I change back into my clothes, and we spend the rest of the evening wrapped in the same warm, fuzzy glow. By the time we clear off the table, I’m bursting at the sides. I help Mary do the dishes, mainlybecause I’m a decent guy—but also because I’m hoping for some juicy Lois stories I can use later, too.
“Mom, cut it out!” Lois whines when she joins us in the kitchen. “You have no idea how dangerous Lane will be with this information.”
“We’re done here.” Mary winks at me. “Bedtime, guys!”
She plants a gentle kiss on my cheek, and I fight the urge to squeeze her tight. My own mom was never like this with me, and the rush of feeling is overwhelming.
I race up the stairs and past Lois to make sure I’m first in the shower, playing the day back in my mind while I wash, suddenly wondering how things are going for Carter. I’ve been so focused on myself, I completely forgot that today must have been weird as hell for him, too.
Lois batters on the door. “You nearly done in there?”
I wrap a towel around my hips, stick a toothbrush in my mouth, and fling open the door. She jumps. I take my time spitting out my toothpaste, drying my hair like I have all the time in the world.
Finally, she can’t take it anymore. “Bounce!”
She shoves my dirty clothes into my arms and grins, her smile fading to a frown when I pull my secret weapon out of my jeans pocket.
“Step out of line, and I’ll get my revenge,” I singsong, waving the alarm in her face.
She glares at me. “I’ll be as sweet as pie, don’t you worry.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
I’m lying, of course. I stretch out on the surprisingly comfy bed in her grandpa’s old room, and listen to the running water. Once she steps out of the bathroom, I give her a few more minutes. I want to make sure she’s tucked up and ready for sleep. I slip the little box out from under my pillow and start counting down in my head—and when the time feels just right, I push the button, muttering the sound of an explosion under my breath. The alarm rings out behind the headboard, the wall nowhere near thick enough, and I can hear her groaning so loud it’s obvious her bed is right behind mine.
“Lane, cut it out.”
“Who’s that there?” I pretend to be terrified.
“Go to sleep!”
“I can hear you so clearly, it’s like you’re under my bed or something.”
“Use that thing once more, and I’ll—”
“You mean this thing here?” I laugh, pressing the button again.
A symphony of beeps and curse words explodes on the other side of the wall. Her mattress creaks, and I’m cocking an ear for other tells—when my door flies open, and I jump out of my skin.
“Give me that!”
The room is dark—she lunges for me so fast I don’t have time to dodge.
“This is some crazy ninja shit,” I splutter as her elbow digs deeper into my chest.
She grabs my gadget and tumbles across the mattress, landing on her feet. I fumble for the bedside lamp and find her standing there in a disheveled mess, prizing out the batteries.
“No more playtime for you!” She shakes them at me, tossing the empty box onto the bed.
I sit up for a better look, jutting my chin at her Superman T-shirt. “It suits you.”
She lowers her eyes, swallowing hard when she realizes all she’s wearing are panties and my gift. The T-shirt lands just right under her belly button, and she tugs at the hem. She’s not wearing a bra—the fabric is clinging to her breasts, I can…
She falls to the ground, crouching. “Turn the light off.”
“Only if you hand over the batteries.”
“Burn in hell.”
