Page 51 of A Little Twist

A laugh hiccups in my throat.

“Although, I’ve heard it’s a painful procedure.” His brother continues. “Where did they find fat onyourbody?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Alex is so confused, and I’m about to pee holding in my laughter.

“Don’t worry—your secret’s safe with me.” He pats Alex on the shoulder on his way to the living room. “Owen, we gotta get home, little man. Morning comes early.”

Owen exhales a half-hearted protest, and Pinky’s eyes are heavy as she lies on the couch behind him. Aiden’s son gives us all hugs before following his uncle to the door.

“Night, babe.” Adam kisses my cheek, calling back as he leaves. “Better watch your car. Somebody’s pranking you.”

Alex goes to the door leading to the garage, and I skip into the living room, scooping a sleeping little girl off the couch. I carry her up the stairs, and she doesn’t even open her eyes as I help her brush her teeth then exchange her dress for her nightgown.

Her daddy is waiting in the bedroom when we return, and he leans down to kiss her forehead as she snuggles with Piglet.

Our eyes meet, and I can see I’m in trouble now.

CHAPTER15

ALEX

I got my BBL from Booty’s!

The bright yellow bumper sticker announces in red lettering from the passenger’s side rear window of my car.

Right where I’d never see it.

Scraping my thumbnail over the vinyl, I try to get it off, but I can’t. How long has this been here? My jaw tightens when I remember Drake complimenting my ass, and I rub a hand over my mouth trying to think.

It wasn’t there after the wedding. I loaded and unloaded Pinky and all the leftovers Mom sent home with us. I’d have seen it then, or my mom definitely would have. I can only imagine how that would’ve gone down.

Actually, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know what a Brazilian Butt Lift is, so probably nothing would’ve gone down besides confusion. The nameBooty’sis vaguely familiar, and I stand, doing my best to place where I’ve heard it before.

My eyes drift to the stairs, and I think about Cass’s suspicious retreat to the kitchen when Adam brought it up. I’ve only been around one other person since Saturday.

Standing there in the garage, staring at the garish bumper sticker, I start to laugh. “Fuck, she got me,” I mutter to myself.

The irritation simmering in my stomach turns to an amusing urge for payback, and I head into the house. She wants to play games? She has no idea who she’s up against.

I hear noises upstairs, and I slowly climb to where she’s guiding my daughter through brushing her teeth. Pinky’s eyes are closed through the entire process, and I don’t think she’ll be up for a story tonight.

No worries, because I have other plans.

Cass’s eyes flicker to mine where I’m waiting in the doorway, and she blinks away quickly.That’s right, you’re busted.

Biting the inside of my lip, I don’t smile. I’ll use her thinking I’m pissed to my advantage.

Then she hits me with her secret weapon. Sitting on the side of Pinky’s bed, she strokes her hand over my daughter’s head as she softly sings a lullaby about a castle on a cloud.

It’s a melancholy little song, but fuck, her voice is so beautiful. It changes the burn in my stomach to something deeper, something urgent.

She whispers the last words about how crying is not allowed, and I’m ready to pull her to me and make sure she never sheds another tear as long as she lives.

Pinky is long gone in dreamland when Cass stands and tiptoes in my direction. We step out of the room, and she closes the door silently before looking up at me.

I’m standing in front of her trying to remember how I managed to speak the last time I heard her sing. I was stronger than I thought at fifteen, because I’d also just seen her naked body for the first time—pert little tits, flat stomach…

She was my teenage wet dream, a fucking siren from the sea, and still I spoke to her that day.

---