“Anyhoo,” my ma said in an upbeat voice. “He said I’m all clear.”
Jesus.She could’ve gotten to it a little quicker than she did. I nearly passed out from an anxiety attack. She should’ve just said it at dinner and not made a production out of the entire thing.
I clutched my chest and sucked in a huge breath. “Thanks for almost giving me a heart attack, Ma.”
Ma’s face turned a beautiful shade of red, and she laughed. “Sorry. I didn’t know how else to say it.”
“You had me panicked,” Joe admitted, rubbing his forehead before digging his fingertips into the corners of his eyes.
“Everyone just needs to be happy.” She smiled.
I think she enjoyed busting our balls, but that was just plain mean. Cancer news wasn’t something that should be drawn out.
“I love you, Ma,” I told her, and everyone followed suit.
“She’s my girl. She can’t leave me yet,” Pop said, wrapping an arm around my mother’s waist.
Dessert was served with a little more enthusiasm than usual. Everyone had been feeling the weight of the impending test results for a solid week, and now that we knew she was clear, it was like a weight had been lifted off our shoulders.
“Who wants to join me outside to eat?” Max asked, staring straight at me.
“I guess I do,” I said, grabbing my plate from the table.
“Me too.” Suzy started toward the lanai and was joined by Mia.
I knew exactly what this was about. Mike told Mia, and she made the phone calls, telling everyone that I had lied. I knew the word was out about Kat before I’d even stepped foot in the house. When I woke up in Jacksonville this morning, there were thirty-seven texts in our group message.
I ignored every single one of them because there wasn’t a point in arguing via text. I knew I’d get my ass chewed out today anyway; why prolong the agony? They needed to get over their shit and quick. We’d already hired Kat, and her first day of work was tomorrow. There was no way in hell I’d let them derail anything.
“So,” Max said, smacking her lips together and tapping her foot against the pavers. “Do you have something to tell us?”
I sat down, brushing the hair from my eyes before staring straight at her. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“About Kat. You know,” Suzy said, being her cute, innocent, and sometimes clueless self.
“She starts tomorrow.”
“And does she lick pussy or not?” Max got right to the point.
I leaned back in the chair and clutched the armrests. “I didn’t ask.”
“Mike said she doesn’t,” Mia barked out.
“Mike probably doesn’t know what day it is,” I reminded her as I pointed at my head with a shitty smirk. “Listen, bitches. I don’t care if she sucks cock, eats pussy, or fucks a dog. She’s a damn good artist, and we’re lucky to have her at Inked.”
Max scoffed and so did Mia, but Suzy nodded.
“Maybe you should meet her before you condemn her to being a trollop who’ll steal your middle-aged husbands.”
“Our men are hot as fuck,” Suzy said.
I almost fell backward, toppling from my chair, at her words. I so loved dirty-mouthed Suzy, but she didn’t always make an appearance.
“Bravo on the perfect use of the word, babe.” Mia reached across the table and gave Suzy a high five.
“Well, it’s true.” Suzy looked pleased with herself.
“Isn’t Inked’s birthday coming up?” Mia asked.
