CLINT
I couldn’t believe Ivy’s tattoo gave me an erection. Or possibly, her soft skin was what riled me up. If we were alone when I saw this colorful anime cat tattoo, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my hands to myself. First, I’d stroke her back and hips. Eventually, my hands would have slid around the front to her belly and those perky tits tempting me through her gray top.
Since people surrounded us, I remained in control. I didn’t even kiss the tattoo despite it being inches from my lips. Instead, I stood and leaned Ivy back into my body. When she looked up at me, I planted a kiss on her smiling lips.
“Tonight, I expect to hear the details about that tattoo.”
“And you’ll show me yours.”
I gave her a naughty smile before noticing everyone watching us. Vanessa now leaned against Sabrina, seeming tired despite her nap.
“Now our turn,” Vanessa insisted.
Ivy reached for my hand for reassurance. Her gaze lifted to meet mine. I saw her insecurity. The kinder choice would be for me to tell everyone to back off. However, I sensed Ivy wanted to show off her tattoo.
“Vanessa, whip yours out first,” I insisted. “Let Ivy see how she’s one of the foxes.”
“Oh, I’ll whip mine out, too,” Sabrina said and reached for the front of her jeans. “Shield the children’s eyes. Mine is pornographic.”
“What children?” Elle asked, glancing at Sutter leading the Chihuahuas around the back yard. “There’s only the one boy, and he has no interest in your butt crack decoration.”
“I think she’s talking about me,” Pax said and stretched out on a deck chair. “I don’t want to see my baby’s body mutilation.”
Everyone frowned at him despite him always saying shit to rile up people.
Ivy soon got a look at the tramp stamps belonging to Sabrina, Vanessa, Xandy, and Moe. My sister kept her pants up and mostly whispered with our mom. I stared hard at Elle, wanting her to protect Ivy from any negative talk.
“Stop policing me,” Elle grumbled when she noticed I was eyeballing her.
“Yeah, Clint, let your sister talk trash in peace,” Ford added while Shay smiled at the thought.
Inhaling deeply, I looked down at Ivy as she showed off her tattoo. I wanted her to feel comfortable here, but I didn’t truly understand her.
“I have a thought,” Sabrina said, circling me. “A wonderfully exciting thought.”
“No,” I replied, knowing instantly where her head had gone.
“Why not move Ivy into the Sorority House for a few months or years? Then, once she’s gotten the hang of life, you can reclaim her.”
“Why would I ever agree to that?”
“Because she isn’t a pet. Why are you putting her in a cage?”
I smiled at Sabrina’s scowl. She was so full of shit, though I understood why other people were intimidated by her sharp edges.
“Ivy is mine,” I said, glancing at where Ivy now spoke with my mom. “I’m keeping her. She wants to stay with me. If you interfere with that, I will undermine you.”
Sabrina blew her bangs out of her eyes and muttered, “Ignoring all the caveman shit, how exactly would you undermine me?”
“No way,” I said, chuckling at her question. “When I undermine someone, I don’t warn them ahead of time about the moves I’ll make. Why do you think Tricky was so surprised when I started a new club?”
“Because he’s arrogant and stupid.”
“He’s only one of those things.”
Changing directions, Sabrina demanded, “Let Ivy stay at the Sorority House for the week. We’ll give her back on Monday.”
“Ivy and I need to spend time together.”
“She’s your soulmate, right?” Rowdy said, joining the conversation. “That means you have the rest of your life to spend time together. Why not let the foxes have their fun?”
Narrowing my eyes at my cousin, I couldn’t believe he was taking the foxes’ side over mine. Vanessa looked at her older sister and younger brother before stepping closer to me.
“I think Clint’s right. Ivy needs to settle into her new home before we distract her from the prize,” Vanessa said and waved her hands up and down the length of my body.
“No,” Sabrina said and glanced around. “Where did she go?”
I frowned when I realized Ivy was missing. Pax noticed my confusion and jutted his thumb at the house.
“Your mom and aunt are interrogating her inside.”
I frowned at Ford, who had wandered off to talk to Sutter. I realized Lula was also missing.
“She’s picking up Dillon and the foster kids,” Pax said, since he had become the narrator for our afternoon get-together. “Go back to talking about soulmates. That was funny.”
“Are you saying Bebe isn’t your soulmate?” I asked, wanting to piss him off so his kids would focus on their dad rather than hassling me.
Pax considered my question while stroking his beard. “Soulmate sounds goofy. I want a better name for what Bebe is. Kids, any thoughts?”
“Wife?” Sabrina suggested and rolled her eyes. “Don’t fall for Clint’s tricks.”
Shaking my head, I muttered, “No one is tricking anyone.”
“Ivy wants to be free!” Sabrina cried, startling the Chihuahuas and making Elle laugh. “She needs to join the club and ride with us.”
Rowdy frowned and touched on the truly important issue by asking, “Uh, how small will the motorcycle need to be for her to ride it alone?”
“We can get her one of those little scooters like we saw people riding in Vietnam,” Vanessa said and nudged me. “Can you imagine her wearing a vest and riding at your side?”
“No.”
“You’re putting her in a cage!” Sabrina hollered in my face.
“Someone’s getting cranky,” Elle insisted and wrapped her arms around Sabrina. “Do you need a nap?”
“You always take Clint’s side.”
“No, I was against him when he said you were an asset to the club.”
“Dumbass.”
“Whore.”
“I’m in a committed relationship with two women!” Sabrina declared and gestured at Xandy and Moe, who curtsied in response. “You’re the whore! You don’t even know who fathered your big-brained child!”
“Only because I was drunk. So, if anything, I’m more of an alcoholic than a whore.”
“I feel like that was my fault,” Vanessa said and rubbed her sleepy eyes. “I was supposed to remain vigilant against your drunken whore appetites, but I dozed off from boredom.”
“You need more sunlight,” Moe insisted. “You’re lacking Vitamin D.”
As the foxes shifted their conversation away from me and focused on Vanessa’s systematic sleepiness, I moved carefully away from the group and prepared to make a run for the house.
“He’s gonna get away,” Rowdy warned the foxes.
“Traitor,” I hissed at my cousin.
Shrugging, he lit a cigarette and blew out. “I know you’ll never seriously hurt me. I’m not so sure about these foxes.”
“I’d never hurt you,” Moe insisted. “But I wouldn’t interfere if they hurt you.”
“You’re whipped,” Rowdy muttered at Moe who smiled at Sabrina. “In all honesty, I’m a little grossed out by how whipped everyone is.”
“Tell them, son!” Pax yelled out from the deck where he played on his phone.
I glanced back at the lake to find Ford, Sutter, and the dogs missing. Pax gestured toward the house again.
“I’m going inside,” I announced. “Feel free to stay outside where Vanessa can get her Vitamin D.”
I dodged Elle and Sabrina, who tried to block my escape. Jogging past them, I headed into the house and found Ivy in the kitchen with Shay and Bebe. Ford stood nearby with the dogs at his feet. Sutter was at the window, reading on his tablet. There was something comforting about seeing them all together.
“I stir the food to keep it from burning,” Shay said as if sharing forbidden wisdom. “That’s the secret to cooking. Just don’t burn it.”
“Seasoning,” Bebe added. “That’s another secret. Put seasoning in the food while it’s cooking, not just afterward.”
“Is that a crack at my foster mom?” Ford muttered. “Marcy seasoned shit just fine.”
Shay shot him a dirty look. “She dumped a bunch of salt and pepper on the food once it was done. It’s important to season during the cooking process.”
“Who says?”
Rather than answer, Bebe and Shay looked at Ivy. Her eyes had been bouncing back and forth, following the conversation. They widened when she realized they expected her to speak.
“I learned to cook by watching TV and internet clips,” Ivy said as if excusing her lack of knowledge before shrugging. “I think you’re supposed to season during and after the food is cooking.”
“We were both right,” Ford said and nodded approvingly. “No one correct the girl. She’s getting on my good side.”
Elle entered the house and asked, “Is everyone being inside a temporary or permanent thing?”
“Temporary. We’re eating dinner outside,” Shay explained. “The weather’s too good to pass up.”
I took the spot next to Ivy, who instantly smiled up at me. She seemed relaxed, but I was starting to wonder if I was reading her right. The tattoo reveal made me rethink our last day together.
After taking my hand, Ivy got up the courage to ask Shay, “Where did you and Ford meet?”
“Well, it’s a tawdry story,” Ford answered immediately. “Shay and I met at a bar. She showed up on the prowl for a man with money. I noticed the harlot as soon as she walked into the place.”
Shay shook her head and told Ivy, “I was wearing a flannel shirt and a trucker hat. Ford’s crapping bullshit at you.”
Ford frowned at his wife. “You might have hidden your horny, but it was obvious to anyone with eyes. Get Pax in here to back me up.”
“If Pax is getting roped in,” Shay said and went toe-to-toe with Ford, “then I want Lucky to come over and verify how I wasn’t looking for a man.”
Ford insisted, “You found one, though, didn’t you?”
“Sure, any woman would succumb to a sexy man’s begging.”
Ford threw his head back and laughed. Shay winked at Ivy, who seemed transfixed by my parents.
Nearby, Elle told Sutter, “Romance is weird.”
The boy nodded and continued reading. “When I grow up, I plan to be married to my work.”
Elle stroked her son’s head and replied, “Just like your mom.”
I ignored my sister’s dingbat comment and focused on my parents flirting with each other.
“I’m glad you begged,” Shay told Ford, who grinned at her. “I was smart to give in despite your terrible seduction skills.”
“Yes, you were. I gave you two kids, a big house, and my dick every night. You’re a smart chick.”
Sutter rolled his eyes while Elle smiled at Ivy.
“They’re not always like this,” my sister insisted.
Nodding, I pointed out, “Occasionally, they’re worse.”
Ivy startled me by cracking up. Her laughter rocked her petite body, nearly taking her to the floor. I imagined her storing up all her anxiety until this moment when it burst free.