Page 2 of Liberty
I scoffed. “Hell no, and I’ll have you know that they won last night. It’s the onions, man.”
He laughed and looked over at Belle. “Oh, I see why you're crying. She won’t give you the time of day still, huh?”
I blinked at him and wiped another tear away. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Fate chuckled as he shook his head at me in disgust. “Man, you are something else. We all know you got the hots for the girl.”
My jaw dropped as I stared at him then at Redemption. “The hell you say? Me and her are like oil and fucking water.”
“Or like oil and a match,” Redemption teased. “Justice told me about all your flirting with her.”
“Flirting?” I exclaimed.
Fate laughed louder now as he said, “Oh wow, someone is living on the riverdenial.”
“Man, I hate when you make up those stupid puns, Fate.” I shook my head at him.
He shrugged. “It’s a hobby.”
Redemption smirked. “I think it bugs you that she is not attracted to you. Like all the women you have gone after.”
I was stunned to hear this summation. “I am notafterher. In fact, I wish to avoid her if I can. She affects me like nails on a chalkboard.”
“Oh, man… he’s got it bad, Red,” Fate quipped.
Redemption nodded. “Yep, I can see that.”
I scoffed. “You two are like gossiping women. Don’t share opinions on shit you know nothing about.”
“Gossip… Right,” Redemption said as he nodded. “Whatever you say, Liberty.” He grabbed a stack of plates up and left the kitchen.
I kept grumbling under my breath as I scooped all my onions up and dumped them into the large bowl. They needed to mind their own damn business.
Ma had witnessed the entire exchange as she said, “You boys sure remind me of my own sons.” She grinned at us. “All teasing and competing. Ok, big boy in a little apron, go on over to the sink and wash up. I got some more prepping for ya to do.”
“Big boy in a little apron,” Fate sing-songed, mimicking the song Chris Farley sang in a movie.Fat man in a little coat…
I rolled my eyes at him. “Brother, you’d better stick to architecture cuz you sure as hell can’t sing.” I then glanced over at the sink to see Belle was there washing a large bowl.
Ma chuckled as she urged me, “Go on, she ain’t gonna bite ya.”
I had the opinion she would, but I went over anyway.
Belle set the bowl into the drainer and turned around. Pausing, she stared at my tiny apron that was now hiked up above my belly and she burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
She shook her head and stepped aside as she kept chuckling. “Nothing. You just don’t get to see GI Joe dressed like a baby Betty Crocker everyday, ya know?”
Fate could be heard laughing it up on the other side of the island.
I huffed at her clever joke about the undersized apron. Yes, I was gonna say it, “If you would have chosen an apron that fit you, I wouldn’t be wearing this doll apron.”
Staring at me, she laughed again. “Wow, really? Your’e crying over an apron?”
I slowly shook my head and swiped at a leftover tear. “Damnit, do I have to explain this to everyone? It’s the onions that made me cry.” I turned the faucet on and washed my hands.
“Well Mr. Boo-Hoo, where’s all the jokes and witty comebacks?” she asked.
