Page 25 of Under the Influence

“That and I have a reputation.”

As my fingers sink into her long hair, I try to remember hearing anything particular about Edith. Nothing comes to mind.

I nearly forgot Donovan had a daughter. His sons are well known. Ike is a huge guy who scares people by rarely speaking and letting them guess if he’s angry. Otto isn’t as big, but he holds himself in an intimidating way and likes to talk shit. Both brothers have gotten into scuffles with the meatheads. Nothing serious, but enough for me to know the Mooney brothers can throw down.

“What reputation?”

Edith stares into my eyes and says with complete sincerity, “I’m a scary bitch.”

Chuckling too hard, I struggle to imagine her as anything more than prickly. “Well, you do have the guns.”

Edith smiles instantly, rubbing at her toned arms. Her giddy reaction makes me feel like I’ve suffered from a punch to the chest. I can’t believe how much I want this woman. If my feelings were one-sided, I’d assume I was having a mental breakdown. This growing need can’t be normal.

“I’ve never heard anything negative about you.”

“Your daughters probably have,” Edith says, and her face pinches at the word “daughters.”

“Does it bother you that I have kids?”

“Yes, even though I know it shouldn’t,” Edith says and shrugs. “After all, when my parents met, Journey had already taken in Otto.”

“I didn’t know he wasn’t blood-related.”

“Otto, Felix, and Matilda are half-siblings. When their ma got locked up for starting shit with Auntie Justice, Felix’s siblings were stuck with their sick meemaw. So, Matilda came to live with Auntie Justice. Otto was rowdier, and he did better with my ma,” Edith explains and reaches for my hand rather than look at the menu. “I learned he wasn’t blood-related when I was in junior high. I don’t think I was paying enough attention during family photo time to notice how he was already a boy when my parents got married.”

“That was kind of your mom to take him in.”

“She’s a good person. I wouldn’t do the same. I’m too selfish.”

Leaning closer, I kiss her left temple. “You’re not a good liar, Edith.”

Edith turns her head and kisses me. When our lust is in the driver’s seat, I become a man unburdened. Yet, eventually, I’m forced to pry my lips from hers and remember we’re in public.

“We should order.”

“Do you date a lot?” Edith asks, refusing to look at the menu opened before us.

“No.”

“But you bang women a lot, right?” she asks.

I chuckle at her wording before shrugging. “I don’t know about a lot.”

“I’m feeling insecure.”

Startled by her bluntness, I ask, “Because I’ve been with women?”

“Yes. I also want you to pay attention to me. If you stopped, I’d feel bad. I’m already worried about that pain.”

“I like it when you get overly honest like right now.”

“I spend all my time with people who don’t expect me to edit myself.”

“But you went to college, and I know you work at your family’s shop.”

“So?”

“Do you normally blurt shit out with non-family members?”

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