Dirty Kisses (14 page)

“The door was unlocked.” I try not to sound too worried. She’s a grown woman, but we’re not in the best neighborhood.

“I know.” She winces. “I just ran in with my arms full. Scarlett helped bring down the last of my things.” She glares at the tower of boxes growing in the corner. “I’m really sorry I’ve turned your whole life upside down. I wanted to call you today.” Her eyes have a hard time meeting up with mine. “Do you realize I don’t have your number?”

A harsh knock explodes over the door.

“What the—” I blow out a hard breath while craning my neck, trying to make out who the heck is about to break their way in. “These are for you.” I kiss the tip of a rose before handing the bunch to Daisy. “You’re still my favorite flower. Are you up for pizza?” I put my things down as the knocking picks back up, this time paired with a very familiar voice.

“
Lucky
,” I bark as I open up the door. “Everything okay?” I’m more irritated at the moment than I am concerned.

She barrels in past me and lets out an exasperated scream once she sees Daisy. I’m pretty sure the two of them haven’t had a proper introduction, but Lucky is too busy choking and gagging at the sight of her to give me the chance to do so.

“Who the hell is this girl?” Lucky rages as the cords in her neck jump with anger. “And why is she ruining my life?”

“Excuse me?” Daisy steps back with the flowers still in her hands.

“Lucky, calm the hell down. This is my girlfriend, Daisy.” I shrug somewhat apologetically at Daisy for introducing her that way. I don’t think I’m off the mark, but it’s the first time I’ve ever said those words to anyone—
about
anyone. “Daisy, this is my little sister, Lucky.”

“We’ve met, sort of.” Lucky’s eyes are still pinned to Daisy’s, heated with rage for no apparent reason. I always wondered how she would take it if I had someone in my life, but this is a level of ridiculousness I just can’t handle.

“Drop the attitude, would you? We’ve got pizza. You hungry?”

“What?” Her face pinches with color. “How can you
eat
?” She turns back to Daisy and glares at her as if she’s seeing something vile, and for the first time, I’m actually embarrassed by the way my sister is acting.

“Whoa. Time out.” I try to pull Lucky to the side to calm her down, but Daisy steps forward and holds a hand in the air for me to stop.

“We were all over the Internet today.” She shakes her head at me. “That picture of us at the game? It took a few days, but the press figured out who you are.”

Lucky scoffs at me. “They called you
tat guy
. They used your real name, too, but that was sort of after the fact. Think Ink is listed as some junky dive tattoo parlor. They made it sound like you hand out diseases down there.”

My stomach sinks. Today was slow. I had less than five customers, and I wondered what was up, but now I know why.

“It’ll pass.” I look to Daisy and shrug. “I’m forgettable. The public interest is already over with. I can guarantee it.”

Lucky takes a quivering breath as her eyes dart from Daisy to me. “What’s going on? Why is everyone talking about you? Why is my brother suddenly in this shit tank?”

Daisy presses her hand to her mouth a moment. That pained look in her eyes says it all. This is killing her. She doesn’t want to see Lucky hurt, and that picture of the two of us probably spooked her as well.

“I was accused of doing something I didn’t do. Let’s just say the U.S. Senate was loosely involved, and I sort of got caught in the wrong end of a political scandal. Your brother was nice enough to take me in when I had nowhere else to go.”

Lucky gags as she glances to me. “Weren’t you the one who told me not to pick up strays? That they’d bite me and leave me with STDs? Too bad you don’t take your own advice. Now look where it’s got you.” She storms to the door.

“Lucky, get back here and apologize. Daisy is a human being. She deserves respect, and you’re damn well going to give it to her.”

“I’ll give her respect when the girls in my dorm stop telling me my brother is being scammed by a gold digger!”

Daisy gasps. “Is that what those little whores in Cutler Tower are spouting off behind my back?”

Lucky’s eyes fill with fire. “
That
was the G version. Stay away from my brother, and stay away from
me
! I don’t care what he says. You’re not welcome here.” She turns her rage toward me full force. “It’s her or me. Make your choice!” She flies out of the room with a slam of the door. Her truck starts up, and I watch as her taillights leave a trail of fire in their wake.

I’ve never seen my sister so lost in anger. Never seen her so upset about anyone in my life.

“I don’t care about the picture or any lies anyone is spewing about us.” I wrap my arms around Daisy and close my eyes a moment, trying to figure out how the hell to fix this mess.

Her chest quivers as she stiffens beneath me. “I don’t want your sister to hate you. I don’t ever want to come between you and her.”

“That won’t happen.” My cardinal rule has always been nothing gets between Lucky and me—and if it tried, I’d always choose Lucky. That, right there is why I decided to hold off on relationships until Lucky grew up. At this point, it seems she might never get there.

I’m not losing Daisy—no way, no how.

But Lucky’s words reverberate in the back of my mind like a gong that just won’t die.
It’s
her or me. Make your choice.

Lucky or Daisy. Together they make up both halves of my heart.

Lucky is right. There is a choice that has to be made.

It will be hard as hell, but I know exactly what it will be.

I
’ve dealt
with my fair share of bitchy, witchy, toxic people, but the fecal verbal matter those girls at Cutler Tower are tossing about makes me simply mental. The fact that Lucky would believe any of that garbage makes me almost as enraged as she is. I say almost because, well, let’s face it. She’s vying for her brother’s right to a well-rounded girl who isn’t sizing up how deep his pockets are. Believe me, I couldn’t care less how deep Jet Madden’s pockets are, or that he has pockets at all. However, I
have
expressed a firm interest in his boxers, particularly in what they’re stashing in the front. But mostly I’m interested in what he’s stashing in that chest of his, and as it turns out his heart is as deep and wide as the big blue sea. Jet is the perfect man, and I would never risk hurting him by way of his wallet. I’ve always, staunchly, been able to provide for myself, good or bad. I seem to get the job done just fine on my own.

Once Hurricane Lucky dissipates, Jet and I eschew the pizza for now, since his sister all but took both our appetites with her. We make achingly slow love, our bodies intertwine like honey dripping, melting the two of us into one sticky sweet puddle. This isn’t the hungry fucking, pardon my French, or the bitingly nasty thrashing that has taken place between us in the past. Something about Lucky’s words has us both rattled, has us both reevaluating who we are and who we would like to be. Whether or not we’d like to admit it, a ripe pain is present tonight. Lucky may have lanced the wound, but something deep down has been festering all along.

Somewhere between rounds two and three my phone bleats. I lean over and pick it up off the floor, only to find a text from my mother.

I glance at the time and gasp. “It’s three in the morning.”

Wonderful news! Jonas and Jen just welcomed a healthy baby girl. Emma Eden Rose just entered the world five minutes ago!

“Oh, that’s so great.” I moan with delight just staring at my new niece’s beautiful name.

“That
was
great.” Jet rumbles out a dark laugh from the opposite end of the bed before kissing the bottom of my foot.

“It was more than great, but I was referring to the text my mom just sent. My brother, Jonas, just had a baby. A baby girl.” I was still in high school when Nelson had his girls. I loved going to the hospital and feeling like I was a part of it. “I think I’ll skip classes tomorrow and head over. I just have to see her.”

“You want company?”

I leap onto my belly until we’re face to face. “Really?” I can hardly contain my excitement. Jet and I have hardly driven in the same car on more than a handful of occasions let alone been sequestered in that small space for hours.

“Yes, really. I’m always up for a good road trip. Dusty and Gunner can handle things at the shop. I’m in if you’ll have me.”

“Oh, I’ll have you.” A devilish laugh curdles in my throat. “Twelve ways till Sunday.” I pull him over my body and glide my nails down his back until he groans.

“Just twelve?”

“I figure I gotta give you a chance to have me in return.” I peck his lips with a kiss.

Jet and I fall asleep until dawn, and usually when my lids flutter at this ungodly hour, I demand I get back to dreamland, but that little niece of mine is fresh out of the oven and I’m dying to take a nice big bite out of one of those tiny little fingers.

We shower, dress, and take off for far less-greener pastures as we drive out to Friar’s Corner. The sky turns gray as we head into the old part of town, and I can’t help but give a sad smile. My grandmother always said the sun spread its glory everywhere but here, and on this dismal day it looks to be true. But my grandparents are all gone. It’s just my mom, dad, and brothers—and of those few relations left on the planet Earth, I can’t really seem to claim one as a friend. I’ve been close to my mother before. My brothers and I have never really been too close, but there have always been the odd staccato starts to a friendly relationship. I’m hoping one day they’ll bloom full force.

“I should warn you”—I say as we head into the boxy shaped hospital with its open armed Jesus and army of volunteers that wear their hours served as a badge of honor worthy of the veterans in this state. “My family and I don’t always get along. I’m sort of the black sheep—tarred and feathered at that. So if anyone rubs you the wrong way, just know we’ll only be here for a few minutes.” I know all about the salvation that the minute hand has to offer. I’ve clock watched my way through more than one family get-together.

Jet’s eyes fill with pain as if my own hurt had bled through to his soul. There is nothing greater than having someone sympathize with you on a gut-wrenching level. This isn’t going to be easy, but I don’t want my own actions to affect my relationship with my brand new niece. One day, very far away, I’ll remind the tiny princess that I was holding her on her first day on Earth, whispering I love you into her ear even then.

“Stay as long as you need to.” Jet pulls me close and lands a gentle kiss to my temple. “And no matter what happens, what anyone says, know that I love you inside and out.” He pinches my chin with his fingers and has me meet up with his heavy gaze. “You are my heart, and I would die before I let anyone hurt you. Let my love be a shield for you. Use it. Hold it up and deflect anything less than goodness that people are willing to fling your way. We’re on the same team. We have each other. You are never going to be alone.”

From anyone else they would have sounded like cheap platitudes, but from Jet Madden they are gospel, words written on stone with the very finger of God.

I let those powerful statements wrap themselves around me like a second skin and wear them with pride.

We purchase a half dozen pink balloons and a precious pink teddy bear from the gift shop before taking the elevator up and landing ourselves in front of their room.

“Knock, knock!” I manage to manufacture the most-cheery voice possible, but a part of me is shaking in my WB bookstore Converse at what might transpire today. I haven’t faced anyone since news broke of my salacious senatorial secret. Suffice it to say, my parents have drilled modesty into my head since I was just about my new niece’s age, and, well, dancing at Stilettos may have gone against the grain.

The first thing I see when I step inside that room isn’t my brand spanking new niece or the happy new parents. It’s my mother and father’s surprised stares, the two of them locked in a joint look of disappointment. There are moments in life that solidify themselves over your mind, tattoo themselves on the inside of your heart and mind, and for me this is one of them.

“You came.” Mom straightens. Her brow rises as if amused on some level. My mother is an older version of me, blonde bob, bright eyes, but that smile I shed so easily always seems to lose its way on her own face. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

“Of course, I came. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I visited both Staci and Tami when they were born. This is every bit as special.” I really didn’t have to say so much. My parents have never been too interested in the things I had to say. I was simply a girl. They had boys, important creatures they were molding into men, into lawyers, Pembrooke and Pembrooke would not, could not disappoint. It most certainly could not contain one ounce of estrogen. No. My talents were best relegated to the many assembly lines that reside in the many factories lying just outside of town.

Oddly, Dad looks as if he could be my mother’s brother—older brother, same wiry hair, same translucent disappointed eyes. Jet is probably wondering why the heck we’re not all lost in one big group hug, but we just don’t do affection in my family. That’s exactly why I crave both it and attention so damn much. I hate that all of those upright, uptight psychiatrists have me pegged so well. Dancing girl equals daddy issues. Shopaholic? Can’t get no satisfaction—on the parental front. It’s easy math. I get it. I’ve always understood it yet never quite knew how to go about fixing it.

“Hello, you!” a cheery voice calls from behind my father’s frame, and I step around to find Jen holding a tiny pink bundle. My brother, Jonas, is fast asleep next to her on a makeshift bed, but it’s the tiny pink bundle in Jen’s arms that has me gasping for air.

“Oh my! She’s so beautiful! Well done, Mama!”

Jonas rouses at the sound of my voice and offers a groggy-eyed smile. My brothers both received every recessive gene possible, dark hair, olive skin, sculpted features. Maybe that’s why my parents favor them. They see too much of themselves in me. Nelson and Jonas represent hope. I’m simply a mirrored version of where they’ve been, the deserted roads they’re traveling down. Both my mother and father have had hard lives, and as things are panning out, I might just have one, too.

I pull Jet in close. “Everyone—this is my boyfriend, Jet.” Jonas mumbles himself to life as soon as I say the word
boyfriend
. My brothers have never been fans of the B word when it comes to their little sister. In that way they’re pretty sweet. “Jet, this is my sister-in-law, Jen, who has expertly given birth to the beautiful Emma Eden Rose.” I glance back at my parents, only to find their jaws slack. “This is my mom, Daisy. I’m her namesake and, well, her face-sake in the event you hadn’t noticed the resemblance. And this is my dad, Donald.” I meet up with Jet’s eyes as they bulge huge a moment after I give him that last piece of Disney-esque tidbit. All my life I’ve heard every joke in the book regarding those two and their interesting monikers.

“I thought he was an orderly.” Dad nods without so much as cracking a smile. His mouth gapes as he gawks at Jet’s intricately tattooed arms.

“Good Lord, are those real?” Mom gasps, inspecting Jet’s sleeves as if that cobra that vines around his elbow is about to leap off and bite the baby.

“They’re real.” Jet steps forward and offers to shake my father’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Congratulations on the grandbaby.”

Dad examines Jet’s hand as if it were covered with maggots and openly refuses to respond in kind.

Crap. I knew my parents were wildly rude, but, in all honesty, I thought that behavior was reserved just for me.

“I’m sorry.” I pull Jet’s hand toward me and shake my head in disbelief. “Jen, you have a beautiful baby. Nice job, Jonas.” I shoot my brother a halfhearted smile. “We’d better get going.”

“You just got here!” Jen motions me over. “At least hold her. You didn’t come all this way not to kiss the guest of honor.”

“You’re right.” Jen has always gone out of her way to be extra kind to me, and it’s always been appreciated.

Jonas hands me little Emma, and I melt on contact. She’s light as a feather, so perfectly beautiful I can’t help but tear up.

“Look at her.” I turn toward Jet, and my mother steps forward.

“Don’t you touch her!” she barks at him as if he were rabid. “She’s a newborn. Her immune system isn’t what it should be.”

“Oh, Mother.” I press a kiss to Emma’s tender forehead and whisper, “I love you” into her ear just as I promised myself I would. “Here you go.” I land the baby back in my brother’s arms, safe from this cold world, but mostly safe from my ridiculous parents. “Goodbye, Jonas.” His silence when it comes to the treatment I receive has always irked me. If you know something is wrong, and don’t do a thing about it, you’re just as culpable in my book. I offer Jen a quick hug and kiss to the cheek.

“We’re leaving now.” I don’t bother with goodbye as far as my parents are concerned. Instead, I interlace my fingers with Jet’s and head for the exit.

“Don’t be a stranger!” Jonas calls out.
Too late
I want to shoot back. The entire lot of them will be lucky if they ever see my face again.

Mom follows us out into the hall with Dad staggering by her side.

“Why are you acting like a child?” Mom has that wild look in her eye that lets me know she’s completely serious. I hate that look almost as much as I hate how she’s making me feel.

“I’m not acting like a child,” I contest. “I’m sorry, but the two of you are just plain rude. I can’t deal with this right now. It’s one thing to be cruel to me—but the
nerve
! To be cruel to my guest is more than I can handle.”

Dad chokes as if my words were a chicken bone lodged in the wrong pipe. “When have we ever been cruel to you?”

“I’m not getting into it.”

Jet and I head toward the elevator, and sure enough, it’s a million floors away.

“You make the decisions, Daisy,” Mom calls after me. “You’re the one who insisted on going to that expensive university. You chose your
profession
. Nobody told you to go to a school you can’t afford and become a call girl. And the nerve of
you,
young lady—traipsing back here willy-nilly as if what you’ve done doesn’t warrant a proper amount of shame. There are just some lessons you need to learn yourself.”

“That’s right!” Dad scoffs. “And that felon you’re with is about to teach you a few painful lessons himself if you continue to cavort with him. You never learn, Daisy. You have never been good at learning from your mistakes. You just compound, compound, and compound.”

The elevator mercifully glides open, and Jet and I bury ourselves inside.

Jet stares at me with an intent I’ve never seen before. “Just know that I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know how you’d feel.”

“Thank you. Honestly, at this point, I wouldn’t have minded.”

“Good.” Jet blocks the elevator doors with his shoe and prevents them from closing. “Keep it open for me.” He steps out, and I gird my body against the elevator doors to keep them from swallowing me whole. “Excuse me,” Jet calls out, and both of my parents look up, just as surprised to see us the second time around as they were the first. “I just need you to know that Daisy is one of the nicest, most thoughtful, most considerate people I have ever met. She’s loyal, and trustworthy, and just trying to make a space for herself in this world like everyone else. It’s a miracle she’s as tenderhearted as she is, considering she was raised by the two of you.”

Oh my dear God. Go, Jet, go!

Both my mother and father stand with their mouths hanging wide. Good thing there isn’t a fly in the vicinity or it would have flown right in. Now there’s something that would lead to maggots.