Page 31 of Hale's Pawn
“Good,” I say and I don’t bother doing anything else as I kiss her silly.
16
Ainslee
The causeof that nightmare was the temporary pills that they put me on. My doctor told me to start up with the same prescription. They removed the temporary pacemaker and I feel like a free woman. I promised my doctor that I wouldn’t forget my meds again.
After that, all four of us went out for some breakfast at one of my family’s bistros. I felt like a normal human being all because I could consume a damn alcoholic beverage. Oran watched me like a hawk but Jagger provided enough distractions for me to get a little buzzed. I’m not an alcoholic, but I do love the drinks at our bistros. I assisted Mikonos when he chose the menus. That’s his super power, making a menu so perfect that it makes you wonder why the big shit never became a chef or owned a restaurant. I look up to find Mikonos behind the bar acting like he’s not watching my every move. I lift my glass and tip it towards him. He smirks and flips me the finger. Markos comes out of the kitchen with a plate and he walks by everyone else like they don’t matter. He places the cupcake right in front of me. He leans closer to my face like he’s going to do something mischievous. I roll my eyes at him. “This is my ‘you’re allowed to make us worry once free’ cupcake, little shit,” he says in Greek.
“Yeah, yeah,” I say as I lick my lips at the cupcake.
“He treating you good?” he continues in Greek, “because if he’s not, next time, my gun won’t be empty.”
Oran grumbles, “I understand and speak Greek, motherfucker.”
Markos grins like a fucking Cheshire cat. “I know you do, brother-in-law,” he replies in English. “Don’t forget to lock the kitchen sliding doors to your pool next time. Be smart.” Markos winks at him and before he walks off, he places a kiss on the side of my temple.
“Was that fucker in my house?” Oran asks me.
I snicker. “Oran, both of them have keys and access to your house, but don’t worry, they won’t go in. What he’s saying is to lock up so no one gets in. I’m a Bishops, the next in line, I’ll always be a target. Paparazzi or not,” I say nodding to the guys outside taking pictures of the four of us.
“Heard we’re in a polyamorous relationship,” Jagger speaks. “That’s what the news is saying. We just all share each other.”
I laugh. “Actually, according to the gossip sites, you two got married to cover up your relationship. They’ve caught Oran sneaking out of your penthouse in the middle of the night, Jagger... a couple days before your wedding! Shame on you, Hanlon!”
Jagger laughs and then narrows his eyes at me. “Why are you acting like this with me, you sick fucker? You told them to poison me in the kitchen, didn’t you?” he teases.
“I could punch you in the dick to show you how I really feel.”
“I keep telling you people I don’t need my dick to please a woman, isn’t that right, sweet baby?” he coos to Karessa. She coughs as she was mid-drink. Jagger pats her back. “See what I mean? I make her choke even without stuffing my dick down her throat.”
Karessa shoves him and Jagger laughs. He pulls her in for a quick kiss. It’s odd to say but I don’t hate that even Jagger Hanlon has found someone he truly likes. Didn’t care much for Layla, but it wasn’t my place to tell him that, plus he would’ve told me to shut the hell up.
After we finish brunch, we head outside. I put my shades on as we pass by the paparazzi. I swear they seem bolder ever since I got married to Oran. I used to be able to avoid them with my status but I guess they think it's okay now. “Ainslee! Ainslee! We heard you were in the hospital! Is it bad? Someone said it's your heart.”
I stop and face whoever asked the question. I stick my tongue out and give them the universal rockstar gesture; the hand-horn. I walk away knowing my mother is going to flip. Not only did I do that, but my shorts and sweater outfit looks like I should only wear it inside. My hair is in its curly state down my back. Natasha Bishops is definitely going to call me to talk shit to me.
When we get backto the house, Jagger and Oran go grab groceries, saying they’re making food tonight. Karessa and I watch YouTube dance videos. “Did you do cheerleading in high school too?” Karessa asks me.
“Yeah! I did just about anything that my mother wanted me to do. The belles, cheerleading, ballet, fucking band camp. I didn’t hate that, but still. You name it, I did it.” The next song that plays is Hey Ya by Outkast. “Oh my God! I remember the routine we had to do for this. I know you know it because after that song came out, they looooved to just blast it with this one routine.”
Karessa laughs. “Holy shit! Yes. I think I still remember it.”
I stand. “Okay! Wait here! I had to do this reenactment of a cheerleading thing on my channel. Wait until you see this.” I jog to one of Oran’s other rooms that I’ve made into my walk-in closet. He’d know if he went in there but he barely does. I move over to the wall labelled ‘costumes’ and pull out the two cheerleading outfits. I make it back to Karessa. “Catch!”
She catches it and she laughs. “They look exactly like our academy colors. Papi, really, Ainslee?”
“It was a gag sort of thing.” I laugh. “I purposefully got those just to tell the academy to suck my ass for never letting me skip classes in peace.”
“Nice,” Karessa laughs.
“Change and let's get this show on the road.” I quickly change, knowing that I’ve practiced how to do it in front of people without showing my back. I put the cheerleading top on that covers almost my whole back. I put the skirt over my shorts pulling it over my belly button. I remove my shorts, leaving just my underwear. Karessa changes quickly. Once she’s done, I smile. This is going to be so much fun. “Let's move this table out of the way and show me what you got, Mrs. Hanlon.”
“You’re on, Mrs. Hale!”
“Wait! Before we start… I have an idea. Since Oran keeps fucking teasing me, I think it’s my turn, no?” I ask Karessa.
Karessa smiles like I just told her the biggest secret in the world. “What is your plan? I enjoy putting people in their place sometimes.”
