She drags my comforter off the bed and swaddles herself in it. Cussing as she goes, she catches sight of my Bugs Bunny boxers and arches an eyebrow. “Wow, so—”
A gravelly voice catches us off guard. “What the hell is going on here?”
It’s Jeff, watching us from the open door.
“Are you guys fucking in Grandpa’s room?”
“What? Oh my God—no.” Lois is blushing beet red.
It could look that way, I admit it: I’m practically naked on the bed, while Lois is wrapped in a comforter, her cheeks flushed, her hair a mess.
“What the fuck is going on?” Jarrow has appeared beside his brother.
“Lois and Lane are trying out the hospital bed.”
“Naked?” Diego jumps up onto Jeff’s shoulders.
“Who’s naked?”
I can’t see him, but I recognize Kesley’s voice.
“This is not happening!” Lois yells. “Go back to bed, all of you!”
I try—and fail—to stifle a snort, which just pisses her off even more. She stomps back into the hallway, shoving past her giggling brothers and slamming her bedroom door shut.
Jeff winks at me. “Nice boxers.”
“DROP THE SAND, LADY.”
I’ve got Lois’s head trapped in my armpit, and she’s struggling to break free. We’re on the beach, and though everyone is staring at us like we’re crazy, I don’t care. I may haveaccidentallytripped her up as we walked along the water’s edge, and it was definitelyunfortunatethat she fell on her ass. Now it’s payback time, and she’s decided her mission in life is to blind me.
“Drop the sand,” I repeat.
“Okay.”
I can see her hand is still full of the stuff. “You think I’m that stupid, huh?”
One by one, she relaxes her fingers, unfolding them as she waves her hand over her head.
“Take that,” she says, flipping me the finger.
“That’s a good girl.” I pat her on the head.
I still have her clamped under my arm, and when I release her, I take a step back. Her wet hair is stuck to her face—she looks just like the chick fromThe Ring.
“Not my fault you tripped on my foot.”
I’m expecting a spicy slap-down, but all she does is shrug and trot toward the water to rinse her hands.
“You know how to lose with style, I’ll give you that,” I say, creeping up behind her.
She straightens without looking my way or saying a word.
“Are you sulk—”
Splash.
I don’t get to finish my question, because the little bitch just threw a clump of wet sand in my face.
