Page 59 of Up in Flames

“You meanherass!” I laugh at his stupidity.

He chuckles. “Yeah, that’s what I mean.” He can’t resist kissing my lips hard in his usual dominant manner.

Suddenly, the front door opens, and we separate like we’ve just been caught by my parents making out. As Joey rounds the corner and walks in, she looks at the broken vase on the floor, the surrounding flowers, and a massive water stain, then slowly places her bag on the table, eyeing Cain suspiciously, then looks back at me.

“You, ah… wanna tell me what happened to my grandmother’s vase? That was a precious family heirloom,” she says deadpan, making me roll my eyes as she crosses her arms over her chest.

Cain tenses as his face falls, his mouth agape as he shakes his head like he’s in shock at his actions. “Oh fuck! I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll replace it,” his voice cracks, sounding devastated.

Joey frowns and sniffles like she will cry, making me tilt my stature and raise my brow. She looks at me with her lip turning up slightly as she sniffles again and shakes her head. “It’s sentimental, itcan’tbe replaced.”

Cain looks at me for guidance.

“Okay, that’s enough. Cain, Joey is messing with you. It was a cheap vase from Target, not a family heirloom—”

“Oh, you’re no fun, Kaylie. You should have waited to see what I could have gotten from him to replace it,” she teases, slapping Cain on the arm and waggling her eyebrows.

Cain lets out a bemused chuckle, unsure how to take this or her. “I think you’d get along well with Rodberg,” he mumbles.

Oh my God!I burst into a fit of hysterics as Joey creases her brows, trying to figure out what Cain just said.

“Don’t worry, Joey, he’s messing withyounow,” I tell her as I walk over to pick up the pieces of shattered glass.

“Baby, let me do that. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“Yeah, baby, we wouldn’t wantyougetting hurt,” Joey mocks.

“Shut up!” I throw back as I pick up a piece of glass, but Cain instantly takes it off me and points to the sofa for me to sit on while he cleans up his mess.

“This is ridiculous! I can clean up broken glass without…” I reach down to grab some more. “Ouch, motherfuck—” I stop and place my bleeding finger in my mouth. I should have listened to him because now I will cop his constant whining.

“See? You should listen instead of defying me every chance you get.” Cain takes me toward the sink. He turns on the faucet to wash away the blood that’s now pooling on my finger.

“Ouch!” I murmur as he wipes the blood away. “Aren’t you grossed out? I can fix a little cut.”

His fingers brush over my cut, and my blood runs over his fingers in the water. “I’m used to blood, Makaylie. It doesn’t bother me.”

I go to ask what the hell that means, but he continues talking, “Youwilllisten to me from now on,” he snaps, grabbing some paper towels and wrapping my finger up.

Rolling my eyes, I’m lucky he doesn’t see, as he’s too busy getting a bandage from the drawer.

Joey giggles, watching us from the living room, making Cain look up. She walks into the kitchen, grabs the dustpan and broom, and then moves back into the living room to clean up the broken glass.

Cain watches Joey and smiles, letting her continue.

I scoff. “So you’ll let Joey play with glass but not me?”

He knew that was coming, and he beams cheekily. “I’m sure Joey will be fine. I care aboutyouand don’t wantyouhurt. Hence, no glass for you…” the corners of his mouth twitch up, “… and you proved me right.”

“Gotta give the man props for being honest,” Joey calls out, laughing as she picks up the half-dead tulips.

“Huh? How did I prove you right?” I ask, ignoring Joey and concentrating on what Cain said while Joey laughs at me.

“Ahh… look down at your hand, little dove. Need I say more?” He wraps the too-long bandage around my sore finger, making a huge deal out of nothing. I huff, scrunching up my nose at him, and he lets out a small chuckle.

“Do it again,” he whispers.

Oh shit!I let out a slight laugh but do as he says and scrunch up my nose once.

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