Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Thank God,” Mom mutters. I hate that I scared either of them. I must have really terrified Dad because he’s still practically beating my back. “For God’s sake, Jan. Stop beating her, you’ll bruise her lungs.”
“Lovey there’s no way I can bruise her lungs.”
“You can. You forget I know the strength in your hands.”
“What the hell does that mean? I’ve never raised my hand to you woman and if I need a reason, you supply that daily.”
Shit. I’ve started a fight.
I admit I feel marginally guilty, but it’s better than having them going to see what caused the noise upstairs.
“Remember the other night? You got carried away. I couldn’t sit down for a week.”
Oh, God. I don’t need Mom to draw a picture of what she’s talking about. I can see it in my head immediately and if there was a way to erase it, believe me, I would.’
“Are you complaining, Lovey?”
“Of course not, stop that hog wash. I’m just saying you got a little enthusiastic. I’m surprised my ass wasn’t flat and in the shape of your hand,” she mutters.
“Lovey, nothing you could make your ass flat and if you tried, I’d have to punish you.”
“Dad!”
“What?” he laughs.
“I expect it from her, but not you,” I grumble.
“I’m going to fry a couple more pieces of bacon,” Mom mutters walking back to the stove.
“Owwwww!”
God! What is he doing now?
There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s slater crying out like he’s dying.
“What the hell was that?” Jansen says.
“I don’t know. It definitely came from upstairs, I’d say Marigold’s room,” Mom says.
I panic as Jansen scoots his chair back and starts to get up. I put my hand on his arm.
“It’s nothing Dad. It’s just River’s cat. She was doing that all night last night. I’m pretty sure she's coming into heat and trying to call out to a boyfriend.”
Mom frowns. “We had her fixed. Dang it, Jan, do fixed cats still go into heat?
“You’re asking me about this? Lovey, I know a lot of things but I’m no expert on cats that want to get laid.”
Mom gives him a dirty look but goes back to cooking. Dad settles back in his seat and I’m breathing a little easier. Surely, after all of this, Slater is out of the house. That was close. I put a forkful of fluffy, scrambled eggs in my mouth and moan at how good it tastes. I am hungrier than I thought. I smile because that’s Slater’s fault. I had a lot of exercise. I feel a little guilty that he isn’t here to share the food. I’ll have to make it up to him.
I’m busy thinking of all the inventive ways I can do exactly that when all hell breaks loose.
“Motherfucker!”
Me, Mom, and Jan all freeze as if someone is holding a gun on us, while telling us not to move.
“What the hell?” Jan hisses.
“Get the fuck away from me! Son of a bitch!”
I stand up as panic hits me. I know that voice. Slater is yelling at someone and in this house that could be anyone. It would be just my luck if Green snuck home and caught Slater in my room naked. I take off sprinting to my room. I can hear Mom and Dad following behind me. I know this is going to be bad, but I’m too worried Green is going to beat Slater bloody with a baseball bat to try and stop them from coming upstairs.
If Slater is okay, I’m going to kill him. This is all his fault.
CHAPTER 22
Slater
One of the best nights of my damn life and my woman wants me to sneak out of a window to hide from her parents. This shit was exciting when I was a kid—but I’m a grown man and I want my woman to be proud of me. I sure as hell don’t want her to hide me away like a dirty little secret. I growl under my breath—of course there’s no one around to hear my anger because they’ve already ran down the stairs like a scared little kid with their hands caught in a cookie jar.
I should just keep my ass in her bed and wait. It would serve her right. With my luck, Green would come home and find me here, though. It’s not that I’m worried about him finding out. I’m not. I’m willing to let the chips fall where they will. This thing I’ve started with Marigold feels good—damn good. If Green wants to be a dick, that’s on him.
I get up and start looking around for my clothes. I find my pants and shirt easily, but my damn socks and underwear are another story. I search all around the damn room and can’t find them anywhere. They’re not tangled up in the cover and I don’t see them on the floor.