks like you haven't gone shopping since you got here. What are your younger brother and sister eating?”
It turned the topic to the one thing there was guaranteed to guilt her into admitting she was struggling. She didn't want her younger siblings going hungry. At her old school when all the money from her part-time work had gone only to her, she had never been hungry, but years before with her parents, when alcohol was more important than fresh fruit and they controlled the finances, hunger was a feeling she had gotten to know well.
If a little humility ensured that she could keep food on the table, then it was worth it. Even accepting a ride from Kade and Keir to save her the bus fare added up and in turn, would give her a little extra food every week.
“Ashley told me she has a gluten sensitivity or something, and Jason is picky and eating vegetarian right now as well. It's new since the last time I lived with them so I didn't know, and I haven't had a chance to go out and buy special food for them. I think they both went out to eat at some friends’ houses, and you're right, I'm responsible for them and not having enough food is inappropriate,” Tess said.
Bastion sighed. “You all need to eat properly. The responsibility doesn't lie entirely on your shoulders. The ‘kids’ you came home to take care of are old enough to help out. They should be going out grocery shopping with you and planning out meals.”
She hadn't expected him to try and take her side. “I’m supposed to be here to take care of them. I'm the adult and they are the kids,” she said, leaving some of the fruit for later and picking up the sandwich. Hearty chunks of roast beef with mustard, lettuce and tomato peeked out of slices of soft, whole grain bread. War had definitely earned some brownie points with this one. She knew his mom probably made it but he was going to get all the credit.
“Food is a priority, just like caffeine. We're going to make sure you're fueled up,” Keir said. “Can’t have our tutor’s brain working at half-steam.”
Remembering that he had called her brain a steam-engine yesterday, she figured that was probably what he was referring to now. Fine, they were right that food was important and with everything going on in her life, she could use a little help with the mundane chores.
“Food, yes, and thank you, everyone,” Tess said, ending the lecture before it could really start. She took a big bite of her sandwich with pleasure.
The rest of them dug into their lunches. Bastion tried to bring up Daniels bar again, but she brushed it off by saying she wasn't old enough to go there anyway and didn't have any fake ID. Besides, she was going to be escorted by Kade and Keir after school and there wouldn't be any time to be hitting up motorcycle bars.
Bastion accepted her excuses and left off for now. She hadn't been entirely honest, but it was clear that the guys wanted to take care of her, and they were feeling pretty guilty about her getting hurt in front of them even though it wasn't their fault. They weren't responsible for protecting her from danger, and sometimes a girl had to face demons if she wanted to protect her family.
Tess would know better about what that protection would entitle after she talked to her mother more at the hospital. The demons were inside her mom's head, battering her defences, and Tess had to see if her mother was ready to let someone know what happened to send her mind into lockdown.
“You eat like a champ,” War said, sounding proud of her achievement like he had something to do with it. Actually, he kind of had with all the delicious food he offered her.
“This is delicious. You have to tell your mom thanks and that she is an excellent cook,” Tess said, thinking of Ruby, and how lucky War was, again, to have such a wonderful mother.
“I made it,” War admitted. “Mom has been working night shift this week. I always make extra and leave it in the fridge for her, so she can have something to eat when she comes home.”
“You think his sandwiches are good, you have to try his chilli. As long as you don't mind something spicy,” Kade said.
“I love spicy food,” Tess said. “Wow, I can't believe you made all this, especially considering how late I kept you last night.”
War made a show of looking around and then leaned forward to keep the conversation between everyone at their table only. “Don’t be shouting out loud how I can keep going all night, Pumpkin. Or else, the lineup of girls is going to be outside the door and then how are we going to get time alone again?”
She laughed. “You’re so modest,” she teased, but really he was. Making such a nice lunch for himself and his mom, and sharing with her on top of it were acts that deserved acknowledgement, but he wasn't going to accept it.
“I lasted quite a while last night as well. It was my brother that blocked me, with his stupid phone. I told him we should have turned them off to avoid dad's lecture,” Keir said.
“Did you guys get into a lot of trouble?” she asked. It was because of her that their dad was mad, or more accurately because Kade helped her when Rob Balor got out of line.
“He enjoys lecturing us. You just gave him an excuse to do what he likes best. A talking to and then he's carried out his fatherly duty for the week,” Kade said.
He hadn't seemed that close to his father when they had been together at the principal's office. It was still too soon to judge, but it looked like the relationship was quite strained, and now that Tess knew that his mother was dead, Kade seemed all the more lonely. No wonder his friends had bonded so closely, keeping out ugly rumo
urs and accusations.
“Well, I'm still sorry that I was part of the reason you got the dad lecture,” Tess said. “How can I make it up to you?”
“You already made my morning brighter, Sunshine,” Kade said.
It was kind of cliche but she liked it nonetheless. Kade could be really sweet, a soft side hidden behind his hard exterior.
“You're the one that brought me coffee and picked me up, but I'll take Sunshine over a Pumpkin for the nickname of the day,” she said.
She just popped a big strawberry into her mouth when Keir piped in his own two cents. “Uh uh, Pumpkin. We already told you what you have to do to have your nickname changed. I believe it was a test of your chapstick flavour?”
Ignoring Keir was the best way to deal with his flirting. Anything else would be interpreted as encouragement. She popped another strawberry into her mouth and chewed slowly, then deciding to play a little more dangerously, she gave the next strawberry a bite and licked the juice left on the bitten end while looking Keir right in the eyes.
“Tastes like strawberry to me,” she teased.
His eyes lit up with amusement. Yeah, flirting with him was more fun. They had all promised to take things slower if she needed, so a little harmless flirting was a good way to test their patience.
She just forgot for a moment that there were four of them.
“Is that an invitation, Berry?” Bastion said.
“They’re my strawberries. I should go first,” War said.
“She wants to make it up to me for last night’s lecture,” Kade said. “I’m owed the first taste of the day. I wonder how sweet sunshine tastes?”
They were all leaning forward and closer to her, all watching as she swirled her tongue around the bitten strawberry and then popped the rest of it in her mouth for one big, juicy bite. She moaned and closed her eyes in appreciation, savouring the delicious fruit while fighting a blush at all the attention she had gotten herself.
That would teach her to think her ideas through before enacting them. Fantasies were not always school appropriate.
“Are you playing with us, Pumpkin?” Keir said. She opened her eyes and looked right at him again. Nibbling the last of the strawberry juice off her bottom lip she smiled, more in her eyes than her bitten lips, and gave a little innocent shrug.
She was saved by the bell.
There were a few curses from the guys as they all stood up awkwardly and that was embarrassing. She hadn’t thought about how they would be stuck with the evidence of her indiscretion.
“Sorry,” she said guiltily.
“There will be payback, Berry,” Bastion said.
She faked a shiver of fear. “Prince is going to try to charm me,” she mocked. “Don’t forget the school rules or you’ll forfeit your after tutoring rights.”
“Going to try to play the player?” War said, taking her backpack from her shoulders. “It should be fun to watch.”
“I want a front-row seat,” Keir said.
“Is this what putting your foot in your mouth feels like?” Tess asked, second-guessing her choices as they made their way out of the cafeteria.
“You bit off more than you can chew,” Kade predicted.
“Eyes bigger than your stomach,” Bastion said. “Don’t think I will let you take it back if you get cold feet. Eat what you put on your plate.”
Tess laughed, hard. “My mother would love all of you,” she said between laughs.
“And why is that?” Keir asked, sounding curious. He took her backpack from War since they shared the first afternoon class
“Trite but true advice and twisting sayings are some of her favourites,” Tess said.
“Cool,” Keir remarked.
“I would like to meet her,” Kade said.
She halted in the hall. “Sure. Why not?” she said. There was nothing she had to hide from them. Kade was a regular at the hospital and had revealed some of his dark past. The guys had been pretty open and non-judgemental with her.
“Can we take turns? Kade and Keir tonight and War and myself next time?” Bastion proposed.
“You want to meet the parent? Don’t complain about cold feet then,” she shot back at him, feeling a bit uncertain as to the enormity of what she was agreeing to hit her.
Those family secrets. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“I’ll bring flowers,” Bastion said. “My charming personality has to be good for something and convincing your mother we can behave like gentleman is worth it.”
“Let me tell you a secret,” Tess said, toeing up to reach closer to Bastion’s right ear. He still had to lean down. “Charming gets snowed. Try bringing my mother a book if you want to impress.”
Bastion pulled back up with a secret smile. Not sharing her advice on how to charm her mother, he waved goodbye and left them without another word.
“What did you tell him?” War asked, getting ready to go to his class, too.
“The secret to life.”
“And what is that?” Kade asked, sounding intrigued. He gave Bastion’s retreating back a glance, then returned his curious gaze to hers.
“It’s in the middle of a book,” she answered, following Keir’s laughter as they went into the calculus classroom together.
Chapter 15
Keir
“SHE’S MUCH SWEETER than you described,” Keir said to his brother as they waited by their black SUV.
“I told you she’s spicy and sweet,” Kade defended.
He had been basing it on her chapstick flavour at the time, although the story of how she stood up to the Watsons for his brother certainly showed more backbone than most of the girls in their school. Kade had also said that she had a cute temper when she confronted Rob for his sexual harassment instead of blushing or ignoring it.
It was best to keep it between them about how ‘cute’ Kade had found Tess. No point ruffling her feathers up by sharing that provocative description with her. It wouldn’t be brotherly to tell her that Kade had been tempted to stick his tongue down her throat at first sight and had to hide his boner before he went into counselling with Doc Mike.
Actually, it was exactly what a brother would say. Keir was waiting for the right moment.
“Did you see her mom yet?” he asked Kade, keeping his mischievous plans to himself.
“Nope, I was with Doc Mike when she went to find her mom. I just know she’s an inpatient on the general ward and Doc Mike is taking care of her, too. The Watsons almost ruined everything, getting Tess all upset and then she stormed off. I couldn’t go after her that far in the ward without attracting more attention.”
Kade was confirming what Keir had figured out. He knew his brother had tried to hang around after counselling, both of them sitting outside on a bench in the smoker’s corner although neither of them smoked. It had been totally stalking but Keir had suggested his smitten brother smooth his way by apologizing for the Watsons and his own heathen behaviour before asking if the Pumpkin girl wanted to meet up for a coffee.
Their father’s insistent texts that they get their asses home for lockdown because he had an important client, for which he had to go to the office for on a Sunday, had destroyed Kade’s budding romance. That wasn’t new. Their father acted like any enjoyment of life was a betrayal of their mother’s death and Kade getting a girlfriend would definitely qualify.
Bullshit. It was all a PR show and Kade had been the fall guy for too long.
“Well, let me do the talking this time until we see how open Tess’s mom is to pierced assholes dating her daughter,” Keir said. “At least you’re in uniform and left the black eyeliner at home.”
“I don’t wear makeup, jerk,” Kade muttered. “You’re jealous that I met Tess first. Get used to coming second, little bro. I also kissed her twice now and you’ve had how many tastes of her berry lips?”
Keir never shared a girl with his brother before. Hell, he never even dated a girl after she broke up with Kade and his brother was
the same. They shared deets all the time, talking girls like they did sports, and things were even closer between them now that their mom was gone. Their dad’s animosity drove the brothers together. Dating a girl that either of them already knew all about, as if they had already been dating and broken up with her themselves, just wasn’t something either was interested in.
But dating Pumpkin-Berry at the same time? Now it was a friendly competition and Keir didn’t plan on letting his brother claim the prize all to himself.
“I hope you enjoyed your taste because I think Tess is a girl that believes in fairness. She's got that ethical vibe you can't deny, a sweet innocence about her that I can't wait to taste myself because it is my turn, and I plan to take twice as long to make up for last night. I'm going to show her everything you did wrong.”
“Start with a breath mint,” Kade said, waving a hand in front of him and backing up. “That tuna for lunch was a really poor choice.”
Keir glared at his brother. It had been Kade’s turn to make their lunch this morning, and his brother had made himself a turkey sandwich with the last of the deli meat, then stuck Keir with the stinky tuna sandwich. He hadn't even packed pickles, rushing them out the door to get to Tess in time because of their shared detention.
Kade hadn't shown interest in anything for months, and now he was pulling a fast one, setting Keir up for failure so he could come out ahead. Keir should be mad about it but he wasn't. Nope, Keir felt fantastic.
“Game on,” Keir said. Perfect timing too, as he saw Tess exit the school and look around, finally spotting them by the SUV, waiting for her. It wasn't as flashy as Bastion’s silver dick on wheels, but their family was only modestly wealthy compared to Bastion’s immodest fortune.
Pumpkin acted like she didn't have a clue about all the money anyway. Bastion said she gave him a hard time about buying her a tea yesterday, and she had even made a bit of a protest this morning, collaborating his account. Bastion said he told Tess he was filthy rich and Keir didn't think there was any reason for the rest of them to hide their money. She might be as poor as they were rich but she didn’t let that come between them and they ought to respect her dignity.
Impetuous (Victory Lap Book 1) Page 21