Twenty-Five #3
Mia just sent me a selfie she took in my bathroom, soaking wet, when my shirt pushed up to rest on the top of her chest as she is squeezing her breast in one hand, her other nipple on full display across her forearm, and she’s biting her lip at the camera.
She has to be leaning on her tiptoes because she’s short enough that the counter should have hit her waist but it’s hiding absolutely nothing. Wicked, filthy, dangerous.
“What did you just say?” Dad’s voice sounds muffled through the rushing of blood through my ears. I’m pretty sure I’m fucking blushing right now.
“I thought you had a dinner table rule, Mr. West?” Mia fakes innocence as my brothers are absolutely losing it. Eli leans over to see what I’m looking at and I nearly throw my phone into my plate. AJ is cackling like an evil witch beside me and I turn my glare on her.
“You fucking knew.” I whisper harshly at her.
“Obviously.” She reaches over and clinks her glass with Mia’s.
“Dishes are all yours Oliver.” Dad declares from his seat.
Maxwell grins victoriously across from me. “And the pie tab.”
I keep my eyes on Mia. “I hope you know I’m keeping that.”
“Keeping what? How did she get you?” Maxwell leans over the table to try and take my phone but I’m making sure that damn thing is glued to me forever now.
“Yes, share with the class, Ol.” Eli goads from beside me.
“Want me to share with the class? The class also includes your dad.” Mia winks at me, knowing damn well she wouldn’t dare share that picture.
“I’m going to make you pay for that.” I point my phone at her. Like I said, I’m not letting go of it any time soon. No one is seeing that photo.
“Oh I hope so.” She purrs.
“Scrabble time!” Dad announces like this is the moment that he has been waiting for. And it has been. I’m just the only one that knows.
We gather around, pulling chairs up to watch him and AJ face off.
He needs to cool it before his confidence gives him away but I think he’s too excited at the possibility of finally beating her.
They draw their letters and line them up.
AJ is the definition of calm as always. It’s supposed to be a Scrabble tournament but none of us want to miss the entertainment of watching these two battle it out.
“Hope you’ve been memorizing your word of the day, Eddie.” AJ says as she squints, planning her first word.
“I’m prepared, Avery.” They do this. Calling each other by their first names when they are trying to make a point.
I remember the first time that Dad pulled the Scrabble board out.
It was the first time that life was evident in AJ’s eyes.
She genuinely loved it. Dad has been playing with her ever since.
She lets Dad make the first move, because she likes to pretend she is being kind but in reality it helps her know what letters are left in the bag. She’s calculated, always. We watch Dad lay his tiles down and he doesn’t even try to hide his smile.
“Jabot.” AJ reads the word out loud. Dad nods and writes his points down on the well used notepad.
“Do you even know what that is?” She questions.
“Do you?” He raises an eyebrow at her.
“It’s like the fluff on old ladies clothes, Eddie. Why do you know that?” Our heads ping back and forth between them. Dad just shrugs and motions for her to go.
She plays the word jinx and we watch Dad already get a little stressed. He shouldn’t have played the letter J yet. That’s something even I learned when I went with him. Hold your high point letters when your opponent can’t easily play off of them.
Dad quickly plays his next word, “Ablution.” He speaks with so much pride but I see the minute AJ puts together that he came in with a plan.
“You have never once played off the same word. You always play off of my word. Always.” She accuses as she points to the board.
Then she brings her finger up at him, “You’ve been playing without me.
With who? None of them care enough and Rory wouldn’t be able to keep it a secret.
He’s a terrible liar.” I told Dad she would figure it out easily but he thought he would already be winning when she did. Never bet against AJ.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Avery. I’ve been practicing, so what?” He dips his hand into the bag to refill his tray with letters. “Your move.” He taps her side of the board.
“No fucking way. Not until you tell me who you’ve been playing with.” She sits back and crosses her arms. We all know she is going to win the argument.
“Just some ladies.” He says casually.
“What ladies, Eddie.” AJ pushes, still not making her move.
“Please play your word.”
“Absolutely not. Tell me.”
“Don’t be a brat.”
“You raised me, it’s your fault.”
“Play your word.”
“No.” She stays solid in her decision to not play.
“It was a Scrabble tournament in Charleston!” He throws his hands up and AJ’s mouth falls open in disgust.
“You dirty cheater.” She leans forward and rearranges her letters and angles her chair.
“I’m going to kick your ass even harder now.
” She plays a word I don’t even know how to pronounce and Dad drops his head in his hands.
AJ’s right though. He did raise her and it’s hilarious to watch him have to put up with her.
I reach over and pull Mia’s chair closer to mine so we can watch the rest of the match.
And I’m thankful that she doesn’t even make a fuss when I run my thumb over her thigh softly. Today has been a good day.