Chapter 19
Gabriella
“What’s up, Mama G! Daaamn, that smells AMAZING!” Kerri and Abby’s over-the-top, boisterous friend, Chloe, hollers as she bursts into the kitchen.
“Oooooh, Mom, are you cooking Shrimp Scampi?” Abby sings as she and Kerri come bouncing into the house from their day at the mall.
“Mmmmm.” Abby continues as she comes up next to me and reaches into the pot of linguine, shrimp, and lemon-garlic-butter sauce.
“Abby!” I swat at her hand as she grabs a shrimp out of the pot and tosses it into her mouth.
She hops backwards and avoids my flailing hand while chewing and laughing, making my frown morph into a playful smile.
“Brat.” I look over at Chloe, “Hey Chloe, good to see you, hun, I didn’t know you were at the mall with the girls today. ”
Chloe reaches into the pot, grabbing a piece of linguini.
“Yeah.” She tips her head back, mouth open, and spirals the noodle onto her tongue.
Chewing loudly, Chloe responds, “Yeah. My girl works up there, and since I slept at her house last night, I caught a ride to work with her, and your daughters were nice enough to bring my broke-ass home.” She giggles.
I stare at her, and her eyes go wide, then she makes an “O” shape with her mouth.
“Oops, sorry, Mama G, I mean my broke-booty home.” She ends with a sheepish smile.
All I can do is lightly shake my head and smile back.
“Sooo, what’s the occasion, Mom? You haven’t made scampi in, yikes, I don’t remember the last time you made it.” Kerri leans over the island and puts her chin in her hands, smirking.
“No occasion. Your dad and I agreed to have dinner on the patio tonight.” I mumble as I move around the kitchen to grab plates out of the cabinet and a bottle of wine out of the fridge.
It’s quiet. I turn around to face all three girls staring at me with their mouths open.
A heat rushes up my neck, flushing pink into my cheeks. “What?”
“Ummm, I gotta pee.” Chloe overshares and walks out of the kitchen.
Kerri and Abby shake their heads slowly without using any of the millions of words that are typically falling out of their mouths. Just then, the door opens and we hear a rumble just before Vic walks into the house, “Later, Ty. Thanks, man.”
The girls’ silent stares quickly shift to the entryway of the kitchen, and Kerri’s mouth falls open.
“Holy shit, Dad! Nice haircut!” Kerri finally restarts her brain-mouth function.
Vic walks into the kitchen, and both girls go to hug him.
He hugs them back, one arm around each, and gives them each a kiss on the top of their heads.
“Language. But thanks, Kerri. Did you guys eat dinner? It smells really good.”
Abby cranes her neck to look up at her dad, “No, Mom cooked scampi for you and her. She said you were having dinner on the pat-i-o.” Abby sings the last word, smirks, and raises her eyebrows.
“Oh, she did, did she?” Vic’s voice sounds a decibel lower, and the corner of his mouth turns up as he meets my eyes.
“I can’t wait to eat,” I swear his smirk turns devilish, and his pupils expand.
I’m not sure he’s talking about dinner. Fuck, I’m glad I’m wearing a push-up bra so no one can see how hard my nipples are right now. Good lord, Gabbi, control yourself.
The growing awkward silence is broken by the petite pixie with long chestnut brown hair and a whole lotta attitude.
“Damn, Mr. S! Your haircut is hot! Now I’m gonna start calling you ZADDY Scott!
” Chloe squeals as she bounces on the balls of her feet while standing next to me.
If I accidentally bump into her, is it assault on a minor?
I’m kidding, I’m not getting petty just because a teenage girl thinks my husband is hot.
Am I?
His faux hawk fade takes me back, though, same as he used to get when he wanted to clean up for me. Dark brown with a couple of inches of waves on the top, cut short on the sides. It makes his blue eyes pop like glacier ice. “Hello? Mom?” Kerri snaps her fingers in front of my face. “You okay?”
“What? Yeah. Yes.” I clear my throat and blink, looking around. Kerri giggles a little and herds Chloe and Abby out of the kitchen.
“Bye, Mom, we’re going over to Chloe’s to eat dinner. We’ll be back later,” Kerri shouts as all three of them chatter and giggle on their way out the door, but not before I hear Chloe’s voice.
“Dude, your parents are totally gonna Netflix and Chiiiiill tonight.” Vic and I stare at each other as we hear the front door click shut.