Page 3 of The Jester and His Outlaw: Part 2

“Charles!” Foxy squeals as she enters the front of the house, a grumpy-looking Kai hot on her heels. The hug she gives me is all-consuming and, with where my thoughts had just been, the backs of my eyes prickle with an intense heat. Foxy doesn’t acknowledge my watery eyes out loud when she looks at me. She offers me a sympathetic smile and cups my shoulders, holding me away from her so she can study me. “Hon’, you look tired. Are you okay?”

“No?” My voice breaks with the simple statement that came out as more of a question, only bringing validity to the fact that I need these people around me.

Kai scoops me from his girl’s arms and pulls me into one of the best hugs I’ve ever had.

A quiet sob slips out, but I suck it back in. I don’t want this right now. A peaceful night with junk food and movies and new, cute pajamas is what I need. A girls’ night. It’s been so long since I’ve had that.

“You’ve got this, sis. You’re alright,” Kai murmurs as he holds me. I bury my face in his chest, wiping the evidence of my tears away on his shirt because I know it annoys him and I need a laugh right now. “I take that back. You’re an ass.”

With most, Kai is quiet, the silent type that listens and observes more than he speaks. When he has something to say, it’s important. But around Foxy and me, he’s open, more willing to share his emotions with answers longer than one or two words.

“I know, but you love me anyway.”

“Sometimes I question exactly why I do,” he teases. I slap him on the chest.

I scoff playfully, as if he’s truly offended me. “Rude.”

We pull apart and Foxy is grinning like the cat that got the cream. She slides a flask out from between her ample tits. There is no booze allowed when my parents are aware of it, but clearly, my mother will have no clue. She’s messing around in the kitchen, making lattes and popping more popcorn. I can bet she is probably opening up bags of gummy worms and other assorted candy, pouring them into bowls because eating from a plastic bag is beneath us.

Whatever floats her boat. Mom already brought enough cups of soda into the living room for all of us to have three servings, so we pour Foxy’s whisky into the cups. No doubt it’s going to be disgusting, but this is the only chance I have to get some booze into my system, so I will not argue.

With a groan, I down what is in my cup. The mixture of soda and the burn of alcohol is enough to make bubbles fizz up my nose while assaulting my esophagus at the same time. Not a pleasant combination, but I’ll survive.

Wasting no time, Foxy adds twice the amount of alcohol into the next cup, picks up my hand, and promptly inserts the cup into my grip. I shake my head as she guides the glass to my lips and motions for me to tip my head back.

I’m appreciative but I’m also a silly drunk. I’d hate for my mother to assume anything because I can’t keep my act together.

The giggle that Foxy lets out is shrill, almost mad. I would wager she has already had her fair share of that nonsense. My glance at my brother confirms that question. He nods, then shakes his head.

Shuffling footsteps let us know Mom is making her way back into the room. Kai is on it like a watchdog, clearing the room in two long strides as we scramble to down our alcohol and Foxy forces the flask back between her tits.

“Hey, Ma,” Kai says, snaking his giant arm over her shoulder. He hauls her into his side as she fusses over him being here.

“My boy, what on earth are you doing here? This is supposed to be a girls’ night.” He spins her around and carries her back into the kitchen. She protests, claiming she needs to leave the lattes with us while they are hot. I wouldn’t argue with that, but I’m also not trying to get grounded for having booze. My mom can smell the shit from a mile away. It’s how she always knows when my father has been hitting the bottle.

“Don’t worry, Ma, I’m going to go hide away in my room while y’all do your thing. Promise. But first, am I allowed to have one of your lattes?” Kai knows just how to butter her up. Works like a charm every time.

“Oh, of course, my lovebug. You can have whatever you want, you know that.”

Foxy watches Kai’s ass as they disappear into the kitchen. I watch them for another reason—appreciation. My brother is damn good to me. He has always been there to bail us out without asking for anything in return.

I was really looking forward to that latte, though. Oh well, I’ll stand here and chit chat with my bestie, and when they finish, I’ll go in and warm them back up. Although, Mom is fairly efficient with the machine, so it won’t be long.

“I’m assuming you haven’t told your mom anything?” Foxy asks as she steps closer to me and pushes a strand of my bangs out of my eyes.

The tingle of a buzz is setting in. I don’t really want to talk about how I’m doing since I’ve done well to avoid it all day, which is easier when my mom is around because she doesn’t know about Riggs. I haven’t ventured there yet. While I don’t care what she thinks of him, their disapproval is not something Riggs needs to deal with at the moment. He has enough on his plate.

“No, I haven’t. I don’t need that heat right now and she is going to be worked up over the fact that he isn’t Jonas.”

“Smart.” She frowns. “Really, though, how are you?”

“I’m okay.” I pause, worrying my lip with my teeth because that was one hell of a fucking lie. Foxy senses it as well. She brushes my hair over my shoulder and all that flashes in my mind is how Riggs loves my hair. Jesus, how has he somehow dominated everything in my life?

“I’ll let that fib slide because your mother is here, but later, when we go to bed, you are telling me everything. Got it?” All I can do is nod.

The thick, heady scent of espresso swirls around us before my mother’s voice bounces through the threshold into the kitchen. Kai’s deep timbre meets our ears next as they enter the room. He can read everything on my face and frowns. I mouth the word ‘later’ to him. He replies by telling me to smile. By the time my mother’s eyes meet mine, I have what I hope is a genuine smile on my face.

CHAPTER2

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