by Dace Everan
Sam narrowed his eyes on her. “Talk about bitchy. You should warn my nephew what kind of one you turn into.” He growled.
She glared right back. She reached over, laying a hand on Lila’s belly. “Apparently, I’m a bitch. Your uncle”—she pursed her lips—“is a very honest person, but a big jerk!” she retorted.
Jared chuckled. “Her first word’s gonna be ‘bitch’ or ‘jerk,’ I just know it.”
Lila giggled, rubbing her tummy.
Jared joined Sam, slicing up some mushrooms. Paula slumped, glancing at Lila. “Why are you here?” she asked.
Lila smiled. “Honestly?” Paula nudged her in her usually friend manner that told Lila not to beat around the bush. “Checking on you.” She poured Paula a glass of juice. “Did she tell you juice boosts up her metabolism?” she asked Sam.
Sam shook his head.
Paula growled. “Maybe if you would back the fuck off, I would have time to tell him things all on my own like a big girl!” she snapped.
Lila sighed, rubbing her belly. “Oh, give it up, Paula. We’re here to help.”
Sam raised his brows and stopped what he was doing. “Sorry, Lila, but it’s not your place.” He looked at Paula. “You should have shared that,” he informed her.
Paula slumped, laying her arms on the counter and laying her head down. “You people are annoying me…” She slipped from her seat and left the room.
Sam glanced at Lila with a questioning look. Lila shook her head. “Let her go,” she murmured. Sam grunted, returning to the omelettes.
Paula stretched out on the couch, staring out the front window of his home. Little birds chirped in the many trees that surrounded his home. She tried to ignore the talk in the kitchen. She should just sneak out the front door and leave. She had extra shoes in the car. She pursed her lips. Sam would be mad. He was mad, though. This would make him madder.
She grunted. She couldn’t just lie here anymore. Fuck, she should just be a big girl and do her normal thing. She inhaled a calming breath.
No one said anything when she returned to the kitchen. They just mixed her into the conversation. Sam sat next to her, his arm rubbing up to hers. She eventually found herself leaning on him, eating her omelette, listening to the conversation. Jared discussed the new trucks coming in, that he had a classic in the shop. Sam moaned at the description of the car.
Paula scrunched up her nose. She didn’t understand cars, nor did she try to understand them. Her gaze landed on Sam and she got lost in thoughts of his naked body.
Lila poked her side. “Paula, your cell phone is ringing,” she sang.
Paula snapped out of the daze she had lost herself in. She plucked it up checking the caller, a wide grin appearing on her face.
“Oooh, hey, babes!” She glanced at Lila. “What, you don’t want your mom to know you went to the rez and got wasted and ended up at… Hello? Kyla?” She smirked.
Lila growled. “Swear, going to kick her ass,” she grumbled, rubbing her tummy.
Paula chuckled, dialling Kyla’s number. “Hey, babes, I was joking. Mom’s not with me.” She shot Lila a look of “shut the fuck up.”
“No, I’m on my way home from your uncle’s. None of your business what I was doing there. Where are you? I’ll come get you. Maybe we can go get our nails done?” She looked at her nails, nodding. “Yeah. Nails, hair, see if Steph can do anything with the half mop on my head.”
She gobbled up a few more bites, slipping off her seat, dumping the rest of her omelette on Lila’s plate. “Nope, was having breakfast to go. Yeah, your uncle’s fucking weird, sent me home with a plate of food.” She smirked at the look on Sam’s face.
Jared covered his mouth with a fist, holding back his laughter. She nodded a few times, humming an answer as she slipped on her shoes, returning to the table and gulping back her juice.
“Whew, thirsty. Want a Slushie? Think I’ll hit the Sev before I come out. Are you sure? I totally don’t mind. It will help with that pounding—Oh shit!” She screeched real loud, hoping her voice boomed on Kyla’s end. “Oh, never mind. Stupid cat. Missed it. I should get off this phone. Trying to drive here.” She smiled at the groan coming from the other end.
“Oh, babes, remember, shower up, nails, hair, maybe lunch at Gustavo’s. Oh fuck, I love how he brings out the pasta and announces in his big, booming voice. Oh, we can check out that cute busboy! Hemorrhoid cream will get rid of those bags under your eyes.”
Click!
She looked at the phone, harrumphing.
She looked at Lila. “Little bitch hung up on me! Ha, and after I offered to get her sweets.” She leaned over kissing Lila’s belly. “Going to pick up your big, bad sister. You had better not be this much trouble. I’ll be too damn old to be traipsing around picking you up.”
She kissed Lila’s cheek, slapped Jared on the back, and kissed Sam on the cheek. “Meet me at Gustavo’s for lunch? We can make fun of her together.”
Sam grinned. That actually sounded fun. He nodded.
“Oh, thanks for breakfast, scrumptious,” she called before leaving.
Chapter Twelve
Paula sighed. “Well, Sam. I’m going to invite you to lunch all the time if you bring the cute brother,” she replied, nudging Kyla. “Don’t you agree, Ky? I think Rick’s the cute one. George is nice.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. What do you think, Kyla?”
Kyla shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, Lala,” she murmured, picking at her tortellini.
Rick dropped his fork on the plate. “Oops, sorry, butterfingers,” he apologised when Kyla cringed.
Paula smirked. She was so glad Sam had thought to bring Rick. He had made sure to talk lots and be overly loud. With the combination of her chatter and his, Kyla’s head should be pounding pretty loud by now. Her little experience with getting liquored up and then having to spend the day with her loud, boisterous aunty should make her think twice about doing that again.
Rick reached out and touched Paula’s neck. “What happened here, Paula? Bloodsucker run into you?” he teased.
Paula frowned, glancing at Sam. Had he sucked on her neck?
He smirked, a rather smug look covering his beautiful face.
She reached across the table, smacking his arm hard. “Shithead, you can’t go marking me like that! People will think I have a boyfriend or some fucked-up thing like that and I won’t get to flirt with the cute boys.”
Kyla giggled. “You’d do it anyway, hoebag,” she teased.
Paula laughed, hugging her close. “Yeah, you got me there, babes. We should go shopping this afternoon over to that new mall, check out the little teenybopper boys. Oh damn, them native boys…so friggen’ hot. Oh, screw that. Let’s see if Ty has a game of ball somewhere. We’ll check out the big boys who I won’t get arrested for mingling with,” she added rather smugly.
Kyla burst out in laughter. Sam and Rick chuckled at her blabbering. Paula took a long sip of her juice. “So, Kyla, any idea what you’re going to do next year for work experience?” she asked.
Kyla shook her head.
Rick furrowed his brows. “Thought we were welding?” He had already lined up jobs.
Kyla glanced at him, eyes darting away, shaking her head. “I think I’ll just go wrench in the shop room,” she mumbled. This whole infatuation with him was unnerving her. There would be no way she would learn anything with him around.
Sam grinned. “Screw that. Come work at the shop and make some money while you’re learning. Welding would pay way more, though,” he advised.
Kyla shook her head, hunching closer to Paula.
Paula harrumphed. That was a definite “need aunty solace right now because something’s on my mind” movement. Kyla had always been like that as a child. Huddle closer to a person when she needed solace. “Powder room, babes. Join me. Feeling a tad bit faintish,” she murmured, ushering Kyla out.
Paula turned on her once they were in the safe confines of the bathroom. “What the hell is going on, babes? Rick
is offering you up the chance of a lifetime. Why the hell are you backing out?”
Kyla shrugged.
Paula placed her hands on Kyla’s shoulders, looking the girl over. “You’re crushing on him! I don’t blame you, he’s fucking hot.” Ah, crap, did Lila know about this?
Kyla looked at her. “How can you stay so calm around them?” she asked.
Paula laughed. “Calm, you call this calm? Your damn new Uncle Sam has my insides twisting here and there and the man keeps on looking at me like he’s going to eat me alive.” She released a nervous laugh.
Kyla opened her mouth, clamping it shut.
Paula gave her an encouraging look to speak up.
Kyla stammered for words. “I call him my uncle and all I want to do is have him kiss me!” she blurted.
Paula sighed, hugging her close. “Oh, Kyla, don’t you dare think you’re doing anything wrong here. Rick isn’t your real uncle. You know that.”
“He’s, like, twenty-eight!” she uttered.
Paula shrugged. “You’re nineteen next summer,” she retaliated.
Kyla slumped. “Isn’t that gross?” she mumbled.
Paula laughed. “Ha! I’m only twenty-seven and Sam’s, like, forty!” Okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration. She was thirty seven, and he was only thirty-eight, or nine. Oh, who cared? She loved the jerk.
Kyla looked at her. “So liking him isn’t wrong? Mom won’t get all mad?” she asked.
Paula shrugged. “Talk to your mom, babes.” That was the only answer she could honestly give on that matter. No, Lila wouldn’t be mad. She would never discourage her daughter in any manner. Maybe direct her another route? She had no idea, not on this matter.
Kyla shook her head. “She’s too busy with Jared and the baby, and Dad keeps calling and yelling about Ty…”
Paula sighed. “Go pee, babes,” she grumbled, taking the first stall. “Your mom might have a lot on her plate, but the worry she experiences for you is ten times worse. She knows when somethings bothering you. It would honestly help her more if you spoke to her. Don’t keep this from your mom.”
* * * *
Sam was sitting in her spot when they returned. “Sorry, Kyla, you lost your spot.” He pointed for her to sit next to Rick.
Paula raised a brow. “Smooth,” she mumbled as she eased in next to him.
Kyla glanced at her aunty. She swore she had said something. “What?” she asked.
Paula shook her head. “I was just thinking maybe Sam would indulge me later with a rub? My feet are killing me. I have this awesome foot cream and it makes my heels real smooth,” she rushed out.
Rick smirked at her long tale for the one single word. Sam chuckled, arm draping behind her. “Sounds good. My place or yours?” he asked.
Paula hemmed and hawed. “Yours. It’s way nicer than mine.” She glanced at Rick. “So, Rick, this welding business. Is the option still open if Little Miss Princess decides to change her mind again?”
Rick glanced at her. “I don’t think she would like wrenching. Welding would be better. I’m expecting you to show. I have jobs lined up for you already. I thought maybe later this summer you would come hit a few odd jobs with me before school starts back up. I talked to your mom and she said I can take you.”
Kyla glanced at him, eyes lit up. “Really?” she uttered. She would actually get to learn to weld!
Rick nodded. “Yup, but one problem,” he warned.
Kyla scrunched up her face. “What?”
Rick pursed his lips to the side. “We have to share a hotel room.”
Kyla’s jaw dropped. Was he fucking insane?
Paula giggled. “Oh, that should be fun. Hey, you could play the Xbox, or what’s the other little game thingies they got nowadays?”
Rick chuckled. “Actually, I take my PlayStation with me.”
Paula raised her brows at the rosy color Kyla turned. “I think that’s a great idea. Show her what it’s like being a welder on the road.”
Rick nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I was thinking. My first year out sucked ass.”
Paula patted Kyla’s hand. She could see Kyla was getting overwhelmed. “It’s okay, you can take your teddy. Ricky won’t mind. Oh, you know that cute little red one you have?” Sam held back his grin, pinching the back of Paula’s neck. Paula glared at him.
He raised his brows. “What? I don’t have no little red teddies.” He looked at Rick. “You?” he inquired.
Rick raised an amused brow. “Nope,” he replied smoothly.
Kyla gasped. Her mind was not thinking of cute, cuddly teddies. More along the lines of her in silky… Her cheeks burned a bright red. “Oh God, Lala, you’re mean!” she uttered, finally catching on. She reached across the table, smacking her arm.
Paula giggled. “Oh, you can hit Ricky out there, too. He’ll giggle for you, I’m sure.”
Kyla slumped back in her seat and rolled her eyes. “So mean, Aunty,” she grumbled. “I’m gonna tell Mom what you said.”
Paula laughed. “Go ahead, I dare you. I bet this time around she’ll invite you to the sex party we have!”
Kyla rolled her eyes. “You know that’s not funny. Gross, I can’t believe you guys got me that thing!” She had been horrified when she had opened the box and saw the massive vibrator.
Paula roared out in laughter. “We thought you could take a joke. We heard you and Lisa giggling away the weekend before. You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”
Kyla grunted, arms crossing her chest in annoyance. “Just ‘cause we were talking doesn’t mean I wanted that!” she mumbled, looking away. The cute busboy was cleaning up the table on the other side of the room. Rick’s leg rubbed against hers and her whole body came alive. She groaned. Great, now her insides were doing somersaults and those butterflies were fluttering ten times faster than when she first walked in.
Paula sighed, nudging Sam. “Oh, look at that, Sammy, poor kid’s heartbroken.” Sam nodded. He had noticed the kid glancing at Kyla, the defeated look on his face when he saw Rick sitting with her.
Kyla stared at the guy. “His name’s Josh, Paula, and he’s a year younger than me. As if!” she grumbled.
Paula slumped. “Well, that sucks. You should ask your mother about younger men.” Her eyebrows wiggled.
Kyla fake-gagged. “Eww, so gross, Lala. Not thinking about my mother having sex. Bad enough I know her and Jared do it!” she mumbled. Rick chuckled, hands closing around his coffee cup, Sam sending him that knowing look of, “I know you’re losing control, little brother.”
Paula nodded. “Yeah, I hope they do, or… Shit, your mother is getting fucking fat.”
Kyla giggled, sitting up. “You should have seen her the other day. Me and Jared laughed our asses off. She couldn’t put her shoes on. Tried to bend over, almost did a header. That wasn’t so funny, but she tried reaching and couldn’t!” She burst out in a fit of giggles, holding her tummy. “I wish you were there, Lala. Your commentary would have been great!”
Paula giggled. “Oh God the fun I’m missing with her being out there… Damn.”
Kyla nodded. “You should come out.”
Paula shrugged. “Yeah, I will when baby girl comes,” she assured. Lila would want some company then…maybe? Oh God, babies were so much work.
Kyla slumped back, reaching for her pop, balancing it between her perky little breasts and sipping from the straw. “Can you talk to my dad, Paula?” she asked.
Paula scrunched up her face. “And why the fuck would I talk to that…eh hem…lovely shitbag?” she replied haughtily.
Kyla shrugged. “‘Cause he listens to you. At least tell him to back off of Mom.”
Paula snorted. “Last time I did that, it did not go over so well,” she shared.
Kyla frowned. “But he stopped coming over,” she pointed out.
Rick and Sam both looked at Paula. She smiled sweetly. “I’ll call him. It’s not your mom he’s mad at. You are aware of that, right?” she asked Kyla.
<
br /> Kyla nodded. “He’s mad at me and Ty.”
Paula furrowed her brows. Not a conversation she wanted to have in front of Sam and Rick. They didn’t know everything about Lila and Bill’s past, the kids’ past.
Sam raised a brow. “Don’t know your father, Kyla, but I don’t honestly think it’s you or your brother pissing him off. Life, maybe? Just think… The man lost all his family when your mother left him. You and your brother are great people. If anything, he should be proud of both of you.” He ran the tip of his finger around the rim of his coffee cup.
“Your brother manned up, came out, and shows no shame. Good on him. He works. He’s doing well for himself for just being out of high school.” He looked her in the eyes. “You and the plans you have… Shit, I don’t know too many eighteen-year-old girls who want to take on men’s jobs with the gusto you have. You listen to your mother…most times.” He smiled. “We all screw around. It’s a part of growing. You’re not afraid to face the unknown. I’ve seen that already when you’re at the shop. You’re respectful.”
Kyla furrowed her brows. She hadn’t been last night. That was for sure. Her gaze darted to Paula for a second then back to Sam.
“If your dad wants to take his anger at failing with his family out on you and your brother, that’s his loss. I hope you don’t take it to heart, though.”
Kyla nodded. That was the same thing Jared had said when he’d found her in his backyard last week crying like a big baby after getting back from her dad’s place.
Paula narrowed her eyes on Kyla. “Is your dad being that bad?” she asked, hoping the kid would just blurt out if the man was hurting her.
Kyla shook her head. “No, I’m just being a big baby,” she murmured.
Chapter Thirteen
Sam rubbed her left foot gently between his hands. He smirked. She had such tiny feet. “Harder?” he asked.
She nodded, head tilting back. “You know, Lila’s the only one brave enough to give me a foot rub. I went to get a pedi with her once and the woman freaked when my foot started bruising.” She snorted, arm covering her eyes. “I think it was the disgust in her eyes that pissed me off more than anything.”