Page 52 of Rebound

“On what planet are you better in the kitchen than me?” I ask. I look at her cutting board. She’s good, but she’s not Seth Wakowski good. I bump her with my hip and push her out of the way. I take an onion and channel all the Julia Child YouTube videos I’ve watched.

“Can I say something?” she asks.

“Are you asking your husband’s permission to speak?” Her eyes widen at my question. I grin at her. “Yes, you have my permission. Go on.”

I laugh when she points the knife at me. I easily take it from her and put it away.

“I didn’t grow up like you did, and this is not pity, but I’m sorry you grew up that way. I hope this doesn’t upset you, but I like your dad.”

I roll my eyes at her. “That does not upset me. I get it. I like the dynamic between your dad, mom and Donna.” She groans and makes a face. “I’m glad you like him. You can be the buffer when we visit.”

“After you left for UConn, did you go a long time without speaking to him?” She lowers her voice and cranes her neck to make sure my father doesn’t hear. He’s too busy running after Jasmine to pay any attention to us, but I get the feeling that Layla feels bad at the thought of me abandoning him for any length of time.

“We didn’t talk for about five days. He blew up my phone every day, but I wouldn’t answer. I blocked him, but that only lasted a few hours because I felt so guilty, but I was still so angry. I told myself that I was not going to look back, but I was lying to myself. So, I asked our old neighbor to check on him for me on the fifth day. He called back and said he found him in his room crying under a blanket. I felt so guilty. I called him, and he cried like a baby into the phone. After that, I promised to contact him every day, and I kept my word. Whether by text or a phone call. He’s only like this now because of the therapy and medication he’s on.”

She puts her hand on my bicep. If anyone else had done that after hearing that story, I would have flinched and told them to go to hell because the last fucking thing I need is pity. Butnot this time. This time it feels nice to unload all this crap on someone else. The closest I’ve come before is telling Coach some of my history. The other time was with the therapist I saw, but I only went to a few appointments before I determined it wasn’t worth it.

She looks up at me and smiles. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think it was because she’s proud of the decision I made.

“What are you smiling at? You look deranged.”

She laughs and throws an onion at me. “That reminds me, I need to call my mom and check on Gaga.” She starts to walk away, but I wrap my hand around her wrist and pull her back to me. I tilt her chin up with my free hand and kiss her before she can figure out what I’m going to do.

The kiss is mild and chaste, but she feels and tastes so good that I don’t ever want to stop. She smells like onions, but that’s not enough for me to pull away. I let go of her wrist and snake an arm around her waist. She’s pressed against me completely, and she feels just right.

Who knew that something as simple as a kiss could feel more intimate than anything else I’ve ever done with a woman? Maybe this is why Chastain and Coach are always kissing their wives. It’s like a drug. I reluctantly break the kiss.

She grins at me, and when she turns to leave, I swat her ass. “Tell everyone except June Bug I said hi.”

“Nope. Not gonna do that. June Bug is my ride or die. And he meant it. He’ll beat your ass if you upset me.”

“He can try,” is all I say as she walks away.

While Layla’s gone and I prep the food, my dad barges into the kitchen with Jasmine in his arms. He goes to the freezer and pulls out a vanilla ice cream cup. Jasmine starts to clap her hands at the sight of the treat.

“Dad, we’re about to eat dinner. She can’t have that.”

“But she asked, and you know I can’t say no to her. Just look away and mind your business. This is my time with my only grandchild.”

“Why couldn’t you just give it to her after dinner?” I bark. “And she is my business.”

“Because she asked for it now.” He huffs and walks away as if I’m the one with the problem. Jasmine waves at me on their way out, and I wave back. She giggles and looks away.

Chapter 31

Layla

Jasmine claps her hands from her highchair at Seth’s antics. While he cooks on the hibachi grill, he spins around and puts a shrimp on the metal spatula. He points at me and flings the shrimp in my direction. I open my mouth just in time and catch it between my teeth.

Both Pete and Jasmine clap for me.

“Jazzy!” Jasmine says. Seth throws one at her, and to my amazement, she catches it too. She laughs so hard that it falls out her mouth and lands on the tray. She quickly takes it and shoves the entire thing in her mouth.

I reach across the table and give her a high five.

“Now, you, Dad,” Seth says. I think that takes Pete by surprise. He opens his mouth wide, but when Seth throws it, it hits the side of his mouth and starts to fall on the table. He catches it with his hand and eats it.

“It still counts as a catch,” he says. “As long as it doesn’t hit the table.”

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