Chapter 2 #2
“Ah, to be young and have a social life,” Arlo comments.
“Knowing Katy, she’s doing something that will look good on her college applications. The girl is a force to be reckoned with.”
“Does she know where she wants to go yet?” Blake asks, tugging Callie into his arms.
“She’s been deliberately vague. I think she has a top three, though.”
“Let me guess, your parents want her to go somewhere specific, and that’s why she’s being vague?”
I glance at Marcus, who huffs out a laugh. “It’s not hard to figure out. They have a habit of trying to control yours and Katy’s choices. It’s just harder with you because you’re grown. I get why little sis would want to keep it quiet, even if it’s just to spare the arguments.”
“They mean well, but they can be so damn stubborn.” I groan, knowing he’s probably right.
“I get it. I do. But if they’re not careful, they’ll lose more than one kid,” Blake chimes in, making me swallow.
“And on that note, I’d better head to the grocery store and pick something up for dinner.”
“Get something sweet for dessert,” Callie says with a smile.
“I know, it’s her favorite part of a meal.
” I huff out a laugh, thinking about how often I’ve caught her eating dessert first. My parents would have a meltdown, but I’ve always found the whole thing adorable.
I head to my truck before climbing in and making my way to the grocery store, thinking over what to cook.
Something that will make good leftovers, so I don’t have to cook again tomorrow.
Once I’m parked, I jump out and walk up to the doors, pushing them open and almost smacking into Felix.
“I thought you’d be done by now,” I greet him when I see he’s empty-handed.
“I got waylaid,” he admits with a cough, nodding behind me.
I turn and see Mavis and Maude, Tempest’s oldest set of twins. At seventy-seven, both act more like they’re seventeen. Both are dressed in workout clothes that look like they were bought in the eighties, complete with headbands and leg warmers.
“Ladies. You’re power walking today, I see. Don’t you ever take a day off?”
“You see my ass?” Maude turns to shake her ass at me. I fight down a laugh and hear Felix snort behind me.
“You don’t get asses like this from sitting on the couch watching Jeopardy.”
“That is very true. I can only imagine you have admirers beating down your door at night.”
“Oh, you sweet talker.” Mavis lightly slaps my chest.
“You can beat down my door anytime you like,” Maude mutters, but not so quietly that we don’t all hear her. Felix sounds like he’s choking to death behind me, but I ignore him.
“I’m afraid you’d be too much woman for me.”
“I’ve heard that before.” She sighs before looking at her sister. “As I’ve told you before, we need to broaden our horizons—a little free love and sharing.”
I wink. “Like Woodstock?” I recall one of them mentioning to me the shenanigans they had been up to before. I was half impressed and half in need of bleaching my ears.
“Woodstock? I was thinking more of one of those…what do kids call it these days?” She taps her chin before it comes to her. “Gang bang. I think we need a gang bang. That way, we have lots of men to fulfill our needs. Are you okay, Felix?”
I turn and find Felix on the floor, gasping for air. I step over him to hold the door open for them.
“You just make sure you’re safe. You can’t be too careful these days.”
“That’s true,” Mavis concedes. “We should talk to Wade and get his take on it.”
“You absolutely should. Be sure to give him all the details of what you want. He needs to know your expectations so he can adequately assess any dangers.”
“You always were a smart one.” Maude taps my cheek as she strides out.
Mavis stops and gives me the once-over. “If you ever want a real workout, I could show you a few moves you’ve never seen before.” She winks at me.
“Do me a favor and save some men for the rest of the Tempest ladies.”
“It’s not my fault our milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.” Mavis grins, high-fiving her sister, before they both power walk off into the distance.
I turn and step back over Felix, who looks like a dying fish floundering around.
“You about done?”
He holds up his finger to signal he needs a minute more before he dissolves into fits of laughter. I wait, and once his minute is up, I offer him my hand and haul him up.
“Jesus, how do you not die every time they open their mouths? I thought June was bad, but those two are an entirely different kettle of fish.”
I lean in closer and drop my voice. “Mavis was married at sixteen to Carl Denning, a man twice her age who beat her every day of their marriage until he died from anaphylactic shock on their tenth wedding anniversary. Maude married Joseph Raiden back in 1967 when she was nineteen. Both were said to be madly in love and were overjoyed when the new legislation meant that interracial marriage was now legal. Unfortunately, not everyone agreed, and Joseph was murdered six months later in a racially motivated attack. Neither woman remarried nor had kids. They survived something pretty traumatic, and now they’re living their best lives. I’m in awe of them.”
“Crap, how did I not know that?”
“Probably because they know they can get a rise out of you, so they’re more likely to grab your balls than spill their guts.”
“My testicles are still in hiding,” he mutters, making me grin.
I’m about to grab a basket when I hear a familiar giggle, which brings a smile to my face. I leave the basket and head down the aisle until I spot them. Felix follows behind me until he sees them, too, and nudges me out of the way.
I might have a way with old ladies, but Felix has a way with the little ones.
“Maybe we could have a sleepover when you get back? I’ll know how it all works then,” I hear Zoe tell Matilda.
“I’d love that. We can camp out in the front room and have pizza and snacks. And you can invite whoever you want,” Matilda replies instantly.
“Really?”
“Really.”
Felix steps forward and announces his arrival. “What’s this I see? A princess and a movie star in their natural habitat, which, of course, is the candy aisle,” he states, making Zoe look over at us.
“You’re so silly, Uncle Felix.”
He scoops her into his arms, making her giggle. Then, he snatches the basket Matilda was carrying from her hands. “I am a professional sleepover…er.”
“No lies detected there,” I mutter, though not the kind of sleepovers Zoe is thinking about.
“I’ve gotta leave to get ready soon, Felix,” Matilda warns him, probably because he looks like he’s about to run off with Zoe.
Felix looks at Zoe. “Is your bag all packed?”
She nods. “I just have to add my snacks.”
“How about you and I finish up here, and then I’ll take you over to Uncle Wade and Aunt Olivia’s house. I’ll even swing by the ice cream place on the way.”
“Yes, can I, Mom?” Zoe looks at Matilda with begging eyes that I’m glad aren’t aimed my way. I’d never be able to tell her no.
“Who’s the bigger kid here?” Matilda asks, looking between Zoe and Felix.
“You already know the answer to that.” I laugh before something catches my attention.
No, not something, someone.
Matilda frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I thought I saw someone. I’ll be right back,” I mutter before taking off. I look down the next aisle and find it empty. I move on to the next one and the next one, but I don’t see anyone who shouldn’t be there. I push the door open and step outside, looking both ways.
When nothing catches my attention, I bend over and grip my thighs, sucking in a deep breath. “Jesus Banner, you’re chasing ghosts.”
I stand up and catch my reflection in the glass, hoping to God that’s all it is, but that strange sense of unease from this morning washes over me. I forget all about grabbing things for dinner and head back to my jeep, needing to clear my head. If who I saw is really back, I will lose my mind.
It can’t be though, can it?
Sorrow Wells. Fuck me, that’s a blast from the past. And not a good one. She was the reason I enlisted. My feelings for her had always been complicated, but she was far too young for me. I signed up to avoid temptation, not knowing she’d hook up with my brother while I was gone.
And then she killed him before I could forgive him for stealing the girl I loved.