Real Deal

by Piper Rayne

  “Hey, she's my friend too, baby, but she's the devil when she's pregnant.”

  Tahlia laughs. “Well, I think we can be thankful that the experience inspired her to launch a line of toys especially for pregnant women.” Tahlia smiles at her husband and his lips curl into a knowing smirk.

  Gross.

  “Ew,” Cat whines and points between them. “Keep your bedroom shit to yourself.”

  “Language, Caterina,” Bill snaps, but seems lost in the conversation other than his daughter just outed his other daughter's sex life.

  “We're married, Cat,” Tahlia says. “I think Dad knows we have sex.”

  “Tahl,” Lucas warns.

  Tahlia points to her stomach. “Hello.” Her head falls to the side in a give me a break look. “Did Caleb just sprout to life in my stomach?” She concentrates on her dad. “You do know that Lucas and I sleep in the same bed, right?” she jokes.

  “I understand how babies are made yes, Tahlia, but I don't need the details of your sex life.” Bill glares at Lucas before turning and walking down the pier toward Kitty Cat.

  Lucas throws his hands up in the air. “There goes that six years of progress with your dad.” He stalks off, following Bill down to the yacht.

  A second later, they're talking about the boats.

  “I don't even know why he cares. Like Dad doesn't think of Lucas as his own son,” Cat says.

  Tahlia's hands land on her stomach once more. “I know, right? I think he might actually pick him over us.”

  Cat laughs with her sister and I realize that their relationship is much different than it was years ago. The first time I met them I didn’t get the impression that they were close at all.

  “That's the truth,” Cat says.

  Jack walks off the boat, signaling to Bill and Lucas that they can board.

  “I guess we're ready,” I say, stepping back and holding out my hand for them to go first.

  Tahlia glances toward Main Street. “Finally, here comes Mom.”

  Bree walks down the sidewalk with five bags hanging off her arms. She pats Caleb and Lily on the head and continues until she reaches us.

  “You do know we're docking back here this afternoon?” Tahlia says.

  “It was a sale and ever since your dad opened his big mouth about Climax Cove, so many people come up here. Especially on a Saturday afternoon and I'm not about to miss out.”

  Cat glances into the bag. “What was so direly needed?” She pulls out some utensil. “This cuts up herbs.” Her eyes shine like she found a pirate’s treasure in the depths of the ocean.

  Tahlia and Cat share a look of what the fuck happened to Mom.

  “You don't cook,” Tahlia says.

  But Bree isn't listening. She pulls out an apron and hot pads. “I got these for Lucas.” She holds up bear claw hot pads. “And you.” She tosses an apron at Tahlia and she holds it up. It has a sexy woman in lingerie painted on it.

  Tahlia's gaze flies to Caleb and then she folds it up. “Mom, a little inappropriate.”

  Bree laughs. “I thought Lucas would enjoy it until you got your figure back.” Then she takes both items from Tahlia's hands, shoves them in the bag and walks over to the boat.

  “For your information, Mom, Lucas loves my stomach,” Tahlia calls out while Cat and I try to not laugh.

  “I'm sure he does, sweetie, but food for thought.”

  “Has she seriously lost her mind?” Tahlia looks at Cat.

  Cat shakes her head and stares at her sister.

  “I should double check the boat.” I wave my hand in the air. “Lily, let's go.”

  Cat and Tahlia continue to talk about their parents and I dodge the conversation by walking away.

  “This is my friend Caleb, Daddy,” Lily introduces me to the boy who's the exact replica of his dad.

  “Hi, Caleb. Are you ready for a day at sea?”

  “Can you drive the boat?” he asks, the two of them walking alongside me.

  “Yes, I can.”

  “Because you have a penis?” Caleb asks.

  I spit out some of my coffee and Lily's head swings to Caleb so fast I worry it will continue to spin around.

  “Why would you ask that?” I use my hand to wipe up the coffee dribbling down my chin and try to remain calm since we're approaching where Lucas, Bill and Bree are all standing around looking at the boat.

  “My daddy, my Uncle Jasper and my grandpa all can. They all have penises. Because boys have penises. Girls don’t.”

  “I can see why you’d think that, but no, that’s not why. It's because I learned.”

  “Yeah,” Lily says, her hands on her hips and her face in his. “I have a bagina and my daddy lets me steer sometimes.”

  Caleb shrugs, obviously over the conversation, not understanding why Lily is upset.

  I tap her head and her arms fall to her sides. “Let's get on the boat.”

  I lift Caleb first and Lucas grabs him and we do the same with Lily.

  “Beautiful day,” Lucas comments.

  I take in the blue sky with only a few wisps of clouds and nod. “It is. We should have great weather.”

  We each help Tahlia by each holding a hand out for her and she gets on the boat, but when it comes to Cat, it’s just me left to help her.

  My hand grips a little firmer, and I don't pull away right away. We exchange a smile and I look her up and down, loving her short shorts and tank top.

  “Now, now, Mr. Kent, let's keep my panties dry,” she whispers in my ear.

  I should be concerned that my dick twitched so hard in my pants, I'm about to give us away, but my dick went into hiding when I notice Tahlia's spying eyes flare in our direction.

  28

  Caterina

  The day is beautiful. The sky is clear. What could possibly go wrong?

  The fact that my sister witnessed a moment between Marcus and me two seconds into this trip is what.

  How she figured it out so fast, I’ll never know. She must be taking lessons from her BFF Whitney, the investigative reporter back in San Fran.

  So, I've done what any good sister would do—I've dodged her. She's tried to corner me several times to drill me with her list of questions. A list she probably handwrote so she wouldn't forget. Let me tell you, my sister is anal with a capital A.

  I slide by her after I throw away my plate, her big belly in the way of the garbage can. If she thinks she can corner me with her unborn earthling, she's got another thing coming.

  “Cat! Cat!” Lily rushes in, saving the day. “Come outside.” She grabs my hand, pulling me from the galley.

  “Boy, she seems very fond of you,” Tahlia murmurs under her breath as she follows behind us, but I ignore her, following Lily to the back of the boat where we just had lunch.

  My dad is standing there with a champagne glass in his hand, my mom, Lucas and Marcus following suit. “To Cat.”

  Lucas hands me a glass and then a flute with what I suspect is apple juice to Tahlia.

  “What?” What reason could they possibly have to toast me?

  “You've made me so proud. I never thought you could make a living off an art degree. I thought your dream of painting was some hippie-dippie dream you'd grow out of. I’d hoped you'd come join me and maybe I'd have one daughter who wanted to stay in the sausage business.”

  “Technically, Tahl never left the sausage industry.” Lucas grabs Tahlia's hand and eases her onto his lap.

  “Enough about your sex life,” I say, rolling my eyes, although I wouldn't mind this conversation veering away from me.

  Like always, Dad just carries on, ignoring Tahl and my banter. “The fact your artwork will be in New York City this fall and you'll be making a living from something you love shows how hard you work.” He raises his glass and everyone does the same, including Marcus.

  “Congratulations, Kitty Cat, you're about to get everything you've dreamed of.” My dad smiles and tilts his glass back for a sip.

  I down my
champagne while staring at Marcus. Something is up. His entire energy seems a little melancholy now.

  “Congratulations, Cat,” Lily says, and drops her empty cup of apple juice on the table next to Caleb’s and the two run off.

  “Whoa, you two.” My mom stands to chase after them, pausing briefly to kiss my cheek. “I'm so proud of you, sweetie.”

  I walk over to the table and my dad's phone rings. Holding it in his hands he leans in to kiss my cheek and then holds up his phone. “See, you don't have to worry about these emergency calls when you decided on art for your future.”

  I take the comment on the chin and sit down at the table.

  “Congratulations, Caterina,” Marcus’ deep voice pulls me from my surprise that my family is actually proud of me.

  Tahlia gets off Lucas’ lap much to his dismay and sits in the free chair. “So, Marcus, where's Lily's mom?” she asks.

  “Tahl?” My jaw practically hits the table.

  “Oh, I'm sorry, I guess that's a personal question.” My sister feigns embarrassment, but I know her better than that. She’s working an angle here.

  Marcus clears his throat and sits up straighter. “No, no.”

  My ears perk up like I'm a dog that just heard the word ‘walk.’ Marcus has been quiet on anything to do with Lily's mom.

  “She's not in the picture. Decided a child wasn't really for her.” His eyes scan the area behind us, looking for signs of Lily I assume.

  “So, you've raised her by yourself her entire life?” Tahlia continues to pry.

  “Tahlia,” Lucas chimes in, placing his hand on her arm.

  “Yes.” Marcus' back is as straight as a rod iron, his eyes steady on Tahlia.

  “That's admirable.” Tahlia leans back. “Takes a pretty great guy to do that.”

  I'm sorry, exactly how crazy do your hormones make you when you're pregnant?

  “Thank you.” Marcus is gracious and polite, but I know him well enough to know that he doesn't need anyone else's acceptance of what he does. He knows he's a great father.

  “You're welcome. I'm not sure Lucas could do it.” She looks over to her husband.

  Lucas and his face scrunches before he rolls his eyes and tips back his beer. “You know your sister, aka superwoman.” He smiles. “As soon as her hormones get back in check, I'll fight back for myself.” He winks at Tahlia.

  “Oh, sweetie, stop the sweet talk,” Tahlia coos, sarcasm dripping from her tone.

  Marcus glances over to me and raises his eyebrows, probably thinking my sister and her husband are a psych case.

  The four of us sit and talk about kids for a bit. Marcus having much more in common with Tahlia and Lucas than I do. They complain about bedtime routines, how a red sock instead of a blue sock can cause a total meltdown in a toddler and the nighttime stories they read. A small amount of jealousy rests in my heart. Though they’re spouting out complaints, it’s clear that none of them would change it for the world.

  My gaze finds Lily dancing along the deck of the boat. Her braids with a slight curl at the ends blowing in the wind as she pretends she's a ballerina shifting her weight from one foot to the other to the rhythm of the music playing through the speakers. She's beautiful and I wonder what my life would be like if Marcus and I worked out.

  I scratch the thought of a future as soon as it floats to the surface, there's no way this could work long term. Sure, we're having fun, more in the bedroom than out, and even with our interesting conversations and cozy nights in front of the television, he's never said anything about a future with me.

  “What are you day dreaming about?” Tahlia looks over to me and then follows my gaze to Lily.

  “Nothing.”

  I overhear Marcus and Lucas talking about baseball and the Giants.

  “She's a very pretty girl,” Tahlia remarks, while I’m still staring at a carefree Lily.

  “She is.”

  I'm startled when I look up and find Tahlia's blue eyes on me—assessing and appraising and letting me know the gig is up.

  I nod to her unspoken question and the corner of her lips dip. She glances at Marcus and then at Lily and finally back to me. Her chest rises and falls with a deep breath, but she says nothing.

  If there's one thing I know, it’s that my sister doesn't stay quiet for long. If we could just get off this boat before she speaks her mind, I swear I’d clean-up the glitter at camp for the rest of the summer.

  29

  Marcus

  Once we dock, Cat takes Lily to Swirly's Ice Cream Shoppe with Caleb and her family as I double check that Sweet Tahlia is on the water and ready to go for the next morning.

  I'm not in my shop more than five minutes before a blonde strolls in. And not the one I'd like to be checking up on me, but the one currently in hormonal imbalance. I glance over, knowing this conversation could be coming, but hoping I was mistaken on seeing Cat and Tahlia share a look across the table.

  “What exactly are your intentions with my sister?” She pulls out my office chair and plops herself down.

  I look up from the messages scribbled down next to the phone in Jack's chicken scratch. “Excuse me?”

  Gretchen was bat shit crazy when she was pregnant so I proceed with caution.

  “Don't act dumb, Marcus. I know there's something going on and I'm here to tell you that it needs to stop.”

  “Excuse me?” This time I'm wondering why she thinks she can come into my shop and dictate my life decisions.

  “Listen, you seem like a good guy, but you're what thirty-five?”

  “Thirty-four.” I try not to show my irritation that she thought I was a year older than I am.

  She rolls her eyes and gives me a same-difference look.

  “My sister is twenty-four and it took a long time for her to get her head on straight.”

  Looks like we’re going to do this.

  “Maybe it's always been on straight. Maybe it just wasn't pointed where you thought it should be.” I cross my arms over my chest.

  “That's not it.”

  “How do you know? You two are obviously very different.” I remain my usual calm self even though I want to say ‘you're a planner down to the tiniest detail and Cat is a follow a wisp on the breeze kind of girl.’ But this is Cat's sister and regardless of my feelings, I need to show her the respect she deserves.

  “We are different, but that's good because then I can keep guys like you from trying to trap her into playing house up here in the middle of nowhere. She has dreams to fulfill. Goals to obtain.”

  I hold my hands up in the air. “You think I'm looking for a mommy for my daughter?”

  She huffs, standing to her feet now. It takes her a minute to get there. I would’ve offered to help her myself, but I get the feeling it wouldn’t have been welcomed.

  “I know how hard it is to raise a kid and I'm sure it's exhausting to do it on your own.”

  A dry laugh rumbles out of my throat. “Listen Tahlia, my daughter has a mom. Not a very good one. She got the raw end of that deal which sucks, but that doesn't mean I'm going to trap some girl into sticking around. I get that Cat has aspirations that will take her far away from Climax Cove. I promise you, I'm not going to persuade her to stay here past summer.”

  “So, she's a summer fling?” She juts out her hip and then holds her stomach. Obviously, her sass has had to take a downturn with the baby thing.

  “No.” I run my hand through my hair. “Isn't it supposed to be your dad who nails me to a cross?”

  Tahlia laughs for the first time. “My dad is blind, especially when it comes to Cat. Listen to me,” she steps forward. “All I ask is that you think about what you want from this thing with Cat. I'm sure you don't want Lily hurt in this either, but if the two of you walk around like you’re oblivious that there's an end to your time together when decisions will have to be made, that's exactly what will happen. Except it won't just be Lily and Cat hurt.” She points her finger at me, jabbing it in my chest. “Oh, an
d if you hurt her, I will sic every boxer I know on you. Do you understand me?”

  I chuckle at her attempt to strong-arm me. “Understood.”

  She narrows her eyes and stares at me until the door opens. We both turn to see Lucas coming through to join us.

  “Sorry, Marcus, she escaped.” He swings his arm around his wife's shoulders and turns her to leave.

  “Oh, quit treating me like a head case.” Tahlia tries to push him off her but he’s not having it and instead entwines his hand with hers. “See Marcus? Are you sure this is what you want? The Santora women go crazy when they're pregnant.”

  Lucas looks over his shoulder, nodding enthusiastically. “Think twice,” he jokes and Tahlia smacks him in the stomach.

  “Come on, baby, I'll get you a cinnamon roll when we get back to the city in the morning.”

  “You always think food solves everything.”

  “So, you don't want one?” he asks, raising his eyebrows as he holds the door open for her.

  “I didn't say that.” Her voice is anything but nice.

  A minute later, they're gone and I'm alone to process what Tahlia just said. Guess it's about time I act like an adult and realize that there are ramifications to my involvement with Cat.

  Later that night, Lily is fast asleep and a naked Cat is lying on top of me. My fingertip brushing along the length of her arm.

  “Hey,” I say, now that we've both come out of our orgasm fog.

  She peeks up, placing her chin on my chest.

  “Yeah?”

  My hand moves to her hair, smoothing down the just fucked strands in different directions.

  “Tell me about your art.”

  A smile graces her lips and a pinch in my heart forms from the fact I've never asked her before and what a dick move that was.

  “What do you mean?” she asks.

  I stare down at her. She's beautiful and my gut twists knowing that the end of our time together is drawing near.

  “Your art. Your future. You're heading to New York in the fall?”

  Her smile falls and her gaze dips down to focus on my chest. Her fingers outline the planes of my muscles for a bit before she answers.