struggled for a bit and yeah I really had to focus on things like the Muppets, Dora the Explorer, and all that G-rated shit I never think about.
I lean in her ear and whisper. “Still.”
She turned and her lips nearly connected to mine . “If you don’t let me up, I’m gonna scream.”
“Behave Kitten, this is training--phase two.”
“Fuck…”
“Ladies don’t speak like that…”
“Zandor? You still there?”
“Of course I am, Betty.”
“Alright, I just didn’t feel anything.”
“Stay completely still…” I nodded to Bekah who was still glaring at me but still she didn’t move, so I covered her hand with mine. “Okay, here we go. Betty keep still.”
I held her hand and she looked in the opposite direction. I carefully began filling the heart Betty had me start almost two years ago.
“Alright, how we doing there , Betty?”
“Good, your hands, they’re magic. Heaven actually.”
Bekah’s head whipped around toward me and she scowled which made me smile.
Meow , kitty kitty .
I was still looking at her . “I’m gonna turn up the music, you just lay back and let me take care of everything.”
I rolled my chair back and Bekah jumped off my lap and tried handing me the gun. I shook my head no and turned up the radio. “Okay, Betty, here we go.”
I nodded to Bekah and she shook her head very slowly no . I pointed to the tattoo and covered my mouth and she looked down at Betty and gasped. I winked and walked very quietly out the door.
I was sitting at the desk when Betty walked out to pay . “Thank you so much. I think I fell asleep.”
“Yep, we thought we’d let you rest huh , Bekah?”
She smiled politely and nodded. Betty was walking out the door and I looked at Bekah and the door opened again.
“Hey , you all just gonna stand around here fuckin’ the dog all day or make some fuckin’ memories!”
“Xavier, when the fuck did you get here?”
My kid brother was finally home. His ass had been back-packing around Europe since about the time we took over Steel.
“Just now, Momma here?”
“Nah man, she was in and out this morning. It’s good to have you home. Shit all four of us, damn it’s been for fucking ever!”
I hugged him again, “I saw you a few months ago , Bro.”
“Yeah but not here, not home , man. Come on out back.”
I was very aware that I was leaving a pissed off Bekah standing in the reception area but I would be leaving her in worse predicaments than this , and I couldn’t wait.
~
I warmed up the pasta Momma had left for lunch and grabbed a couple beers out of the drawer in the bottom of the fridge. Yeah, I hid it, Momma would be pissed if she knew I had beer here.
I grabbed the plate out of the microwave and shoved the other in . “Here man eat up. Beer?”
“Fuck yeah, thanks. So who’s the pissed off hot blonde in the front?”
“You noticed?”
“Hell yeah , I did, nice fucking rack.” He fist bumped me. “You nailed it yet?”
“She works for us man .” I grabbed my plate out of the microwave and set it down. I took a bite and looked up at his baby blues. Fucker got blue eyes and the rest of us had brown. I remember teasing him that he really wasn’t a Steel as a kid. Fucker flipped his shit.
A smiled crept across his face . “Bullshit.”
“Yeah I know right, but I haven’t—not yet anyway .”
The door swung open. She didn’t even look at us. I smacked Xavier and we both grinned.
She opened the closet door and pulled out her coat. She was totally avoiding.
“Hey Bekah, this is Xavier.”
She turned and gave the sweetest fake-ass smile she could conjure up.
“Xavier, I’ve heard a lot about you .” She stuck her hand out and he shook it.
“Sit, have dinner with us Bekah .” I patted the chair next to me.
“Well , thank you, but no thanks.”
She started walking to the door . “Hey girl, you gotta eat.” Xavier called.
She turned around and smiled . “I’m actually on a diet.”
“Bullshit,