Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 90721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
I made a mental note to ask him later, because my mom was following behind Sebastian as he cleaned, placing down place mats in his wake.
“My mom likes a pretty table.” I told Sebastian, as he finally made his way to my side with two piles of papers in his hands.
“I can see that.” He laughed as he gathered my piles into his own and left the room.
I watched his ass as he disappeared down the hallway. I hadn’t been aware that I’d sighed until my mom laughed.
Looking up, I raised my eyes in question. “What?”
“Your dad and I were like that once. I was a little street urchin from the wrong side of the track, and he was the Sheriff’s son who was so straight-laced that I never even thought I had a chance. Then he saved me, one night, from a couple of boys who wanted me to help them break into a pharmacy. They wanted to shove me in through the drop box, if you can believe it.” she explained as I started setting forks down on the placemats.
I didn’t have the heart to tell my mother that I’d already heard this story eighteen thousand times. Instead, I let her continue without interrupting, picturing the way my mother would look trying to be shoved into a drop box. Now, my mother had the padding that most mothers had; but, back then, she could totally pass for supermodel thin.
My mom was on the shorter side at 5’4, but before she had Luke, my mother had a smoking body. Mom liked to attribute it to life on the streets and not getting enough meals; dad liked to say it was in the genes. I had to agree that it was, indeed, the genes, because I had the same muscular build as my mother. Although a lot of my metabolism had to do with my demanding job, and the fact that my ADHD meds made me not want to eat.
“Your daddy caught them while they were trying to shove me in. I was kicking and screaming, and your daddy swooped in like a knight in shining armor, with his shiny gold badge and hauled those boys to the county jail. I, of course, ran and tried my hardest to stay out of trouble, but he found me that next week, and we became friends.” She smiled wistfully.
“Your momma wouldn’t put out until I married her. She tricked me.” My dad called from the doorway, making me look up and smile.
I just sighed as I waited for the inevitable argument to ensue, and it did, like clockwork.
“Do they always do this?” Sebastian asked as he came to a stop by my side.
I nodded grimly. “All the freaking time. Do you know how traumatizing it is to hear your parents fight constantly, and then go have sex? I knew exactly what they were doing the minute they left the room. It’s so gross.”
Sebastian snorted. “At least you don’t walk in on your old man having sex with a woman that’s thirty years his junior.”
I gagged. “What?”
Sebastian nodded sagely. “Yeah, it’s been known to happen.
“That’s...” I started. “Just wrong.”
He snorted. “Tell me about it.”
Just then, a very wet Katy, a muddy Johnny, and an exasperated Luke came walking in the back door. “Stop, boy. Don’t move.” Luke yelled, as Johnny tried to take off across the kitchen.
He stopped immediately, and pouted, arms crossing over his chest, and glared at Luke with the best of his ability.
“Johnny, don’t act like that. You know better. Why are you covered in mud?” Sebastian questioned as he stood and walked to the laundry room that was off the kitchen.
He came back moments later with two towels. He tossed one to Luke and wrapped the other around his son before hauling him to his bathroom; most likely to hosed him down.
“Go to the room you changed in earlier and get changed, sweet pea. Grammy has some food ready for us to eat. Don’t take too long or I’m gonna eat yours.” Luke instructed Katy.
“What were they doing?” My mom asked as she set a bowl of steaming mashed potatoes down on the table.
Luke, dad, and I watched in hunger as she went back for the chicken, and then followed shortly after that with the green beans and rolls.
“Oh, man. I haven’t had a home cooked meal like this in forever.” Luke groaned, taking a seat, but waited patiently for his child to get back before he started.
My dad walked behind me, kissed my head, and took the seat at the opposite side of Luke, leaving the head of the table for Sebastian and my mother, as was custom in our family.
“Me neither,” I agreed, sneaking a roll from the bowl and shoving three quarters of it into my mouth.
“Did you just take a roll?” Katy asked as she plopped down beside Luke.
“No.” I said around a mouth full of roll.
“Grammy, she’s eating before everybody’s sat down!” Katy squealed.
“Tattle tale.” I groaned, eyeing my mother’s expression out of the side of my eye.
It wasn’t a happy one, either. It was an ‘if you do it again, I’m going to hit you across the knuckles with my spoon, and I don’t care how hurt you are’ kind of look.
While my mother’s disapproving look was centered on me, everyone missed when Sebastian and Johnny entered the room. What they didn’t miss was the fact that Johnny was now dressed, full out, in a Superman costume. Cape, mask, abs and all.
“Wow, Johnny. I want to be Superman, too!” Katy proclaimed as soon as Johnny took a seat at the table.
“I like what you’ve done with yourself. Can I borrow your cape sometime?” I asked him.
He shook his head. “It won’t fit you.”
“Hey!” I said indignantly.
“Don’t feel bad. He won’t let anybody wear it. Not even Kettle.” Sebastian rumbled as he took some beers out of the fridge and handed them off to my father and Luke, before taking a seat.
That was surprising. From what I knew, Johnny was absolutely obsessed with Kettle. When Johnny was at their clubhouse and Kettle was anywhere in sight, Johnny was attached to him at the hip.