“Okay, that would make sense.”
Lox smiles. “We’ll keep an eye on her. Doc has already said she can’t go back to work until after next week.”
I’m a little irritated. “When did Doc say that? Dr. Franz said I should be able to go back next week.”
He shrugs. “Doc said he wants you to take next week off to make sure you are completely healed. He stopped by to see Marco yesterday.”
Fuck, I cannot be off that long. It won’t kill me but it will really put a dent in my account.
As is, Lox can sense what I’m worrying about, and he looks down at me. “He said he was giving you sick leave for the week.”
“I haven’t been there a year yet. I don’t get sick leave.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. That’s just what he said.”
My family leaves, taking Sage with them. Sly comes in the room. “So how many old ladies am I going to have to take out tonight?” He jumps around in a fighting stance.
I laugh. “I hope none.”
Marco and Huck are talking in close quarters in the kitchen while Elizabeth sits in the living room reading on her kindle. I follow Sly and Lox back to their living room, sitting down by Elizabeth. “What are you reading?”
“It’s a book by Terri Anne Browning. She writes about some sexy ass rockers. Well, and she has a series about an MC, too. There aren’t that many books in that series yet.”
“Ooh, I’ve read some of the rocker books. I love them, I’ve been meaning to get the rest of them.”
I hear someone knocking on the front door and Huck yells that he’ll get it.
“What have you been reading?”
“I just finished Merciless Ride by Chelsea Camaron. Have you read any of those?”
Her face lights up, but before she can answer all hell breaks loose in the foyer.
CHAPTER 29
LOX
As soon as I get settled on the recliner, someone knocks on the door. Huck was already walking from the kitchen so he said he’d grab it. Sly is telling me about the video game he wants to get Slick for Christmas, while Elizabeth and Sloan talk about some books or something. That’s when I hear the shouting from the foyer.
“NO! GET YOUR CRACK HEAD, FUCKED UP ASS OUT OF THIS HOUSE!”
“I’m not leaving until I see your brother,” the lady slurs.
Fuck, it’s their mom.
Sly and I jump from the couch at the same time, running to the door.
Their mom, Betty, stands in the foyer, and she looks like she’s been a few rounds in the cage with us.
“Sly! My sweet boy, your brother doesn’t want me to talk to you.”
Sly looks over at her. “Mom, I thought you were clean?”
“I was but Bill has this friend who got us a great deal on some blow. We were on our way here for dinner and then we had a little disagreement so now I need your help to get him the fuck out of my house.”
“Get out!” Huck yells at her again. I see everyone else creeping into the foyer.
“Sly was always the sweet one. You love your momma, don’t you, Sly? You’ll help me, right?”
Poor Sly looks heartbroken. “Mom, I think you need to go. You can’t come into Elaine’s home like this.”
Marco steps forward. “Betty, you need to leave. They’re right, this is Elaine’s home.”
“Oh Elaine! The wonderful Elaine! How did she rate so high with my damn kids?! That’s what I want to know. Fuck you, Marco!”
Huck looks at her coldly. “Because we rated with her. The only things that rated with you were drugs and booze. Oh, and how could I forget, the men that brought them to you.”
We all hear the crack sound when she slaps Huck across the face. “You ungrateful, sorry piece of shit. I gave you life. I wish I’d never had you. I should’ve had an abortion and gotten rid of both of you.”
Suddenly, I hear another crack of a slap, but it’s Betty holding her now busted nose and Elizabeth stepping back.
I push Sloan behind me. I don’t need her getting injured over this stupid bitch.
Betty glares at Elizabeth. “You little-.”
Elizabeth gets really close to her, putting her finger in Betty’s face. “You never talk to your children that way. Never! Now get out of here, before I do more than slap you.”
“Fine. I didn’t want to be around you little sniveling shits anyway.” She turns, storming back to her car.
“Is someone going to make sure she doesn’t drive?” I hear Sloan say.
Huck grits out, “Don’t care.”
“But what if she hurts someone else?”
Huck and Sly go out the front door, yelling and cussing. It’s a really good thing my mom’s neighbors are like eighty and nearly deaf.
~*~*~
At 7:45 p.m., I’m standing with Sloan in line with a ticket for a new Xbox system when they start the sale at 8p.m., while Sly stands in line with tickets for some games. We still have to make our way over to pick up a Razor scooter.
“Do you think Sly will be okay over there?” Sloan asks, watching a couple of older ladies trying to charm their way in front of Sly.
I chuckle. “I don’t know. They are looking like they might get the upper hand on him.”
“He can stand up to the biggest guys in the ring, but a couple of old ladies can con him.” She snickers.
“Hey, what can I say?” I shrug. “My mom always taught us to be nice to people.”
She sighs. “So that was their mom, huh?”
“Yeah. Real classy, huh?”
“That’s so terrible for them. The things she said to them. That was horrible.”
“As bad as it sounds, they’re used to it. Although, seeing Elizabeth ready to throttle her was new to the festivities.”
Her eyes get huge. “Wow. Yeah, tell me about it. I mean I know Liz can take care of herself, but she was badass tonight.”
A voice booms over the intercom announcing that the sale has begun. That’s when it gets really freakin’ crazy.
A few hours later, we are on our way home and Sly is going on and on in the back seat. “I’m serious, dude. Some of those women would be badass in the cage. I walked past two old ladies fighting over a crock pot. Then there were those two mom’s fighting over some kind of doll.”
Sloan laughs. “It’s crazy in there this time of year. I really don’t normally do Black Friday. This year, though, with Sage wanting all of this video game stuff, it was the only way I could fit it into my budget.”
“I’m so excited. I got him a game too while I was waiting in line for that one game. I can’t wait to play it.”
We both laugh. I look up in the rearview mirror. “Sly, you do know you won’t be able to play the game until after he opens Santa’s presents, right?”
“Yeah, I know. It sucks.” Sly sits back in a huff.
“It’ll be okay, Sly. I promise, as soon as he opens his gifts, you guys can have a video game marathon while he’s off from school.”
He sighs. “Okay.”
I have to laugh and so does Sloan. It’s like he’s the same age as Slick.
I look over at Sloan and you can tell she’s exhausted. I put my hand on hers. “Hey, are you okay? You’ve had a big day out.”
“Yeah, I’m just tired. I wear out kinda quick.”
“How about we drop the kid off and I’ll help you get the presents out at home?”
She leans toward the center of the truck, resting on the console. “That sounds good.”
CHAPTER 30
SLOAN
Walking into my house with Lox is almost surreal. I can’t believe he’s here. He’s been here dropping me off or picking me up, but there’s something about this that’s different.
There has been this tension building between us and right now all I want are his lips on mine again.
I motion for him to follow me and we walk in my bedroom. “We have to hide it all here in my closet, up on the shelf. The scooter we’ll have to put over in the co
rner of the closet and I’ll throw a blanket over it. He’s not normally nosey in my room, but you never know.”
I drop the other bags on my bed and sit down in exhaustion. “I never knew I could be so tired. I mean I guess I was right after I had Sage, but I didn’t have time to think about being tired. You know?”
He sits down beside me. “You know, thinking back I don’t see how my mom managed. I mean technically she only had me, but then the twins were there all the time. She always did what was best for all three of us. She worked twelve hour shifts at the hospital. My grandmother was alive when we were real little so she helped watch us, but later we spent a lot of time at Marco’s. Women like you and her, you just-. You just wow me with the sheer determination you have.”
I shake my head. “It’s not determination. It’s just life. I was very lucky that I had my parents and my brother. I wouldn’t have been able to finish school and get myself in a better place to take care of him.”
He smiles and pushes a stray hair behind my ear. “You’re amazing.”
I lean into him and our lips meet. At first it is slow and sweet. It quickly turns into need and passion. I tilt my head so he can have access to my neck. “Lox.” His name comes out of my mouth breathlessly. Falling back to the bed, I pull him with me.
A dull pain shoots through me, “Ouch,” reminding me that I’ve just had surgery.
He pulls away quickly. “Shit. I’m sorry, Sloan. Are you okay?”
I pull him back closer to me. “Yeah, we just have to be careful.”
“Should we be doing this?”
“I don’t care.” I pull his mouth back over mine.
His hand slides up my rib cage and over my breasts. “God, I love your tits,” he moans against my neck, where he’s currently kissing.
“Thanks. I guess.”
We both start laughing. “Thanks. Is that really all you have?”
I start laughing. “Sorry, never had someone really talk to me during, you know.”
“Laughing isn’t good for my ego, you know? But you should’ve had someone whispering dirty things to you in your pretty little ears all along.”
I go back to staring at his lips and he leans back over me. “I want to kiss you again.”
I look up at him. “I’m not stopping you.”
“Okay, but no more laughing at me.”
Before I can answer, he takes my mouth. He slides his hand down my ribcage to the waistband of my yoga pants. He looks me in the eyes as if he’s asking if it’s okay. I nod and he slides his hand inside my pants and then my panties. Slowly, he glides his fingers into my wetness.
“Lox.” It comes out breathy and needy.
With his other hand, he slides my shirt up over my breast, tugging my bra cup down and taking my pebbled nipple into his mouth. I cry out. “Oh God!”
He starts working his fingers, playing with the throbbing nub inside my folds. It happens quickly. I can’t believe I just came that fast. I laugh. “Okay, you either have the magic touch or it’s just been that long.”
“I’m going to go with I’m that awesome.” He grins.
“Okay, we’ll go with that. I feel like I need to return the favor. I can’t do much more than that for a couple of weeks.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t expect anything in return, babe.”
“I want to though.” I slide down off the bed, tugging at his track pants and boxers. I slide the tip of his erection in my mouth, flicking my tongue at the underside of the swollen head.
“Fuck. That feels good, pretty girl.” His hand slides over the back of my head, stroking my hair.
I keep working his cock to the back of my throat, using my hand to rub his balls. Soon, his balls tighten and I can feel his cock throbbing in my mouth.
“Babe, I’m about to cum. If you don’t want to- ah God.”
I keep sucking harder when he starts to tremble. I feel the warm rush of his cum hitting the back of my throat.
“Fuuuuckk!” he cries out.
He reaches down, pulling me up over him. “That was some kind of payback.”
I grin and snuggle into his chest. “Do you want to crash here tonight?” I ask timidly. I don’t know why I should feel nervous, we’ve shared a bed before. But something about him being in my house is so…overwhelming.
He pulls my chin up to meet his face. “That sounds like the best plan I’ve heard all day.”
“I’m going to get a shower.” I raise my eyebrows.
“I’ll join you. I’m sure you could use a hand, since you just had surgery and all.” He grins wickedly.
I look up into his eyes and rasp, “So very thoughtful of you.”
~*~*~
A little bit later, after an amazing shower, we are snuggling in my bed. “So do you want to sneak a couple of episodes of Grey’s?”
“God no. Sly’s not allowed to get behind us anymore after he scared the ever living shit out of me last weekend.”
I chuckle. “What happened?”
“Right after I dropped you off, I’m in the shower-.” He stops and looks at me. “Well, to be honest I was thinking about you, okay? I was taking care of business.”
I bark out a laugh. “Oh my God!”
“Hey, I’m just being honest. Anyway, I’m almost there when the bathroom door flies open and Sly is screaming about Mark dying. So I’m wondering who Mark is, I turn the shower off and jump out, grabbing my towel. He’s pacing in the bathroom, back and forth. I’m like who’s Mark, what happened? He’s like ‘Sloan’. So I momentarily freak the fuck out because I’m wondering what happened to you. Finally, Huck clears up the whole mess. So Sly is no longer allowed to get behind or watch without one of us. He’s too emotional.”
I’m laughing so hard I have tears streaming down my face. “Oh oh oh my God. That is some funny shit.”
“So yeah, we’re back to only watching it together. Then he’s like ‘Mark Sloan was my idol.’ Fucking idiot. All because Mark could pull ass.”
“Hey, you guys are the ones who had the ‘Hit it and Quit it’ motto. So I don’t think he’s alone in the idiot category.” I look at him. “Was that really your motto?”
He shrugs. “When we were younger, most definitely. More them than me, I’m just not into completely random hookups.” He slides back against the headboard. “So what’s another show we can watch?”
I shrug. “Well, I would say True Blood, but I’m going to suggest you and I wait on watching that.”
He laughs. “Oh really, can’t handle a little B porn?”
“No, I’m just not supposed to have sex for a couple of weeks and if I watch that, I just might have to break doctor’s orders. The brother on that show, Jason, turns me on seriously.”
His mouth forms an ‘O’ and I can see his Adams apple when he swallows hard. “So what do you want to watch then?”
“How about Grown Ups 2? I can’t watch it with Sage.”
He smiles. “Sounds good. I love some Sandler.”
We snuggle back in bed like we’ve done this a million times. It’s comforting and feels right.
CHAPTER 31
SLOAN
I’m excited to be picking up my little man today. As soon as I walk in the door, Mom pulls me into the kitchen.
“Honey, I wanted to talk with you for a second.” She motions for me to sit. “The other day, Sage and I went to the grocery store. While we were in there I ran into Mrs. Smith, literally. I bumped into her with my cart on accident. When I apologized, she looked at Sage. I mean she really looked at him. When I tried to move on, she stopped me. She said ‘It’s true, isn’t it? He’s-.’” My mom can see me stop breathing I think. She puts her hand out. “I stopped her before she said anything in front of him and asked him to go get me some bananas. Once he walked away, she asked me again. I told her that none of her family had a right to ask that question. That they lost that right when Lucas shoved a check in your hand and told you to take care of the problem. She had a shocked look on
her face. She said Lucas had always told her that Sage wasn’t his and that you’d cheated on him. She said she didn’t believe that you were that type of girl, but she wanted to believe her son. She said that as soon as she saw him with me, she knew that Sage looked just like Lucas did when he was that age.”
I let my head fall back into the wall. “Oh my God, Mom. This is why I moved.”
“No, honey, you moved because of Lucas. Not because of his mom and dad. We’ve always been very careful for no one to really make the connection.”
“I know, Mom. I know. But this could open a whole box of snakes I’m not ready to deal with.”
“Honey, I don’t think anything will come of it, okay? Mrs. Smith just nodded and looked over at Sage once more and walked away. She did whisper to me that she was sorry.”
“Let’s hope so, Mom. God, I hope so. I don’t want to deal with him ever again if possible.”
~*~*~
While having some time off was great, I’m ready to get back to work. It was great of Doc to let me have an extra week off. It made it so I could recover and get back in the swing of Sage going to school. The bad part is it gave me more time to think about my mother’s run in with Mrs. Smith. She was always nice to me, Mr. Smith was always stand-offish. They never treated me badly, though. Maybe Mom’s right, maybe nothing will come of it.
Last week, I stopped by the gym a few times, walked on the treadmill and did some light weights. I wasn’t allowed to do much more, and of course Sage had to get his workout in. Plus it gave me a little time to see Lox. He and the guys have been busy getting ready to have the grand re-opening of the gym. They’ve also had a couple of meetings with that guy from Bellator and Spike TV. It was so cute. They’ve ordered shirts with the gym’s logo on them, and Huck and Sly ordered a couple of shirts in Sage’s size. They are black sleeveless with white writing that says “MARCO’S” on the front. They also had “SLICK” put on the back of Sage’s. He was so pumped.
Letting Lox In Page 12
