Page 14 of My Boss's Sons

“Jesus, Mom!”

I had to get away. Panic and horror would be my excuse if I was asked about my choices later, but I was being pushed to my limit. I gasped and pointed behind Noah. “Is that the president?!”

As soon as they were both looking in the direction that I pointed, I sprinted away. I’d never run track before but when I felt the wind whipping my tangled hair back and forth, I thought I could’ve been a track star. I never looked back. A cab was stopped at the sidewalk ahead of me and I dove inside, stealing it from a man in a business suit.

“Go!” I pushed the business man’s hands out of the way and slammed the door shut before lying flat across the seat. “If you pull away from this curb ten seconds ago, I’ll tip you a hundred!”

I was rocked into the back of the seat and then into the floor as the cab took off and then skidded to a stop to make a turn. Wedged in the floorboard of a cab, I used my time on the long drive home to think about my choices. The driver, a nice man named Lazalo, stopped once we were out of the city and helped me out of the floor. That just gave me time to look at my cell phone finally and I realized that I’d never texted or called Ava or Jack the night before. I had dozens of calls from both of them.

I shot a text to both of them letting them know I was fine and that I’d call them as soon as I could. Then, I let my head slump back on the headrest and my eyes met Lazalo’s in the rear-view mirror.

“You okay, lady?”

I groaned. “Have you ever been walked out of a one-night stand by the other person’s parent?”

His eyes crinkled as he laughed. “I can’t say that I have.”

“Good. Make better choices than me, Laz.” I rubbed my face and out of nowhere, a laugh bubbled up and out of me. Once the first laugh escaped there was no stopping it. I cackled as Lazalo joined me and neither of us stopped until he parked in front of my house and I saw Ava, Milo, Lily, Mrs. Johnson, and my favorite neighbor, Mr. Jimmy, all standing in the driveway with their hands on their hips.

“Oh, man. This all for you?”

I pulled the wad of cash that Jack had given me the night before out of my pocket and passed it to Lazalo. “Circle the block a few times?”

“Too late, Ms. Sophia.”

Sure enough, Ava was already yanking the door open and shoving her head inside. “Do you have any idea how worried we were?!”

13

***Sophia***

“Mom! Aunt Ava said you were in big trouble. What’d you do?” Lily wrapped herself around me and then sniffed. “You smell like a boy, Mom. Gross.”

Ava watched Lily free herself from me and run inside before narrowing her eyes at me. “You smell like a boy? What the hell were you thinking? You scared the shit out of us. You could’ve been murdered, Soph! You could’ve been cut up into little pieces and littered around the river! I would’ve had to identify you piece by piece!”

Mrs. Johnson scowled. “Disgusting. Tell your sister to stop being so gross, Sophia.”

Ava flipped the older woman off. “Why are you even here? You weren’t helpful at all. You just kept mutteringslutunder your breath.”

Milo held his hand up for me to high-five it. “Nice move getting laid, Soph! It’s good for your creative juices. I have some ideas I want to run by you, so this is perfect.”

“Milo!” Ava tugged Milo back by his shirt and then pushed him towards the house. “Go inside and make Lily some eggs.”

“We don’t have any eggs. You used them all in that painting you made last night.”

I swore. “Ava! I told you that if you use the groceries for your art projects, you have to replace them.”

“Oh, and when was I supposed to replace them? Between sleeping and worrying that you were deader than dead? I guess I should’ve done the shopping while filing a missing persons report?” Ava turned to Mrs. Johnson. “Why are you still here? Get out of here, lady. This is family business.”

“Jimmy isn’t family!” Mrs. Johnson jabbed her elbow into Jimmy’s side. “Jimmy doesn’t have family because he’s a no-good communist!”

Mr. Jimmy held up his hands. “Paint your house red during the Red Scare and suddenly you’re a communist.”

“Don’t talk to Jimmy like that.We’rehis family.” I tried to shove my fingers through my hair but my hair wasn’t having it. “Can we continue this after I shower?”

“Slut.” Mrs. Johnson shook her head and wagged her finger at me. “This place is a zoo!”

“Milo! Get your chainsaw! This lady called Soph a slut!” Ava laughed maniacally. “You’re going to get it now.”

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