Page 23 of Finding Hope

Shrugging, I walk past and condescendingly pat his shoulder. I’m not scared of my brothers. I don’t hide Weekend-Me from them, I just try and minimize their exposure, to minimize the lectures that come so freely as soon as they see me.

“Are you working tonight?”

“Mmhmm,” he grunts. “I’ll be around. Don’t let me catch you up to no good.”

“I’m never up to no good, X. I just like to dance with the girls.”

“Yeah, and guys like to watch you dance with the girls.” He stops with a sigh. “Why can’t you wear a sweater? And pants. And maybe a beanie and socks while you’re at it.”

“Because I like to look pretty. Relax.” I squeeze his hand as I pass back across the room. “I’m not sixteen anymore. I’m a grown woman. I even have a job. Parentstrustme to teach their kids.”

“You don’t look like any teacher I ever saw, Brat. I don’t remember any of my teachers ever showing off ink and side boob.”

“That’s because you had Mrs. Grober.” I shiver as images of the old woman’s snaggleteeth and lazy eye flood my brain. “AndMrs. Burns. That’s a double whammy of unfortunate.”

He shudders dramatically. “Crotchety old bitches.”

Laughing, I bump him aside so I can reach into the fridge. “You’re not the first person to say that today.”

Taking out a glass bottle of cranberry juice – because I’m proactive, and all that – I prepare my kidney for the impending workout I’ll be inflicting upon it soon.

“Just be good, okay? And be safe.” He picks up a dark hat from the table and pulls it on low over blue eyes. “I’ll be working all night, but you can call me any time and I’ll pick you up. Callanyof us, we’ll be there in two minutes.”

“Thanks. The guys will be at the club, too, so relax.”

Shaking his head, he leans in and drops a gentle kiss on my cheek. “Love you, Brat.”

“Love you, too. Stay safe. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Walking into the club – alone – at an hour that would break my brothers’ hearts, I have barely two seconds of seclusion before I walk into a wall of blonde twin-ness and a drink being pressed into my hand.

Turning, Jess hugs me tight, since we haven’t seen each other in awholeday, then Laine does the same and clinks my glass with hers.

“Drink up, pussycat. We’re free.”

Grinning, I bring the tiny straw to my lips. “Thank you, darling. This is exactly what I was looking for.”

“How’d your meeting go?”

“I didn’t die!”

“Huzzah!” Laughing, Laine thrusts her glass forward for another tap.

“What meeting?” Shouting over the live music, Jess leans in close. “Why’d you nearly die?”

“I had a meeting with a student’s mom and dad today. For fighting.”

“Not justanymom and dad,” Laine teases. “She was all alone with a Kincaid.”

I roll my eyes. “A Kincaidandhis wife.”

Jess’s eyes grow wide. “Oh my God. Which one? Those guys are hot as hell.”

“Too bad they’re all married,” Laine complains. “I sure enjoy watching those guys on TV. But now their seats are filled with women and babies. Such a waste.”

Jess snorts. “They’re all easily ten years older than us. A little bit out of ourgroup…”

“Ten years older only makes them mid-thirties,” Laine argues. “I’d do them.Anyone of them. Hell, I’d do all three… Four?” She shrugs. “I’d do all four at the same time if I wasn’t afraid of them breaking me like a twig. Or more accurately, if I wasn’t afraid of their wives breaking me.”

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