Chapter 16 This Bitch would do Anything for a Cookie
Chapter sixteen
This Bitch would do Anything for a Cookie
Jo
“Where, oh where could little Luna be?” I call as I walk through the living room, looking in all the places that my niece clearly isn’t.
I take my time flipping over couch cushions and being as dramatic as possible.
Luna isn’t a very good hider. I can see her feet poking out from the long curtains hanging from the window. She even giggles about every thirty seconds.
Leah comes walking in, handing me a glass of wine. While it’s not my typical drink of choice, I’m not going to turn down free booze. Plus, you drink enough of it, and you can’t really taste it anyway.
“Leah, I hate to break it to you, but I think Luna disappeared. She’s such a good hider that she just vanished into thin air,” I joke.
“You know, this has happened before. She turns completely invisible, but I found a trick that makes her reappear.”
“Oh?”
“Watch this.” She clears her throat. “Luna, do you want a cookie?”
The curtain flies up in a whoosh as the little girl sprints over to us.
“Here I am!”
“Go grab one cookie off the counter.” Leah looks at me. “Works every time.”
“You’re a genius.”
She laughs. “No. I’m just aware that she’s just like me, and trust me, this bitch would do anything for a cookie.”
“Same, girl. Same.”
We sip our wine, and I say, “We haven’t gotten to talk much since I got back. How are things going with having two kids now?”
“Good. I think.”
“You think?”
She takes a long sip. “Half the time, I worry that I’m doing everything wrong. I’m scared I’ll fuck them up.”
“Leah, I know nothing about being a mother, but I do know that you’re a good one.”
“And how do you know that?” She asks.
“Because bad moms don't worry about what kind of job they’re doing.”
She gives me a small smile. “It still seems a little surreal to me. A few years ago, I was practically homeless. Then, I met your brother, and my whole life changed. Now, I have two amazing kids. Sometimes, it just doesn’t seem real.”
“Yeah, I get that. I mean, not to that extreme, but it still seems surreal being home.”
“How’s it going being back?”
“Pretty good. It’s a little weird. I’m used to things being much crazier, but the past few days have been relatively quiet. It’s a nice change of pace.”
“And how are things going at the shop?”
“Awesome. Jack let me take over the office almost a week ago, and I think I’ve almost got everything in order.”
I spend the next few minutes talking how I’ve collected almost all the money that’s owed and how I redid a lot of the files.
In the middle of my rambling, I suddenly stop. “Oh, dear lord. Listen to me. I sound like the kind of corporate stooge that I make fun of.”
She starts laughing. “Look at little Jo! Growing up!”
I point my finger at her. “You, hush.”
“While I’m always interested to know about the work stuff, I’m more interested in what else is going on at the shop.”
“I assume Dylan told you about my issues with Beau.”
“He just told me there were issues. He didn’t tell me what they were, so spill it, sister.”
“Oh, I don’t know that there is much to tell.” I say, trying to be a little vague because I know it’ll drive her crazy.
“Jo,” she leans forward and lowers her voice. “You have to give me something here. My tattoo client today did nothing but talk about her kids, which is fine, but I need a little grown up conversation. So, start talking.”
“Working with Beau has been…interesting.”
Leah just raises her eyebrows, waiting for me to continue.
“With me doing a lot of the office stuff, I don’t have to interact with him much.
Thank God. When we do have to communicate, it’s pretty brief.
Sometimes, I’ll see a small crack in his armor, but then, he realizes it and goes right back to being a dick.
It’s like he suddenly remembers he’s supposed to hate me and just flips a switch. ”
“What happened between you two? Bad breakup?”
“No, we never dated. We were just best friends.”
“Did you guys fuck and ruin the friendship or something?”
I’m a little surprised Dyl hasn’t already explained any of this to her. Isn’t that what married people are supposed to do? Tell each other everything?
“No. We never fucked. I kissed him once…the very first time we met.”
“Man, I just love how crazy you are.” She grins.
That’s a little funny coming from Leah because before my brother, she had quite the wild streak too. She and I are actually quite similar. We both have a decent amount of tattoos. We both like to speak our minds. And we both have made some extremely questionable decisions in our past lives.
It’s like we are kindred spirits. Maybe that’s why when I start telling her the story of Beau and I, I just keep talking. It all comes pouring out.
She listens to me tell her about how Beau was my favorite person in the world and how leaving him behind almost killed me.
I’ve never admitted that out loud before. I’ve always stood by my decision to leave and acted like it was no big deal.
I’m not sure why I blurt out this sudden confession.
Maybe the wine is making me more chatty.
Or maybe it’s because Leah is just so damn easy to talk to.
I think it helps that she's not one of my actual siblings. When I bare my soul to her, there’s no judgement.
I love my sisters and brother, but none of them can resist the urge to tell me I’m about to do something stupid–or the urge to say I told you so when I inevitably do it anyway.
When I finally take a breath, she mulls over everything I just told her. While she thinks, I go grab the bottle of wine off the kitchen counter and refill each of our glasses.
As I’m pouring, I say, “I don’t know if this is a big deal, but Luna has pulled all of the pots out of the cabinet and is meticulously lining them up in front of her.”
“She does that a lot. Wait a few minutes. She’ll start trying to make music on them.
“Is she auditioning for Stomp?” I joke.
“At this point, nothing would surprise me with that little girl. I’ve learned to pick my battles.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Anyway. Back to you and Beau.”
Damn. I was hoping she forgot.
“Do you really think he hates you?” She questions.
“Uh, yeah. Pretty sure he actually hates me.”
She taps her finger on her lip as she thinks. It’s like she doesn’t believe me or something. I figure she’s going to tell me what she’s hung up on, but she doesn’t.
Instead, she catches me off-guard by asking, “So, why did you leave? It sounds like you guys had some big plans after high school.”
While I love Leah, and I feel comfortable talking to her, I don’t think that’s a topic I want to get into. It’s not something that I’ve ever talked about with anyone. Seeing as I never told Beau my reasoning, it doesn’t seem right to share it with anyone else.
That fact still rings true.
So, I just say, “At the time, I had my reasons.”
Before she can press further, I add, “You know, when the hottest guy in town asks you to hop on the back of his hog and run away with him, you don’t say no.”
Honestly, that guy had nothing to do with my leaving. He was just my ride. He and I didn’t last longer than a week, and he ended up being an asshole.
An asshole who had no idea where a clit was or why it was important.
It just goes to show that someone being good looking doesn’t mean a damn thing.
Leah looks like she doesn’t entirely believe my answer, but she lets it go.
When she does speak again, she says, “I know it’s probably hard dealing with Beau–and working with him–but I don’t want it to scare you off. We are all really happy you’re back.”
“Don’t worry. I think you guys are stuck with me.
” I pause to sip my wine, which is starting to taste better and better.
“The whole Beau thing is annoying, but I’m no stranger to people not liking me.
Hell, at least half the people in this town have hated me at one point or another.
It’s never really bothered me. When people look down at me, it fuels me to be better…
or more of a bitch…whichever one I’m feeling like. ”
She grins. “That-a-girl. I’m glad working at the shop is going pretty well.”
“Me too. I know it’s supposed to only be part-time, though, so I need to find something else to occupy my time.”
“Your mom hasn’t roped you into working at Andre’s?” She asks.
“Oh, I’m sure I’ll end up there at some point, but I need to find something fun too.”
“Any thoughts?”
“I used to volunteer at the animal shelter, so maybe I’ll go back there.”
“Oh, I bet all the dogs and cats would love that.”
Not wanting to talk about myself anymore, I change the subject to ask her how things are going with her and my brother.
When I get up again to go to the bathroom, I hear a noise coming from the shower. When I yank open the curtain, I find Luna sitting down eating a mini candy bar.
Before I can ask any questions, she puts a finger up to her lips. “Shhh. Mommy thinks I’m playing with the pots.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me, kid.”