Page 79 of Succeeding Love

“Maybe you should have,” Vin said in a dangerously low voice.

“Maybe I should have,” I agreed.

“I can always do it for you,” Vin offered.

“That’s sweet,” I laughed dryly, “but I think I said what needed to be said. I even cursed at him.”

“Oh no,” the corner of Vin’s lips curled up in amusement. “Not cursing.”

“My words packed quite the punch,” I lifted my chin.

“Oh, I bet. Especially with cursing.”

“You’re teasing me.” I narrowed my eyes.

He chuckled softly. “No. I just think you’re cute. I’m trying to just picture you saying any curse word to your ex instead of focusing on how much I want to beat his ass for making you upset.”

A blush burned on my cheeks. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“It is, Lynn. I’m laughing because you’re cute, but I really just want to punch him in his arrogant face.”

I pursed my lips. “He has an arrogant face, doesn’t he?”

“So fucking arrogant,” Vin smiled.

He rested his head on mine again, making the moment stretch into this warm, fuzzy feeling. I was so irritated earlier, upset with not just Nick, but even myself for making Nick think I was a pushover to begin with. I didn’t feel like a pushover with Vin holding me. I felt like I could do anything.

~

Preston

“What the crap,” I muttered under my breath after hearing what dad did to mom today.

I know I shouldn’t, but I was listening at the top of the stairs to their entire conversation. When I heard the doorbell ring and Vin’s voice filtered up all the way to my room, I couldn’t help myself. I honestly thought that he was the reason for mom’s bad mood.

Mom always acts the same way when she’s down. She acts overly chipper to the point she looks awkward. We had to see it for months after dad left. Seeing her act that way again after spending the weekend with our new neighbor, I thought he had set her off. I did not know it was my dad.

“What are you doing?” Jessie asked, coming into the hall with a laundry basket full of clothes.

“Uh, checking to see who was at the door,” I murmured, then narrowed my eyes to her basket. “I called dibs on the washer.”

She stuck her tongue out at me, then hurried down the stairs. I chased after her, forgetting that mom and her boyfriend were being all kissy face at the bottom. Vin and mom leapt apart from one another, guilty expressions on their faces. It was laughable, but I didn’t have time to laugh if I was going to beat Jessie to the washer.

“Hi Vin. Bye Vin,” I yelled, chasing my screaming sister.

“Mom! He’s trying to steal the washer!”

“Mom! I called dibs!” I yelled back.

I caught Jessie right as she was running with her hand full through the kitchen. She screamed, then laughed as I tickled her sides. She tossed the basket in the air, so dirty clothes went everywhere.

“STOP!” Jessie howled.

“Say it. Say I get the washer!”

“NO!” She kicked and bucked, unable to throw me off.

“Preston,” Mom had her disapproving tone. “Quit. You don’t even have your laundry together yet.”

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