Page 94 of Unbound

“I don’t like this new update.”

I glance over to see who’s talking to me. It’s Nova staring down talking to the phone in her hand.

A cell phone. She has a fucking cell phone in her hand.

“Hold up, who’s phone is that?” I pat my pocket to make sure she hasn’t taken my phone again. Last time she had it, she found a naked picture of Sophie I thought I had hidden in a private folder. Apparently I didn’t hide it well enough.

Nova glances up at me and rolls her eyes. “It’s mine, dummy.” And she returns to talking at the screen.

“Why in the hell doyouneed a cell phone? You’re ten years old.” I honestly want to know the answer. I can’t think of any good reason a ten-year-old would need one.

“Well, mostly it’s so Ollie and I can be together even when we’re not.” She turns the phone to face me so I can see some kid’s face staring back at me with a goofy grin and waving.

“And why do you need to be together all the time?” Again I’m very curious for the answer.

“Um, because he’s my boyfriend and he likes to know where I am at all times. Just chill about it.”

Just chill? Who the fuck is this kid?

I look away from her and glace at the screen where Ollie is looking at me with a smirk on his face that makes me want to commit violent acts against this child.

“I’m sorry, did you just say boyfriend?”

She nods, turning the phone back to face her. “I did.”

Oh fuck no!

“Hey, Red? Did you know Nova has a boyfriend she Facetimes with all day?”

It may be immature but I turn back to Nova and stick my tongue out at her, knowing what’s coming. I mustn’t be the only one who knows what’s coming because I can hear Ollie quickly telling Nova he has to go and hangs up.

Red stands in front of Nova, his hands on his hips. “What the fuck does he mean you have a boyfriend?”

“Thanks a lot, asshole,” Nova spits at me through gritted teeth.

I can’t help but laugh because it’s only the beginning for Red, and I’ve never been so grateful tonothave a daughter.

“Just leave it alone, Red,” Nova tells him, walking into the house. Only he doesn’t and follows her.

“First off, I’ve repeatedly told you to call medad, and you’re not going out with Ollie until you’re sixteen.”

As they’re heading inside the house, Tyler sneaks past them and over to where I’m sitting on the deck drinking a beer.

“You and Raven are still okay to watch the boys while we’re gone, right?”

He nods but his face says otherwise. I don’t want to leave them while we’re gone, but we haven’t been on a honeymoon yet, so this is the next best thing.

“Are you sure you can handle this?” I ask Tyler as he’s handing Chevy and Lyric sparklers and a lighter.

My little guy just turned three in February and he’s a spitting image of me still, his hair darker now, brown eyes and always carrying a toy guitar in his hand.

“I’m positive,” Tyler assures me, slapping Raven’s ass when she walks by with a bowl of watermelon in hand for the kids. Our Fourth of July parties are a lot different these days. Where it used to be about getting drunk and shooting off hundreds’ worth of illegal fireworks, it’s now about family.

I point to the boys who are trying to figure out the lighter Tyler handed them. “Really? Because you just gave a lighter to a pair of three-year-olds.”

His eyes widen. “I did? Oh, shit.”

“Ty, can you change Kinsley’s diaper?” Raven asks over her shoulder as she sets the bowl of watermelon on the table.

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