When I told her I was moving to Texas to attend Canyon University for my final year, it was meltdown city. She accused me ofchoosing him,along with being ungrateful for the life she had given me as a single parent. For leaving her high and dry. It was selfish and dramatic.As per usual.Fueled by a scorned heart and too many martinis. When she trashed my room and stole my credit card aspunishment,that was the last straw. I turned in my application and called my dad to accept his offer to patch our strained relationship. It was time to live forme.And I had never been more determined than now to do just that.
3
Preston
I hauled all seventeen bags of groceries inside of Wesley’s house. The kitchen held Wes himself, a beer in hand, and a swipe of glitter on his right cheek. Theo Winslow sat at the island, or should I saybrooded at the island.His six-foot-six ass made the stool look like a thimble. He nursed a beer, his scowl the same as always. Shaw Calloway was seated at the kitchen table, one hand propped up on a pillow as Kyndall painted his nails. His head was awkwardly tilted back as Hazel attempted to violently brush his cropped hair.
“Don’t worry. I got it,” I called as I dropped the groceries on the granite countertop.
Wesley checked his watch. “Took you long enough.”
“That place was a madhouse. Shaw is going next time.”
“Fuc—” Shaw winced. “I’m mean, fudge buckets.” He cleared his throat.
Kyndall narrowed her six-year-old eyes. “You almost said a bad word. And what does Daddy say about bad words?”
Her little head tilted to the side as he darted his gaze to the kitchen.
“Bad words hurt good feelings,” she stated with the seriousness of an IRS audit. “And bad words cost money.” She pointed to a glitter-covered jar on the counter by the fridge. “Pay up, Shawty.”
I choked on a laugh as he glared at Wesley. “Does this extend to the field? If so, I’m afraidDaddyhas racked up some debt.”
Wes chuckled, flipping him off as he lifted his beer. “I don’t make the rules. I just live here.”
“Where’s Rodney?” Theo asked.
“He had a family thing tonight. He’s hosting next month.” My hands moved to empty the grocery bags that were now covering the counter.
Shaw muttered athank Godas Hazel dropped the brush, abandoning her project. She ambled over to Theo, grinning while she signedupat the burly ex-lineman. Theo’s lips twitched slightly, not a full smile, but something as close to it as you could get for him before he snatched up Hazel from the ground.
Her hands flew, the four-year-old princess making her demands.Swing now.
Hazel was born with a vocal cord issue, causing her to be nonverbal. We’d all managed to learn some form of ASL to communicate with her.
“Let’s go, Haze.” Theo stood from his stool. “Call me when it’s ready.”
The two headed out to the backyard as Kyndall skipped to the jar, placing Shaw’s money inside before she followed.
“Wow, Calloway. I think Pink is your color.” I smirked.
He waved a hand. “I think it brings out my eyes, if we’re being honest.”
Wes snorted a laugh as he began helping to unload the goods.
“Pop-Tarts weren’t on the list,” Wes said as he tossed the box at me.
He was right. They weren’t, but for some reason, after my run-in with the coupon queen, I didn’t have the heart to put them aside. So I bought them, with no intention of eating them. Maybe I’d keep them in my cabinet just so I could be reminded of the smile that was like a breath of fresh air after four quarters of getting your ass handed to you. Was it pathetic? Yes. Did I give a fuck? No.
“Had a craving,” I said, tucking the box to the side of the counter.
“Want me to heat the grill?” Shaw ran a hand over his hair.
“Yeah, man. Lighter is in the top drawer.” Wes pulled out the buns and hamburger meat.
When Shaw slipped out the back, Wes eyed me. “What’s up with you?”
“What do you mean?”
