“And then he’ll expect it all the time.”
“Just like you expect him to take out the trash, do all the heavy lifting, mow the lawn, and interpret a fifteen-page instructional manual on crap you ordered off the internet.”
A pause.
“Don’t look at me like that. I know you do your share too, but where are his perks? Doesn’t he deserve them?”
“I’m always the bad guy.”
“No, sis, you’re tired. You’re tired, and you’re starved for affection. But instead of worrying about your own needs for the moment, try to concentrate on his needs and see if that helps spark something. You take the first step and surprise the shit out of him and see what happens. It might be a real turn-on to see his reaction. Don’t go in all half-assed either. Suck that thing like it’s the fountain of youth.”
God help me.
I’m a creeper, a total fucking creeper for listening to this.
“You’re a pervert.”
“And if you ask me, which you are, you’re not perverted enough. You’ve turned into a prude over the years. What could it hurt to—”
“Fine.”
“You’re really going to try?”
“Maybe.”
“Special job aside, is your pride worth it because you couldn’t tell him or show him how important he is to you? This might not help bridge the emotional gap but—”
“You can shut up now.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ll admit you might be right, this once.”
“That a girl. Get those knees dirty and then when you have his attention, talk to him, tell him you miss him—”
“Hey man, everything good up here?” Thatch barks from behind me, entering the bedroom as complete and utter silence ensues on the other side of the bathroom door.
Busted.
Congratulating myself on not screaming out like a tween, I do my best to school my face as I glance over at him. “I was just about to knock and make sure they were decent. Ruby wanted me to give Serena Peyton’s jacket.”
“Appreciate it, man.” Thatch takes the jacket and knocks on the parted door. “Everyone dressed?”
“Yeah,” Serena squeaks in reply. When Thatch opens the door, I see two panicked, strikingly similar faces as Peyton greets me from the counter where he sits in front of Whitney, arms flying up. “LIE!”
“Need some saving, bud?” I can’t help my grin as I collect him without protest from either sister.
“You got this?” Thatch asks, and I nod as he hands me back the jacket and lifts a thumb toward the bedroom door. “See y’all downstairs.”
Unable to help myself, I pause at the door and whisper into Peyton’s ear. “Hey, Peyton, can you show Mommy and Auntie Whit how to make a sound like an ape?” I pucker my lips exaggeratedly. “Oo, oo, oo.”
“Oo, oo, oo,” Peyton mimics as Whitney’s jaw goes slack and Serena’s face goes beet red. Giving them both a slow wink, I saunter out of the bedroom, little ape in hand.
Alexa: Announcement: “Two-minute warning!”
I stand at the landing of the stairs, mortified by what Eli just overheard as he relinquishes Peyton to Serena in the living room.
The eavesdropping asshole.
“Dad, for Christ’s sake,” Brenden says, heading down the stairs with Conner and Wyatt in tow, “we can hear you without the aid of speakers in every damned room.”
Alexa rings out another announcement.
Alexa: Announcement: “Shut up, son.”
“You’re scaring my children,” he grumbles, hitting the landing and looking between Eli and me as he joins me at the front door. “You two getting along?”
I clap my hands together, cutting them off. “Let’s go!”
Eli opens the door for me, and just as I move to cross the threshold, I’m hit with clean scented cologne as he grips my elbow.
“I was wondering if we could talk later?”
I pull my elbow from his grip, the side of my neck erupting in goosebumps…from the cold, my reply coming out in a venomous whisper. “You know it’s rude to eavesdrop.”
“It was good advice. I’m pretty sure Thatch is going to name you in-law of the year if Serena takes it. And if I may speak from experience—”
“You may not—”
As we step onto the driveway, he leans in on a whisper.
“If anyone has authority to give instructions on that special job…” He wets his lower lip, drawing my eyes to it. “It’s you.”