Chapter Nineteen
Kiyah
“Listen up,” Dad said as he approached the seven of us, who were lined up outside the party bus as if we were a seven-person infantry receiving a pep talk before very likely dying for a rich man’s cause.
“I didn’t sign up for a lecture. I’m signing out,” Nori muttered. I rolled my eyes when she ditched her hearing aids and shoved them into her blinged-out fanny pack that said, “I stay strapped.”
And she’s not talking about guns….
Dad grasped his hands behind his back and stopped before us.
Grant and I gazed at each other and held back our smiles as Dad geared up to give us the same talk he always did when we left the house as a group.
It didn’t matter if we were going to the mall or on a field trip; he always had to impart some words of wisdom and caution to us. I froze when he turned to me.
“Kiyah, how is your collarbone?”
It hurts like hell, but I’ll keep that to myself because the last thing I want is Grant guiltily moping about or hovering. He should enjoy himself like everyone else. That man needs a little fun in his life.
“It couldn’t be better.”
“Good. You know where you went wrong, right?”
“I do, and it won’t happen again.”
“See to it that it doesn’t. Kieran is $100.00 richer because of you.”
“That’s what happens when you bet against Big Bro,” Kieran commented.
“Calm down, Kiss Ass.”
Everyone snickered, including Nori, who, despite not signing up for a lecture, was still tuned in by lip-reading.
“You all know what I’m about to say.”
“Don’t go out there and show your ass,” we all recited lazily.
“He stole that from me,” Mom chimed in.
“Where it came from does not matter,” Dad continued, “but how you all represent your family does. Dare I say the Bakers and Powells are pillars of the community, and your actions and behaviors can negatively impact the legacy that Anthony and I curated? I expect you all to celebrate Daisy and Nori’s pending union responsibly, and I expect you all here by 9:00 AM tomorrow, fresh-faced, hydrated, and prepared to get these two love birds of prey married. ”
“You’re not funny, Dad,” Daisy drawled, folding her arms over her chest.
Dad traversed to Grant at the front of the line and paused before him. “Grant.”
“Dad,” he replied, standing a little straighter.
“You’re not responsible for everyone tonight. Relax and have fun.”
Grant’s shoulders sagged in relief. “I will.”
Dad nodded and proceeded down the line. “Casey, wrap it up, and no married women.”
“Always, Dad,” he responded with a taunting smirk.
“No drag racing, Kiyah.”
“Drag racing? What’s that?” I asked sarcastically.
“Ask your Supra.” My mouth popped open, and he snapped his fingers repeatedly. “That’s right. You can’t because it’s totaled.” My siblings childishly oohed from his burn as he continued down the line. “Daisy, keep your hands to yourself. Nori—”
He paused when he noticed she wasn’t wearing her hearing aids. “Where are your hearing aids, child?” he spoke as he signed. She shrugged. He looked at Daisy, and she shook her head furiously.
“Don’t even look at me because I had nothing to do with it.”
“Right.” He glanced down at Nori’s fanny pack.
“I admire your fanny pack. Granddad would be proud that you are exercising your 2nd amendment right.” My knees grew weak because that shit was too funny, and I had to hold onto Casey for support.
Nori grinned widely in Dad’s face and thanked him for the compliment.
“Ronan… well… none of that He-Man bullshit, all right?”
“I prefer Thor.”
“No fighting if you can avoid it,” Dad said, sighing before stopping in front of the youngest of the group.
“Kieran?”
“Yes, Father?”
“Don’t come back.”
“Wh-what?” he stuttered in disbelief as he adjusted his bifocals on his face.
“It’s time for you to fly and leave the nest, baby bird. I hope you enjoyed your last night in your bedroom. Your belongings will be packed and waiting for you at the door once you return. Ronan offered to take you in, so there’s no sense in delaying the inevitable.”
“B-b-but you and Mom will be lonely and miserable without me,” Kieran protested.
Dad and Mom’s eyes met, and the way he looked her up and down like she was a tomahawk steak on a Tuesday was criminal enough to land him on somebody’s watchlist.
“I’m sure your mother and I will find some way to occupy our time.
” He moved back to the center to address us all again.
“If, for some reason, any or all of you are arrested for being idiots, Burgess is on standby. Do not call me, your mother, Anthony, or Simone. Burgess is on retainer. In closing, be safe, be responsible, know your limits, and look out for each other. You’re dismissed. ”
* * *
“It’s hot. Can we get on the bus and leave already?” I asked Casey, who strolled down the line with an upturned baseball cap.
“In a minute, Kiyah. Pick one. Open it, but don’t reveal your number.”
I peered into the cap and selected a folded piece of paper.
Number three.
Grant selected his paper and showed it to me despite Casey’s warning.
Number one.
Casey started pacing in front of us like Dad had a few minutes ago.
“The number you selected matches your drinking buddy. If your buddy is drinking, you are drinking. Your drinking buddy is also your buddy for the entire trip; where your buddy goes, you go. Grant, what’s your number?”
“One.”
Kieran let out a whoop and held his paper in the air, confirming they were buddies for the day.
“We’re gonna get fucked up, Grant!” Kieran exclaimed.
“That’s just fucking great,” Grant muttered.
“Kiyah?”
“I got three.”
“It looks like you’re stuck with me,” Ronan commented.
Eh, I’m okay with that. It could’ve been worse. I could’ve been stuck with Nori or Daisy, who are both determined to get “white girl wasted.”
“That means the brides-to-be are drinking buddies,” Casey confirmed.
“Who is your drinking buddy?” Nori signed.
“I’m everyone’s drinking buddy. Now get y’alls asses on that bus.”
I climbed the stairs of the bus with a tiny bit of trepidation. It’d been a long time since the Baker and Powell children were together, and I prayed we didn’t have to ring Mr. Burgess in the middle of the night.
Grant
“Kieran, get off the damn bus,” I growled, trying to coax my idiot brother into the rental so we could shower and rest before dinner. I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed when I received a wet burp in response.
“Oh, God. I think I’m gonna throw up,” he said, whining as if it wasn’t his idea to see who could chug three beers the fastest.
Fucking lightweight.
“Suck it up, Kieran, and let’s go before I leave you in this sweltering bus.”
“How are you even walking right now?” he asked weakly.
“On two feet; let’s go.”
“Carry me.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“You did it for Kiyah.”
Because there is no way in hell I’ll allow Ronan or one of Nori’s finance bro friends do it.
“I’m not carrying a grown-ass man into the house.”
“You’re just jealous.”
My eyes narrowed skeptically. “Jealous of what?”
“That my melanin is popping and you look like the Red Lobster logo,” he said.
He held out his arm and pointed at his bronzed skin, which, only eight hours ago, was several shades lighter.
Casey had rented a luxury party boat, and we’d spent the last eight hours on Lake Travis, drinking, swimming, fishing, goofing off, and grilling.
For the most part, I enjoyed myself. I’d taken Dad’s advice and chose to relax rather than remain alert for the next disaster to happen.
I didn’t even stress myself out when I noticed Ronan or that Maverick guy getting all up in Kiyah’s shit.
When they got too close, she subtly put distance between them and huddled up with the girls, sans Ruby, to do jello shots or gasp and squeal over whatever gossip they shared.
I mostly mingled with my drinking buddy and Casey.
Top Gun tried speaking with me about work when I politely told him to “get the fuck away from me.” Kieran choked on his beer, and Casey looked at me as if I’d grown two heads.
Was my behavior untoward? Absolutely. Do I care? Hell no. Sometimes you have to be rude to a motherfucker so there’s no wires crossed. I don’t like him, and I don’t want to get to know him.
Kieran burped, and that time, he leaned over and threw up in a paper bag that once held a bottle of tequila we picked up from the liquor store.
I’m out of here.
Frustrated, I left Kieran on the bus and headed to the rental.
Casey had rented a palatial mansion for the evening, which had to cost him five figures.
It was over the top, but apparently, there were enough bedrooms for all the siblings to have their own and a few more for the rest of the bridal party in attendance to double up.
I came upon Daisy and Nori and shook my head as Nori attempted to carry Daisy on her back into the house. She was wobbly on her feet, and it wouldn’t be long before they tipped over like dominoes.
“Do you need help?” I offered.
“I… I… got it,” Nori said through clenched teeth as she sluggishly moved across the lawn. “What kind of man would I be if I couldn’t carry my woman over the threshold?”
“You’re not a man.”
“Your sister calls me daddy,” she answered, voice raspy from day-drinking and shouting excitedly at the top of her lungs.
Is it too late to be adopted into another family?
“On that note, I’ll leave you to it.”
I entered the mansion, barely paying attention to the opulent features and furnishings, and bypassed the finance bros doing keg stands in the kitchen and the bridesmaids, who could still stand dancing poorly to rap music.
“Where’s your buddy?” Casey asked as we passed each other on the stairs.
“Bus.”
“You can’t leave your buddy behind,” he protested as I took the steps two at a time. I didn’t stop moving until I was in Kiyah’s bedroom, locking the door behind me. She wasn’t in bed where I left her.
Shower.
I peeled my tank top off, wincing from the mild sunburn, and dropped it on the floor.
I stripped off my swim trunks and grasped my thickening dick as I silently entered the bathroom.
We’d planned to fool around after dinner when everyone else went to Sixth Street, but I’d been aching for Kiyah all day after watching her strut around in her white bikini.
No one would question my lack of participation.
My siblings were aware that clubbing wasn’t my scene.
I preferred a low-key lounge or some hole-in-the-wall bar.
No way would I be subjected to a night of drunk college kids.
Kiyah already agreed to use her collarbone as an excuse, and with the beating she took earlier, no one would doubt her.
Water streaked down the glass as I watched Kiyah soap her freshly tanned body.
I bit my bottom lip and stroked myself, which was crazy considering all I had to do was ask and she’d drop to her knees and suck the skin clean off my dick.
I wasn’t much into voyeurism, but there was something sickeningly satisfying about watching her without her knowledge.
“Grant, are you going to stand out there grunting like a pervert with your dick in your hand, or are you going to come in and throw me some?”
“That depends,” I said.
“On what?” she asked as I entered the shower behind her.
“Are you gonna catch it?”
* * *
“What are you ordering?” Kiyah whispered to me as I perused the menu and ignored her wandering hand under the table. We never got that nap because Kiyah was challenging to satiate. Whenever I thought she had enough, she was right back in the saddle.
“I’m thinking about ordering the Chilean seabass.”
“Chilean seabass,” she mocked under her breath.
“What’s wrong with the seabass?”
“Sounds like something Mom would order.”
“True, but I’ve been eating a lot of red meat lately, and I know we’ll be chowing down on steak tomorrow at the reception.”
She snapped her fingers and pointed at me.
“Good thinking. I think I’ll have the scallops and a salad.
” I skimmed the menu a bit longer when a throat cleared.
Daisy stood with her wine glass and prepared to give a speech that no one had asked for.
Her mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear the words when my eyes landed on him across the restaurant.
I wanted to believe my eyes were playing a trick on me, but it was clear as day.
There he was—the Governor Hopeful, raising a glass to me.
I don’t think this is a coincidence, and it’s time for me and Mr. Branson to have a chat.