Somee #2
When I made it back to the kitchen, Joy was setting a platter full of subs on the kitchen table, along with a bowl of kettle chips. There was also a pitcher of what looked like iced tea and one of lemonade with berries floating in it.
Rylee darted my way as soon as she saw me.
“Somee, look what we made.”
“I see. It looks good. Are you ready to eat?”
“Yes. Can I now?”
“Hands washed?”
“Yes, Joy said I had to before I could help.”
“Then you’re all set. Do you want me to make your plate?”
She shook her head while her hands were moving. “I can do it.”
While Rylee moved toward the table, lifted a plate, and climbed into one of the chairs, propping up on her knees to grab what she wanted, I entered the kitchen to wash my hands so I could join her. Joy was putting away what was left of what they’d used to prepare lunch.
“Thank you for including her. Everything looks great.”
“No thanks necessary. She made this fun.”
I glanced at Rylee who had her head bowed, blessing her food, before I signed, “I think you might have created a monster. You may not be able to keep her out of your kitchen. She loves to help cook.”
I moved to the sink and washed my hands, keeping my eyes on Joy who began signing her response. “I don’t mind. She can help anytime she wants. Rylee is such a sweet little girl.”
She truly was and I was beginning to feel sad that others were getting to experience all her light, but at the same time, I was happy she would be loved and cared for here.
We were halfway through our food by the time Ryland joined us. He was dressed in sweatpants, a hoodie, and a pair of 1s. As soon as he entered the kitchen, Joy smiled and spoke to him without signing. It wasn’t until then that I realized she was hearing.
Whatever she asked, Ryland’s response, which he signed, was, “Check with Somee and Rylee. I’m cool with whatever they want.”
She then neared the table, offered a smile, and signed to me. “I’m going to do some shopping to get what we need for dinner. If you want something specific, let me know. If not, I can just prepare one of the dinners from the preplanned menus I set up.”
My eyes darted to Ryland who had a plate in hand which he loaded with three subs. They had been cut in six inch sections and he was about to consume three. Based on the way he polished off a full large pizza last night, I wasn’t surprised.
“I’m not very picky, so I guess you can just make something but if you’re shopping would you mind grabbing me some matcha?”
“We already have some. Ryland asked me to be sure we had it stocked because it was one of your favorites.”
My stomach fluttered as my body warmed with the realization that he thought about me and what I liked.
“Thanks I didn’t know. That’s all for now.”
Joy smiled amusedly. “Wonderful, I’ve already discussed a few likes and dislikes with Rylee, so I think I have her figured out. She made sure to let me know you insist on vegetables with every meal. Are there any allergies I should be concerned with?”
“No, but I’m not a fan of spicy food,” I signed.
“Got it,” she responded, then spoke to Ryland, signing at the same time. “Can you share my link with Somee so she has access to the menu selections?”
He nodded and dug his phone from his pocket, swiping and tapping the screen.
I signed. “My phone is in my room. I’ll check when I get up there.”
“Perfect. I have food selections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are also preplanned weekly menu choices. Those are sometimes easier if you don’t know where to start.
You can add and remove whatever you want, and if you would like something customized that you don’t see, please don’t hesitate to let me know and I would be happy to add and prepare it for you. ”
“Will do. Thank you so much,” I signed.
“You’re welcome.”
She addressed Ryland. “I’m going to head out to do some shopping. I’ll prep for dinner when I get back.” Joy left and Rylee signed to me, “Is she going to cook for us every day?”
I glanced at Ryland. “I think so. Your brother hired her.”
“But you cook my dinner. Why don’t you want to do that anymore?” She frowned and I glanced at Ryland, grateful when he cut in.
“Joy will cook so you and Somee have more time to do other things.”
“And because you have a lot of money and can pay her to cook for us,” she countered. He laughed and nodded.
“Why do you think I have a lot of money?” he signed.
She grinned. “Because your house is way bigger than Somee’s. You have a lot of rooms and a pool. Somee doesn’t and you play football and you’re on TV. That means you have a lot of money.”
Ryland smirked and glanced at me. “You’re smart.”
“Somee tells me that every day.”
“Because you are smart, and if you want to stay smart, you have to make good grades, which means you have to go to school.”
“But my school is by your house,” she signed to me, frowning and lifting a pickle spear.
“It is, and since we’re here, what do you think about trying a new school? One like Harrington.”
Her little brows pinched. “Are you going to be my teacher there too?”
Shit…
I shook my head. “No, I can’t do that because my job is at Harrington, but I can find you a teacher better than me.”
“Nobody is better than you.”
“I bet someone is. We’re going to tour some schools here. Wouldn’t that be cool?”
“You can just teach me. I don’t have to go to school.”
Double shit…
“I could, but if I teach you, you won’t have friends to play with or art class and recess. Just boring ol’ me, like when I help you with homework,” I signed with a pouty face and she smiled.
“I want to have friends to play with and art class.”
“Then you have to go to school.”
She shrugged and signed, “Okay.”
And I relaxed.
Oh thank god.
“I’m finished.” She looked down at her plate, then added, “And I had three vegetables. Lettuce, tomato, and a pickle.”
I smiled proudly because I always pushed her to eat vegetables. I wouldn’t break her heart and tell her that tomatoes were technically considered a fruit. “Can I go play in my room until it’s time to go look at my new school?”
“You can,” I confirmed.
She lifted her plate, taking it into the kitchen and leaving it on the counter before running off to her room. I smiled like a proud parent because day by day I was seeing the changes in Rylee.
“You asked her to get matcha?”
“You love that nasty shit. Most of the time when I was video calling Rylee, you were drinking one.”
He noticed…
“I’m not a huge coffee drinker.”
“Because you would rather drink green chalk.” He smiled smugly. “You sure you don’t have kids? You’re really good at this.”
“I guess you can say by default I have kids. Fourteen to be exact. My students.”
He took a bite of one of the subs, devouring half before his hands were moving again after what he didn’t consume was back on the plate. “Your negotiating skills are good as hell. I would have bombed that whole thing about school. You got her hype over art classes.”
I grinned. “The art of negotiation is finding what they like and using it in your favor. I suggest you take a crash course. Watch me work. You might learn a few things.” I brushed my shoulder then lifted my sub, taking a bite.
“Oh, I’m watching you, Somee. Trust.” His hands moved slowly as he smiled sexily.
His gaze crawled over my body before he lifted his sub, making me wish his mouth was on me instead and that was an entire problem.
Me: Tell me no
Marlee: Sorry frennn. No can do. YES. YES. YES. Whatever you’re debating, my answer is yes.
Me: So then you want me to smuggle forty keys back in my suitcases because I met a guy who offered me a great deal and this could be a come up?
Marlee: I mean… I don’t know shit about slinging keys but I’m sure a quick internet search would give us everything we need to know. Probably can find a whole how-to guide on becoming queen pins from VidShare. If you can get us the product on the low, I say why not.
I laughed, then typed back.
Me: So you’re just all in with potentially becoming a queen pin with me? No questions asked?
Marlee: Until the wheels fall off means we’re taking felonies together, fren. So yes, but I doubt that’s our future because your scary ass would nevvvaaa. Now tell me what I’m really hyping you about.
I cracked a smile and glanced to my left where Ryland was in the middle of signing autographs and engaging in a conversation that he looked like he didn’t want to have with a few staff members from Chandler Academy.
He’d only agreed because of the way Rylee’s face lit up while visiting the classrooms. He wanted to make a good impression on the staff.
She enjoyed herself so much that while we were touring and got to peek in on a music class, they offered to let her stay for the forty-minute session after she begged us to let her.
While we waited, the staff decided to make good use of Ryland’s time and I moved out the way to text Marlee.
Me: I’m queen pin material. I’m offended that you think I’m not.
Marlee: You know how on First 48 they get the suspect in the interrogation room and wait them out, then come back hours later with a bag of chips and a soda and they start singing like a bird? That would be you, frennn, and if they up the ante and put a matcha on the table, we’re all going down.
Me: I mean… you have a point, but still.
Marlee: Okay now back on track. What am I hyping you about?
Me: Would it be terrible if I somehow found myself in Ryland’s bed?
Marlee: Are you fucking or being fucked?
Me: Why does that matter?
Marlee: I need to know how down bad you are. If you’re the one willing to take control, this is a level ten.
Me: Definitely a level ten.