Page 33 of Not A Whisper

As Jason parks, dread curdles in my gut. Oh god, this is it.

I’m about to be interrogated and judged. Is this some kind of punishment? How long will I have to endure this emotional torture? Better yet, what did I do to deserve it in the first place? I lick my bottom lip nervously.

My hands smooth the creases of my sweater. Just as I look up, the front door to the house flings open and out steps a plump woman, grinning ear to ear.

“Brace yourself. My mom’s a hugger,” Jason warns with a similar grin. He opens his door and climbs out. With a deep breath, I gather what courage I can find and grab the cake sitting at my feet. When I reach for the door handle, Jason’s already there, opening the door for me. He takes the cake from my hands as I step out and shiver.

I wish Jason had thought to bring my jacket when he was kidnapping me this evening.

His arm wraps around my waist to gently guide me away from the truck when I don’t move. He shuts the door behind us with his foot.

“Well, hurry up, Jason, let me take a good look at her.” His mother waves us over with both hands.

Jason chuckles. “How come she gets this type of greeting and all I get are to-do lists when I come over?”

“That reminds me, the shower head is leaking. Be a good boy and check it out for us while you’re here?”

I can feel his body shake as Jason laughs. We take the two steps up to the small landing where I’m immediately embraced by a woman at least five inchestaller than me.

“Hello, dear! It is so good to finally meet you,” Mrs. Nani says warmly in my ear.

It is? My arms come up automatically and I return the hug.

Mrs. Nani steps back but holds me by the shoulders as she takes a good look at me. “Beautiful, absolutely stunning. I can’t say I’m surprised. Jason has good taste. Now, the boys refer to you as Doll or Dollface, but really, I don’t think using their nickname for you is appropriate, so how would you like me to address you?”

Heat crawls up my neck into my cheeks. They refer to me like that in front of theirparents? I glare over her shoulder at Jason who winks at me.

“You can call me Bri. It’s a, ah, pleasure to meet you Mrs. Nani.”

She drops her hands away to wave one dismissively. Her cheeks dimple just like Jason’s. “Please, call me Luane. Now, let’s go inside. Kai is waiting to meet you and of course?—”

“You’re not talking to the wind again, are you Luane?” Someone calls from inside. “I swear that woman can speak to the air as easily as she can with another person.”

Luane tsks. “There’s Carlos. He always has to saysomething!”she shouts into the house.

There’s an answering laugh that has Luane rolling her eyes.

“I suppose I shouldn’t bogart you.” She ushers me inside, following close behind.

Inside, I find the coziest of set ups. We’ve entered the living space, which is open to the rest of the house. There are pictures all over the walls of Jason and his family. The furniture is simple, well used, but looks comfortable and inviting. The colors on the wall are bright, and beneath my feet the carpet is worn but clean. Beyond this part of the room is a dining table set for six. On the other side of the table is a small kitchen with pots and pans on the stove, and food spread out on the counter.I’m greeted by the smell of something mouthwatering and savory. But whatever is making that smell is forgotten when my eyes land on Carlos.

He looks identical to his son, minus twenty or thirty pounds and the tattoos. Swimming in his clothes and looking rather fragile, Carlos Baniker still hoists a large smile into place and his dark eyes, slightly sunken, twinkle with joy.

“Ah, the girl who saved my life.”

“Oh, I didn’t do anything, Mr. Baniker?—”

“Thisgirlhas a name. Bri, meet Carlos, Carlos, Bri,” Luane corrects sharply though there is a playful tone in her voice. She places a hand on my back and moves me further into the room. “Please, make yourself comfortable. Dinner is almost ready.”

Jason waves at Carlos but moves in the opposite direction of the man. “I’ll go check the shower head real quick. I’ll forget it if I leave it for later.”

Before I can ask him to stay, he kisses my cheek, places the cake on the counter, and disappears down a hallway.

“Oh boy, look what you’ve done, Bri,” Carlos teases from his recliner. “Got Jason trying to impress you by fixing things. Usually it takes Luane nagging him to get anything done around here.”

Luane saunters back into the kitchen with a laugh. “That’s not true and you know it! My Jason is a hard worker.” She pauses by another hallway and calls down, “Kai, come on out you shy goat. We have company!”

Carlos chuckles as he waves me over. “Come on over so I don't have to get up. Been a bit tired lately.”

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