“You’re right,” Kendall said, sighing. “How about I run home and change?”
Mortician gritted his teeth and Christopher smirked, enjoying the fuck out of himself.
“Here,” Mortician said, fishing his wallet out of his cut and handing Kendall two cards. “Use one card for a jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, and boots, and the other one for whatever the fuck you want for the picnic. Distributing the cost won’t hurt my fucking heart so much.”
“Do I have a spending limit?”
Christopher snickered.
“As long as you act like you got fucking sense, no,” Mortician bit out.
“I won’t spend over five thousand dollars.”
Mortician choked, but before he asked her what the fuck she intended to buy—at least that’s what Christopher would’ve asked her—she hugged him again.
“Thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Johnnie hasn’t given me his credit card to buy myself anything in years. I have my own and make my own money, but it would be nice if he at least offered sometimes.” Another kiss to Mortician’s cheek. “Thank you.” She turned to Christopher. “And thank you for calling him and talking to me.”
Christopher nodded, clapped Mort on the back, and left him alone to keel over from stingy motherfuckery.
Languishing in the bathroom was a new fucking experience for Diesel. No,languishingwas one thing. He was fuckinghiding. The moment he opened the door, Jana would look at him with expectation.Hope. It wouldn’t matter to her that he’d escort her to the treehouse via the back route—back stairs, back hallways, back pathways outside—as if he were ashamed of her.
Except Rebel was home.
Hewasn’tashamed of Jana—he didn’t want to cross swords with Rebel.Maybeif Jana saw her, she would demand an explanation because how Rebel felt about him was written all over her face. The only idiot who didn’t get a fucking clue was emo boy.
Whom she’d allowed to kiss her. Diesel hadn’t given a fuck about the champagne, but it was the excuse he needed to confront her. He applauded her impetuosity that led her to stealing that bottle. Without it, he would’ve had to live with the knowledge that she was in that fucking room.
Allowing emo boy to kiss her. Her first kiss. Even if she hadn’t blared that, Diesel would’ve known she’d been kissed for the first time. Romantically? Passionately? Either left a sick feeling inside him.
Her lips had been a little swollen, red, alluring, but the blueness of her eyes were soft and dazed, her cheeks flushed.
Diesel would never forget how she looked or his jealousfury. It left him helpless to even try and pretend it was anything else. He couldn’t wait to fucking cut out Kaia’s tongue and gut him.
Scowling, Diesel glanced at his watch. 10:30. He’d awakened at his normal 7 a.m. with Jana curled against him. Instead of her presence smothering him, it pleased him to open his eyes and realize she was there.
He felt…a way. He’d taken that feeling down to breakfast, Once he ate, he brought Jana a plate, enjoying her company. He’d even made love to her and then held her in his arms while they laughed and joked. Time had gotten away from him and before he knew it, it was 9:45.
Then, Rebel knocked on his fucking door. Believing he’d taken the day off, she’d invited him to watch a movie with her.
Until Jana squealed and gushed, “Hi Rebel. I can’t wait to formally meet you. I’d invite you in but both Diesel and I are in the altogether. Diesel is already late for work. You and I can watch the movie together.”
The anger and hurt in Rebel’s eyes destroyed the little peace Diesel had found.
“Fuck you,” she’d growled, and limped her way back to her room.
He’d slammed the door, furious with Jana. Unfortunately,Janahad been crushed, thinking Rebel cursed her, when Diesel knew she’d spoken to him. The tears in Jana’s eyes and the way her face crumpled upset him, too.
“She hates me,” she said.
“I’m going to talk to her, sweetheart,” he promised.
“Can I talk—?”
He didn’t want to deny Jana and hurt her even more, so he chickened the fuck out. “I have to shower, babe. As you pointed out, I’m already late for work. Rest while I dress.”
She’d nodded. Sniffled. Laid her head back on the pillow.
Diesel escaped to the bathroom and hadn’t left yet, but he had to get to the office. Sighing, he opened the door. Jana was sitting on the edge of the bed, subdued and morose. He thrust his fingers through his hair.
