He’d worn himself out playing with Radar for the last few hours, and now both dogs were laying in a ray of sunshine that was beaming down through the window curtains.
“Well which box is it in?” Adeline asked her sister.
“A smaller box.” She answered as she walked slowly to the couch and sat down carefully.
My eyes flicked to the pile of boxes lining the living room wall with trepidation. They were all the same size boxes.
“Viddy, all the goddamn boxes are the same size and you know it.” Adeline growled at her sister.
Viddy smiled widely. “You’re the one who packed them, Twinkie, not me. How about you tell me where they are?” She replied sarcastically.
“Motherfucker,” Trance sighed. “Do y’all always fight like this?”
Adeline and Viddy both shrugged.
At their non-answer, he threw his hands in the air, and then called Radar’s name.
Radar, who’d been sleeping peacefully in the sun, sprung to his feet, quivering in anticipation.
“You got anything that smells like the balls?” He asked hopefully.
Viddy thought about it for a few seconds before she stood and walked to her room.
I shook my head as we all watched her maneuver boxes, furniture, and packing supplies as if she could see the entire room.
“How does she do that?” Loki finally asked.
I turned to Adeline who shrugged. “She counts her steps. Maybe we’re just lucky that she didn’t have anything in her path, cause if there was, she would’ve tripped over it. She does that a lot, so try to keep your shit clear of her walking paths.”
Viddy returned on the tail end of our conversation with an old pair of pants in her hands. “I do count. I’ve counted the number of steps four times today. Here, I sat on one of his balls yesterday before Addy packed them. My ass had a ball shaped wet imprint for nearly an hour. They were one of the lasts to be packed. Will this work?”
“Yep.” He said holding the pants up in the air so he could see the ball imprint, and then held it down to Radar who appeared at my side. “Retrieve.”
We all watched in fascination as Radar started to search in slow, methodical loops until he centered on one single pile of boxes. Then, with his large nose, he pushed the top box off the pile of boxes. Then the second before he got to the third and sat on his haunches.
“There anything breakable in them?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Probably not. I don’t do breakable real well.” She teased.
Sure enough, the one box he didn’t knock to the ground was the one that had the balls in it.
“That’s still impressive; even after seeing him do it half a dozen times.” Loki said with a shake of his head.
Trance smiled. “He’s a smart boy, aren’t you big boy?” Trance asked Radar with a scratch behind the ears.
“Well my dog has a trick, too!” Viddy exclaimed and jumped to her feet. “Give me those balls. Three of them.”
This is how Trance and Viddy started trading dog tricks. Although Hemi holding three balls in his mouth was impressive, it was decided that Radar definitely trumped Hemi in the trick department, much to Viddy’s disappointment.
Chapter 8
My 34-year-old boyfriend still plays with fire trucks.
-Adeline to Silas
Adeline
I had a phobia.
It had to do with large bodies of water.
There was nothing I hated more than going down the road that crossed the dam and the spillway. The road itself was narrow and had to be at least a mile drop down to the water. If, for some reason, my car happened to careen off the side, it’d end up as a folded hunk of metal that would sink more easily once it hit the water. With my luck, my car wouldn’t be stopped by the metal barriers that were intended to keep cars safe, and I’d plummet to my death, drowning in my car at the bottom of the lake.
When I’d gotten to the lake, which happened to be Sebastian’s house, I’d been okay. However, getting there was a major feat for me.
I’d met Baylee, formally, for the first time.
Baylee was Sebastian’s wife.
She was also a paramedic with the Kilgore Fire Department, a town about forty-five minutes west of Shreveport. Currently, she was on maternity leave with only two more weeks until she had to return to work.
She was definitely a talker, too.
We were in the baby’s room, and I was trying my hardest not to watch as Baylee was pumping. When I say pumping, I mean she had these medieval torture devices on her tits that were sucking the life out of them. Literally. They started out absolutely massive, and by the time she was done, they were little more than deflated bags that resembled normal breasts again.
Why was I looking at her boobs?
I couldn’t tell you. I guess when she’d asked if I minded if she pumped, and I didn’t automatically shout ‘Fuck No,’ she thought it was okay to whip the old fun bags out and start that shit. Yes, the majority of the time they were covered. But still.
“Why don’t you work for Benton?” I asked Baylee, trying my hardest not to look at her nipples that were elongating into the slender tube.
Baylee laughed. “First of all, I can’t handle spending that much time with my husband. He tends to turn into an alpha-hole when he wants me to do stuff a certain way.”
My head turned slightly. “What does alpha-hole mean?”
Finally, she disengaged the torture devices from her boobs, tucked her boobs back inside the shirt she had on, and stashed the milk in the mini fridge; big cones and all.
“Follow me.” She said as she walked purposefully towards the kitchen.
“Now, watch.” Baylee said as she picked up the cooler that was sitting at the bottom of the porch steps and started walking.
She’d gotten maybe ten feet from the steps when Sebastian looked up, saw what she was carrying, and yelled. “Baylee! I said I’d get it in a minute! Put it down.”
Baylee ignored him and got about five more steps before Sebastian let out an audible growl, tossed the boat electronic thing he was showing Kettle, Loki, and Trance onto the boat seat, and stalked towards Baylee.
You know those red flags you wave at bulls to get their attention? That’s what it was like. The cooler being the red flag.
He grabbed the offending cooler out of her hands before she’d even made it fifteen feet from the porch steps, and glared at her before going back the way he came.
When she made it back, she smiled at me. “Does that answer your question?”
“No,” I laughed. “I think I need a few more examples. I’m worried I might have an alpha-hole on my hands.”
Kettle hadn’t let me move one single thing this afternoon. Not even a freakin’ bag of clothes. He’d treated me like I was fragile. As if I couldn’t handle even the small things.
“Here,” Baylee said, shoving a baby bag and a car seat that had her infant daughter, Blaise, already strapped into it at me before pushing me towards the door.
Blaise, according to Baylee, was the one and only thing that could terrify Sebastian.
“Take this down there to the water. Watch what Kettle and Sebastian do. You’ll see what I mean.” Baylee’s eyes were filled with mirth.
Cautiously, I started walking down towards the water, walking carefully down the path that was lined on both sides with rocks. Blaise was incredibly tiny in her car seat, and feelings, ones that only came out when babies were in the vicinity, started swelling in my chest. Making me want things.
I’d made it all the way to the dock. Which was further than I’d expected to get. I was in the process of stepping onto the uneven dock when Blaise was out of my arms, followed by the diaper bag.
I looked up into glaring eyes. One pair belonging to the doting father, and the other to Kettle.
Both looked annoyed that I’d even contemplated getting onto the dock.
“Is there any
thing else y’all need brought down here?” Sebastian asked in exasperation.
I shrugged and turned around without answering.
I found Baylee in the kitchen pouring milk into a bottle.
“How far onto the dock did you get?” Baylee asked without even turning around.
“Not even. I didn’t even have a foot onto the dock before she was out of my arms.” I told the other woman.
Baylee giggled. “Does that answer your question?”
“Other than they don’t want you or me carrying things when they could do it, you mean? I think you still have to show me some more examples.”
“Well, I’m sure there’ll be more by the time the night’s over. Your sister’s still on the phone in the den. How much longer do you think she’ll be?” Baylee asked as she leaned her hips against the counter.
“Done,” Viddy declared as she walked into the room, her large white cane in her hand leading the way.
“Are you ready, Viddy?” I asked her.
“Yeah,” Viddy sighed. “He’s driving me nuts.”
Viddy was currently in a relationship with a man doctor. He saw the students at the same school Viddy worked at. He’s also an asshole.
I hadn’t liked him from the moment I’d met him four months ago.
Mostly because he didn’t treat Viddy well, and always liked to add emphasis to the fact that Viddy couldn’t see.
When we’d gone out to eat the first time, Paul had requested a table, because he wasn’t sure Viddy could get into the booth without seeing. Then he told the waitress to bring out water for Viddy, because she was blind, and probably should stick with water, just in case. Then he’d gone about ordering for her because she couldn’t see the menu, even though Viddy had been to that restaurant so many times that she knew what was on the menu without being asked.
He’d ended the night by requesting Viddy not wear flip-flops ever again. He didn’t want her to fall and break her neck.
I was so used to Viddy’s independence, that to see her treated like she was severely handicapped, really rankled my nerves.
Viddy was anything but handicapped. Sure, she couldn’t drive a car, but she could get to the bus stop. She could go to the mall if she wanted.
She could make herself dinner.
Viddy’s senses were even more heightened due to her lack of vision that she soared over the charts compared to everyone else when it came to hearing, smelling, and perception.
“Your boyfriend?” Baylee asked taking a hold of my sister’s hand and guiding her out the door.
“There’re five steps here, about six inches tall,” Baylee instructed as she walked over to the porch steps.
“Thank you, and yes. My boyfriend. He didn’t want me coming tonight, and he’s upset.” Viddy said going down the stairs effortlessly.
I hung back, grabbed the forgotten bottle on the counter, and thought about how to break it to my sister that I hated her boyfriend.
Actually, hate was too nice of a word. Detested. Disgusted. Those were better.
I’d have to break it to her gently, otherwise it would cause a rift between us, and I hated fighting with my sister.
I wouldn’t know what to do without her.
Thus, I kept my trap shut. Even when she said stupid stuff like what came out of her mouth next.
“He’s coming to pick me up. Maybe he can tag along next time if it’s not too much trouble.”
I closed my eyes, willing my opinions to stay in my mouth.
Except it didn’t work.
I’d tried. I really did.
It was like a countdown in my head.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
Blast off.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! We helped you fucking move today. Where was his lazy ass?” I erupted.
“He had a meeting at two. He was...” She started.
“Two?” I laughed humorlessly. “We moved your shit at five! It doesn’t take that long to meet with anyone. He just didn’t want to help you move. He wanted you to move in with him. To punish you, he made up some fictional fucking meeting so he didn’t have to help you. Then, to add the icing to the cake, he refuses to let you hang out with your own sister. What’s one freakin’ night? I haven’t had a night out alone with you in over two months. Doesn’t that bother you even a little bit?”
The whole time I was ranting, I was following Viddy as she walked out the door and waited for the douche to pick her up in his Lexus Convertible.
He didn’t disappoint, either. He drove up in a cloud of dust and gravel, coming to a stop so far away that Viddy had to walk nearly the entire span of the driveway.
A driveway she’d never been to before, and couldn’t see.
But did The Douche get out?
Hell no.
He sat his ass in the car, and then honked when Viddy kept glancing back in hesitation.
Then she tripped and fell.
Well, she would have fallen.
Trance saved her like a knight on a shining Harley.
His hands went down and scooped her up before she could even hit her knees.
His strong arms went around her waist, and he cradled my sister to his chest as if she was the finest piece of spun glass that would break if he held her too hard.
Speaking of strong arms, my own pair of strong arms wrapped around my neck and pulled me against a strong, firm chest.
“Your sister’s man is a major douche.” Kettle observed lightly, watching as the douche in question got out of his car and stormed over to Trance, who still held Viddy against his chest.
Trance bent down until his face was pressed against the side of her ear, and he said something very softly before he released Viddy and took a step back just as Paul reached them and yanked her forward.
I hadn’t been aware that I was moving until I stood in front of Paul and pushed him. “Don’t yank my sister around. You damn well know her balance is shit. Treat her like she should be treated or I’ll...”
Kettle’s hand went over my mouth as his other arm snaked around my middle as he physically restrained me from advancing on the stupid man.
Paul’s face was a twisted mask of disgust as he stared at me, Kettle and Trance. My hate-filled eyes were annoyed as he hustled Viddy over to the car, not even bothering to open the door for her.
Once Paul sped out of the driveway, I whirled out of Kettle’s arms and pointed an accusing finger at Trance. “You!”
Trance’s eyes rose. “Me what?”
“Get her away from him. You’ve been charged with your duties. Now make it happen.”
I hadn’t missed the desire that had flared through Trance’s eyes every time he saw my sister. I also hoped that Viddy pulled her head out of her ass long enough to see what was right in front of her.
“Now,” I said stomping away. “Take me to this stupid place on the lake. I hope they make strong margaritas. ‘Cause I’m gonna need one when I get there. If we don’t die on the boat ride over.”
Masculine chuckles followed in my wake.
***
In fact, I didn’t actually die in the water. Sebastian drove slowly, and I actually enjoyed the boat ride.
I didn’t see any alligators, or any Loch Ness Monsters.
After a fifteen-minute boat ride, they pulled up at the quaint little restaurant called Cypress Hideaway Bar and Grill. I’d never visited here in all my time of living in this area, even though it was the main attraction in the small town.
Kettle and I walked arm and arm down the dock and into the restaurant.
The décor was cute, in a rustic kind of way.
Huge painted catfish and largemouth bass dominated the walls. Trophies. Lake records. Old tackle. One spot had a flat bottom boat hanging from the rafters.
All the tables were wooden and made out of old timber. The chairs out of wicker.
It wasn’t until we were sitting down, after havin
g ordered our drinks that I started to look around at all the patrons. That was when I saw the glaring Detective Hernandez staring at me with barely concealed hatred.
“What’s wrong?” Baylee asked me.
I looked towards Baylee, finally breaking eye contact with the blatant hate Detective Hernandez was emitting before answering.
“Kettle’s ex-girlfriend is trying to kill me with her eyes.”
I didn’t ask how Baylee knew I was in a stare down with someone who was very clearly pissed off that I was sitting next to her ex-boyfriend. Must’ve been the look on my face, but she knew.
I’d seen plenty of jealousy in my time as a high school teacher. Teenagers, high school girls in particular, were notorious for being petty and vindictive about boys that they liked. I’d seen the looks other girls would get when the boy they liked was hugging someone else.
“Yeah,” Baylee sighed. “Kettle went out with her all of three times. But she couldn’t handle the club or the bitches who like to flaunt the fact that they’ve fucked our men.”
I wasn’t stupid. I knew Kettle hadn’t been a virgin when we’d gotten together. I also knew the biker lifestyle, regardless of how much my father had tried to hide it. I knew what club whores were. I also knew they were at every club, regardless.
“I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting those women yet.” I said dryly.
Kettle’s arm tightened around my neck, and he gave me a lazy kiss on the mouth that tasted like the Foster’s beer he’d been sipping on for the last twenty minutes.
“You’ll get to meet those lovely ladies this weekend when you go on the Toys for Tots run with us.” Kettle said, before going back to his conversation with Trance, Loki, and Sebastian about the City of Benton’s benefits for fallen firefighters and police officers.
“You’re going with us?” Baylee asked excitedly.
“Apparently,” I laughed.
That was the first I had heard about any ‘run’ and I had to admit that I was pretty excited about going for a ride longer than a few minutes here and there.
I hadn’t been on a long ride since my father had taken me to the ocean, one weekend, before his accident.
Halligan To My Axe (The Heroes of The Dixie Wardens MC Book 2) Page 10