Paloma huffs an annoyed breath. Emotions tend to make her uncomfortable. That might be a part of why I've not been gung ho to confide much of anything having to do with Dom. That, and the formidable feeling that is embarrassment.
Paisley smiles sweetly at Paloma, and then Paloma gasps. "Ouch." She reaches down to rub her leg. "Did you kick me?"
"No," Paisley answers innocently. "Someone somewhere must have a Paloma doll."
Paloma sticks out her tongue, and Paisley pointedly ignores it. To me, she says, "Here's the summary: I kinda love you, you're sorta stuck with me, and I'm a fantastic listener if you ever need an ear."
"Me too," Paloma says, pressing her chest against the table and leaning closer. "Everything she said."
"I appreciate that." I lift Malibu Dom in the air, shaking him gently. "Don't be surprised if there comes a point on this ill-fated road trip that you receive an SOS. My dysfunctional family and the man I loathe all crammed into one RV. What could possibly go wrong?"
Then I pinch Malibu Dom's head and give it a twist.
CHAPTER 16
Dominic
"You all right?"Klein's eyebrows cinch with concern.
"Yeah," I groan, palming the back of my neck. "Sharp, hot pain. Must've slept wrong on my neck last night."
"One would've thought that edible could've relaxed you enough to loosen up your neck." Klein reaches across the cab of his late-model 4Runner and snaps a finger far too close to my eyes. "You're fully sober now, right?"
I smack his hand away. "Dude! What are you doing?"
His hand settles back on the steering wheel. "Checking your reflexes."
"By blinding me?"
"Seeing how quickly you blink."
"Speaking as your literary agent, I think it's imperative I remind you how much you should want me to have my vision. So I can, you know,read your books."
Klein scoffs. "Have you heard me read out loud? I've been told my voice is melodious."
"Only my entire childhood," I mutter. Klein had severe dyslexia, to the point he went to a special school. He struggled to read, but he loved stories. As kids, we'd take turns readingto each other. Sometimes I'd secretly feel frustrated, unable to get into the story because of all the starts and stops when Klein was reading. It was good for him though, and I knew that. Practice using the methodologies he was learning in school was fundamental to his development. Also, my dad promised me my own bag of ranch-flavored sunflower seeds if I'd let Klein read to me as much as he wanted. To many people that might not sound like a big deal, but to me, it was HUGE.
"You really screwed up with Cecily today," Klein says, bopping his head to the beat of a song. "Dearly Departed" by Shakey Graves.
The memory of Cecily, lip curled and abhorrence burning in her eyes, washes over me. The way she leaned closer, though she didn't need to. The sadness that ringed her brown irises, simmering below the surface. Cecily received terrible news today, and somehow I know she is waiting to give herself over to it. I definitely shouldn't have implied that Paisley and Paloma should know more about Cecily, but that's exactly what I did.
She'd saidI loathe you.
I'd saidThe feeling is mutual, Menace.
It's the truth, but only kind of. From my side, anyway. I loathe her only because she loathes me. Which sounds childish, but it incenses me that she hates me the way she does. Firstly, because I don't deserve it. Secondly, because... Well, I don't have a second reason yet, but I know I don't like it.
"Does she usually hate people?"
"There was a guy she went on a date with who stole a salt shaker. Or was it a pepper mill? I don't remember. Point is, she really hated him. But she definitely hates you extra."
I sigh, rubbing a circle over my temple. "She's the one who ran out on our date when my back turned."
Klein gawks. "What? Why am I just now learning about this?"
I shrug. "I felt really stupid. And since it didn't seem like you already knew, I assumed Paisley hadn't told you, which meant Cecily probably didn't tell Paisley. Therefore, I didn't tell you."
"Dumb," Klein declares. "File it under 'Shit I should have told my cousin'."
