He helped her carry her bags inside and she was grateful that he didn’t ask about Tyler. She wouldn’t be so lucky with her mother and brothers.
After a quick catch up with her dad, she walked down the corridor to Kevin’s man-cave. Apart from one text to say he’d arrived safely back home, she hadn’t heard from him and she wanted confirmation that he was okay. She slowly opened the door. He was still sleeping so she approached the bed quietly. Leaning over, she planted a kiss on his forehead. An arm came out from under the covers and wrapped around her neck.
“Merry Christmas, Jo-jo.”
“Merry Christmas, Bink.”
He sat up and rubbed a hand over his scruffy jaw. “Thanks for everything. I really appreciate what you did for me. You don’t know how much it means to me.”
She didn’t ask why he’d needed her help to get back home. He probably wouldn’t tell her anyway, so instead she smiled and gave him another hug. “That’s what big sisters are for.”
He smiled and dropped back into bed. She took that as her cue to leave. All she wanted to do was go to her old room and catch up on some sleep, but she had a bribe to pay. A sponge cake with strawberry frosting.
“Hi, mom,” she said, entering the kitchen. She gave her a quick kiss and decided to combat any and all questions in one go. “Tyler isn’t here. Don’t ask why. Don’t ask what happened. And don’t give me a speech about how Aquarians need to be more sensitive to the complex emotions of a Pisces.”
Mom smiled. “Okay, baby.”
Her mother continued cooking as Jordan ate breakfast and after the ice-cream filled a small void in her soul, she felt like she was ready to start baking. She had just placed all the ingredients on the table on the other side of the large kitchen when Danny came rushing in. “Sorry, Mommy Jess. I completely overslept.”
“Don’t worry about it,” her mother responded with a laugh. “Did you and Max have a good night’s sleep?”
That question caused frustration for Jordan for two reasons. One, her parents were old-school and yet they’d allowed Max and Danny to share a room together. Sure, Danny had spent the last six Christmases with them, but that wasn’t a good enough reason. Parents were always more lenient with boys, because her dad would never have allowed that with Tyler. Although she wanted to slap herself for that thought, she swiftly pushed her mind to her second point of frustration.
Max and Danny’s relationship was based on a lie and she felt sick just thinking about it. Lies always ended in disaster. She was living proof of that. And as much as she loved her brother, she wasn’t going to stand for him doing it. If Max hadn’t told Danny the truth yet, she was going to make him.
“Merry Christmas, Danny,” Jordan called from the other side of the kitchen.
“And to you too, Jordan,” she replied with a smile.
She began chopping vegetables. It was the only thing she could be trusted to do in the kitchen. Danny was a sweetheart. She always tried to help out where she could, but she was the worst cook in the world and Mom wouldn’t allow her near a stove.
“How’s work?” Jordan asked as she started with the batter.
“Great,” Danny responded. “I started my own company. Events planning and I love it.”
She was about to ask for more details when the back door opened.
“Tommy, I said no more chocolates!” Shane came in with his sons, Tommy and Tucker, following in behind him. “Now go to the living room and bother your mother.” Both children stomped their feet as they left the kitchen. “God, those kids are jerks!” Shane said when they were out of earshot.
“Must be a sign of good parenting,” Jordan teased.
“I told Debbie one was enough and what did she say? A child shouldn’t grow up alone, so now we havetwojerks.”
“Shane Eldrick,” Mom shouted from the other side. “I will not have you calling my grandsons such names.”
“You raised me to be honest, Ma. I only speak the truth.” He turned back to Jordan. “I see you’re busy this Christmas morning.”
“Fuck off,” she mouthed.
“Make sure there’s a good layer of frosting.” He ruffled her hair and walked out of the kitchen.
Danny and her mother continued chatting, but Jordan kept to herself, not wanting to really talk to anyone about anything. That was short-lived, though. Max came into the kitchen andafter giving a quick kiss to the other two woman, he slowly made his way towards her. She already knew what was coming.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned.
He didn’t care. His arm wound tightly around her neck and he forced her down into a choke hold. He was such a moron.
“Don’t be a sissy and complain to Mom,” he whispered in her ear.
