“Damn, Lilly. You’re soaked,” Jennifer giggled and knowing he shouldn’t, Lance glanced up.
With his jaw hitting his chest, Lance quickly snapped it shut and then bit his bottom lip, watching Lilly pull her pants off and seeing his first thong. Remembering he was a card-carrying man and had to act cool, Lance stood up slowly but stayed hunched over to hide a problem and headed to the bedroom.
Suddenly, Ian walked past him, also hunched over. “Guys, you’re getting water all over the floor and I just mopped!” Jennifer cried out behind them.
“I’ll mop tonight!” Ian shouted, ducking in the bedroom. Lance didn’t trust his voice, so he just darted in after Ian and shut the door.
Jennifer shook her head and turned to Lilly. “They can walk around in underwear looking hot as hell and think it’s okay but if we do it, they act like the world stopped turning,” Jennifer quipped.
“Well, sorry, but I knew you mopped and I was freaking cold,” Lilly said but grinned. “You got one thing right, Lance needs to wear more clothes.”
Inside the bedroom, Ian and Lance were standing face to face, staring at each other. “Wow,” Ian finally said.
“Lilly has a tattoo of a fairy on her butt,” Lance stated in shock.
Throwing up his hands, Ian spun away. “How can they do that? I got wood, dude!” Ian cried out. “You can’t let a girl see you tenting your pants.”
“My wood got so hard, I got lightheaded,” Lance admitted, slowly pulling off his wet clothes.
Yanking off his wet clothes, Ian glanced over at Lance. “You think they meant to do that?” Ian asked tentatively.
Slowly, Lance turned to Ian. “Brah, if they would have stripped down anymore, you would’ve been doing CPR on me,” Lance claimed.
“Dude, how can I look at Jennifer without getting wood?” Ian cried out.
Grabbing dry shorts, Lance turned to Ian with a flat expression. “Ian, you got wood watching Jennifer practice in her cheerleading outfit, so don’t start. I’ll bet she can dress up like an Eskimo and you would still get wood. Last summer when she came over to swim, you didn’t get out of the pool until she went home, six hours later.”
Thinking for a second, Ian nodded. “Well, she was wearing that tiny bikini,” he mumbled. “I guess it’s the same thing.”
Ian pulled on some shorts as Lance grabbed his wet clothes, “Lance, I think Lilly has her eye on you.”
Spinning to Ian, “Dude, she’s a woman,” Lance snapped. “I’m a kid.”
With a straight face, Ian stepped over while holding his hand out. “Hand over your card,” Ian popped off, making Lance step back. “Referring to yourself as anything other than a man is a violation.”
Holding his hands up, “Okay, I wasn’t thinking,” Lance insisted quickly. “But come on, she’s a ‘real’ woman. Jennifer is a ‘young’ woman.”
Shrugging, “Man, is she hot, too,” Ian said, bending over and grabbing his clothes.
Looking down at his shorts, Lance dropped his wet clothes and pulled open a drawer. Yanking a pair of jogging pants out, Lance put them on over his shorts. “That should do it,” Lance smiled.
“Good thinking,” Ian agreed, grabbing a pair of jogging pants.
Slowly, Lance opened the door and looked around. Not seeing partially clad females, Lance relaxed and strolled out. Carrying his clothes downstairs, Lance left them in the basket near the washer. Glancing in the bunker, Lance saw Allie and Carrie. Allie was studying and Carrie was watching the monitors. “Guys, you can come up,” Lance told them, walking in.
“We have two more chapters to do,” Carrie said, staring at the monitors without blinking.
Walking in, Lance kissed both on the head and then headed back upstairs. Knowing concentration was gone for the day, Lance turned on the projection screen as he dropped on the couch. Several thousand movies were downloaded into the system so instead of digging through DVDs, Lance started a war movie. The only movies they didn’t watch were horror, they saw enough of that outside.
Thinking about all the movies he and Ian had bought plus what was already there, Lance grinned as Ian jumped over the back of the sectional to drop down beside him. “I like the Terminator movies,” Ian said, looking at the huge screen.
“Need something to make me feel manly,” Lance mumbled, hearing Jennifer and Lilly come out of their bedroom.
Jennifer bounced over the sectional into Ian’s lap. “I dried my hair, will you brush it?” she asked smiling.
“Sure,” Ian said, grinning and dropping his eyes. Jennifer had on a tank top and shorts, but it wouldn’t have mattered if she had a full suit of plate armor on.
Lance grinned as Ian took the brush from Jennifer and she sat on the floor between his legs. Seeing movement to his left, Lance saw Lilly walk around the sectional dressed like Jennifer but brushing out her hair. Biting his lip, Lance turned to the TV.
Sitting down beside Lance, Lilly cut her eyes to Lance and then to Jennifer, and saw Jennifer narrowing her eyes. “Ah, Lance, will you brush my hair?” Lilly asked.
“Ah,” Lance croaked as his throat went dry. Giving a cough, “Sure,” he finally managed to get out, glad he had put shorts on under his jogging pants to hide a growing problem. Sitting down between Lance’s legs, Lilly passed the brush back.
Glancing over at Jennifer, Lilly smiled when Jennifer winked. As Lance gently brushed her hair, Lilly closed her eyes as the movie played. In a state of bliss, Lilly didn’t know how long had passed until she heard a small soft gasp. Opening her eyes, Lilly gave a soft shudder to see Allie and Carrie glaring at her.
“You could’ve said a movie was going,” Allie all but snarled, but was staring at Lilly with daggers in her eyes.
“Well, come on,” Lance chuckled. Not being nice at all, Allie and Carrie climbed in Lance’s lap. “Guys, you see me brushing Lilly’s hair?”
“It’s done,” Allie declared as they curled up in Lance’s chest.
Giving a sigh, Lilly slowly stood up as Jennifer jumped up. “Oh, I love this part!” Jennifer cried out, shoving Lilly down on the couch beside Lance. Before Lilly could scoot away, Jennifer dropped in Ian’s lap, trapping Lilly.
Not paying the movie any attention, Lilly smiled while looking down at Lance’s arms wrapped around the ladybugs. Raising her gaze up and wanting to look at Lance’s face, Lilly jerked back before reaching Lance’s face, finding Allie glaring at her. ‘I’m taking the bullets out of the guns in our room’ Lilly thought.
Chapter Seven
May 14
Hearing the alarm clock, Lilly sat up slowly. “Time to get up, Jennifer,” Lilly yawned while reaching over to turn the alarm clock off. Across the room, Jennifer sat up and Lilly chuckled at Jennifer’s hair going everywhere. “Glad everyone agreed to start today at seven instead of 0430,” Lilly said, getting up.
Almost hesitantly, Lilly turned to the top bunk to get the ladybugs up and saw that the bed was empty. Spinning around, “Allie and Carrie aren’t here!” Lilly cried out, but Jennifer just waved her off.
“They are asleep on the couch with Lance,” Jennifer said, throwing her legs out of the bed.
Lilly stumbled back, “How? They went to bed when we did.”
Shaking her head, Jennifer stood up stretching. “When I went to pee, I found Lance on the couch with them. They went and woke him up and asked him to watch the snowman movie,” Jennifer groaned, finishing her stretch. “Well, they were watching it, curled up with Lance as he slept.”
Looking at the bedroom door and seeing it was cracked, Lilly stepped close to Jennifer and lowered her voice. “Jennifer, I thought they were going to claw my eyes out last night,” Lilly admitted.
Jennifer looked at her with a lopsided grin. “When you went to the bathroom before the last Terminator movie, Lance told them to quit being mean to you,” Jennifer said, watching Lilly.
“Really?” Lilly asked, breaking into a smile.
“Yeah, why do you think they let you sit so close
and they both laid in yours and Lance’s laps?”
“Wait,” Lilly said, dropping her smile. “What am I doing?”
“Trying to get Lance without two little girls gouging your eyes out,” Jennifer grinned.
Spinning away, Lilly moved over to the dresser. “My god, I can’t. What would his parents say when they get here, finding their son with someone over a decade older?” Lilly gasped.
Dropping the smile, Jennifer walked over and put an arm around Lilly, leaning her head on Lilly’s shoulder. “Lilly, Lance does like you and I’m sorry, but the old world is gone. We have to live each day now like it might be our last because it damn sure might be,” Jennifer offered with a sigh. “My parents are dead, I know that. But I’m lucky that I have my sister, even though I want to punch her sometimes,” Jennifer sniffled. “And I have my two best friends, Lance and Ian. And to let you know, I’ve had a crush on Ian since the first day I saw him.”
“Girl,” Lilly dragged out, putting her arm around Jennifer. “You are ate up with it for that boy.”
Looking in the mirror over the dresser, Jennifer looked into Lilly’s eyes. “And I’m going to take that happiness and joy for all it’s worth,” Jennifer declared.
“What if his mom tells me to leave?” Lilly asked.
“Pfft,” Jennifer huffed. “Because Lance would be right behind you and let me tell you something, Ms. Sandy loves her baby boy Lance. I’m willing to bet Ms. Sandy would tell Mr. Johnathan to shut his mouth, seeing you and Lance together.”
Turning to Jennifer, Lilly looked down into her face. “Has Lance ever had a girlfriend?” Lilly asked.
“Two,” Jennifer said, nodding. “One was a good friend of mine.”
“Has he even kissed a girl?”
Raising her eyebrows, “Lilly, I’m going to be honest. I don’t think so because when I try to kiss Ian, I almost have to put a headlock on him,” Jennifer reported. “So, how many boyfriends have you had?”
“Only three that really count,” Lilly said, hugging Jennifer. “How about you?”
“Two, and the only reason I dated them was to make Ian jealous, but did that work? Hell, no,” Jennifer snapped. “It took the end of the world for Ian to notice me.”
Scoffing, Lilly hugged Jennifer tight. “Not even you believe that. Ian looks at you as the light of the world.”
Giving a groan, “I know, but I wanted to get him when I met him,” Jennifer said.
“Um,” Lilly cringed, biting her bottom lip. “So, you think Lance does like me?” she asked, feeling like a teen again.
Leaning back, Jennifer looked up at her. “Besides me, you’re the only girl I’ve seen Lance enjoy talking to. I still think the only reason he started talking to me is because Ian was scared too.”
“So do I push or let him?” Lilly asked.
All expression left Jennifer’s face. “You’ve heard how hard I had to work to get Ian. Hello?! They are so much alike, it’s sickening at times. You have to tackle his ass,” Jennifer snapped.
“I don’t want him to think I’m a tramp,” Lilly cried out, stepping back.
“Please,” Jennifer chuckled. “The biggest slut in the neighborhood tried getting both of them,” Jennifer said and the chuckle left her face and her eyes narrowed. “That whore better be glad Ian and Lance didn’t pick up on what she was offering.”
“Whoa,” Lilly gasped at the blatant hatred on Jennifer’s face.
“Yeah, whoa,” Jennifer growled with a snarl. “Ginger was sixteen and tried everything but throwing them down. Thankfully, Ms. Sandy and Ms. Mary ran the slut off. Lance and Ian may talk tough and act like studs about girls, but that’s all it is: an act.”
“How about you?” Lilly asked.
Stepping back, Jennifer smiled. “Like I said, Ian is mine,” Jennifer replied. “Now Lilly, I have come to really love you but if you break Lance’s heart, your last worry will be Ms. Sandy or the ladybugs because I’ll break your neck.”
Moving over and sitting on her bed, Lilly looked down at the floor. “Jennifer, I can tell you without a doubt, if Lance were just a few years older I would fight you for him but I feel guilty, knowing his age,” Lilly mumbled. “He’s smarter than any guy I’ve known and he just became a teenager. Now how fucked up is that?” Lilly asked, lifting her head.
“Man, age has you worried,” Jennifer noted, moving over and sitting down with her. “Well, I should tell you, that’s one reason Ian was scared of me, because I’m older.”
Springing off the bed, Lilly spun around to face Jennifer in shock. “Shit, Lance thinks I’m ancient then!” Lilly cried out.
“Nice to see you can see past your viewpoint on age,” Jennifer mumbled, not expecting that reaction. “Lilly, just try. If it works, it works.”
Nodding as she breathed a sigh of relief, Lilly walked to the dresser and picked up the brush. “Okay, but if a skank comes in and takes him, I’m breaking her legs,” Lilly stated in a serious tone. “I don’t care how old she is.”
“Got my vote,” Jennifer grinned.
Running the brush through her hair, “Feels weird not doing the morning routine,” Lilly said.
“I can’t believe I talked them into skipping it the last four days,” Jennifer said, grabbing her own brush. “I understand why, but if I’m tired from only going out two days, I know they are.”
Setting the brush down, Lilly patted Jennifer on the back and walked out to the living room. Seeing the snowman movie playing, Lilly couldn’t help but smile. Easing up, she looked over the back of the sectional and saw Lance passed out with Carrie and Allie asleep on his chest. It was then that she noticed George and Judy on the sectional with their heads resting on the ladybugs.
“George, Judy, get down,” Lilly whispered harshly. Both German Shepherds lifted their heads up to look at Lilly. Seeing the scowl on her face, they cast their eyes down and slinked off the sectional. Slowly, they rounded the sectional and stopped at Lilly’s feet and sat down.
Reaching down, Lilly rubbed their heads and they started wagging their tails. “What kind of power do those two hold?” Lilly mumbled. “They have Lance wrapped around their little finger and now they are stealing my dogs.”
“I’m going to get Ian up,” Jennifer said behind her in a normal voice, startling Lilly.
Getting up, Lilly leaned over the sectional and tapped Lance on the chest lightly. “Lance,” Lilly said softly.
Giving a groan, Lance tried to move but felt weight on his arms. Struggling to open his eyes, Lance felt like he was in a furnace. Lifting his head up, Lance’s eyes cracked open to see Allie and Carrie on his chest, trapping his arms. “Guys, I need to get up, you’re cooking me,” Lance croaked.
Giving a sigh as the ladybugs started squirming, Lance smacked his lips and turned his face to the side. “Damn, my breath smells like I ate shit,” he shuddered, pulling his arms from under the girls. Wrapping his arms around them, Lance held them close then turned to roll out from under them.
Leaving them on the couch Lance stood up, blinking his eyes and avoiding exhaling too hard so he wouldn’t have to smell his breath. “Your t-shirt is soaked,” Lilly panted and Lance patted his chest, then looked up. “Morning, sunshine,” Lilly said with a smile, but was looking at Lance’s chest.
“I dreamed I was in a sauna,” Lance said, then noticed two very wet spots on his chest. “Oh man, they drooled on me.”
Spinning on her heel, Lilly headed for the kitchen. “It’s only ladybug drool, I’m sure you’re okay,” she chuckled.
Pulling his shirt off, Lance looked up to see Jennifer and Ian walking out of the bedroom. “Wow,” he mumbled and headed to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, Lance turned as Ian came in the bathroom, shutting the door. “Jennifer slept with you last night?” Lance asked in an excited whisper.
“Yeah, right,” Ian chuckled. “No, she came and woke me up. She turned off the alarm clock when she went to the bathroom last night.”
“Oh,” Lance said, fee
ling let down.
“You know it’s still raining, right?” Ian asked as Lance stripped and got in the shower. “Not like it was, but it’s still raining.”
“Doesn’t matter. Need to go out and start getting rid of bodies,” Lance said over the shower noise. “I’m sure the kitties are still killing and we can’t let the dead stinkers pile up. The rain is keeping the smell down but when it stops, we could be in serious shit.”
Brushing his teeth, “Then let me go out with you,” Ian offered again, spitting and then rinsing his mouth out.
“You said you wanted to start your project after emptying the trailer,” Lance said, turning off the water.
“I can wait, especially with you cutting down trees outside the fence,” Ian shouted, climbing in the shower.
Grabbing a towel, Lance dried off. “Nah, I’ll take Lilly. As you work on your project, you can help Jennifer on the sawmill,” Lance said.
Putting on some shorts, Lance moved to the sink and grabbed his toothbrush as Ian stepped out of the shower. “We will be doing the morning routine tomorrow,” Ian insisted, grabbing a towel. “We’ve let it slide for too long.”
Giving a nod, Lance spit out a mouthful of toothpaste and turned to Ian. “You get you some sugar when Jennifer woke you up?” Lance asked with a grin.
Ian looked at Lance, shaking his head. “Don’t kiss someone if neither of you have brushed your teeth,” Ian shuddered, making a repulsive face. “We both cringed and wiped our tongues off with our hands.”
Giving a nod, Lance rinsed his mouth out. “That seems like sound advice,” he grinned.
After breakfast, Lance and Lilly dressed and grabbed their gear. “Lilly, if you want to work with one of your dogs outside, take one with us,” Lance told her, putting his helmet on.
Grabbing a leash, Lilly clipped it to George. “Heel,” Lilly commanded, holding out her hand and George stood up, moving beside Lilly. “Good boy,” Lilly said, patting his side.
Forsaken World (Book 3): Rite of Passage Page 7