Page 161 of Black Flag

Mission accomplished.

I trotted back to myroom to get dressed. I had a doctor’s appointment in less than an hour so Ithought it was time to actually put on clothes besides sweat pants and tanktops. I was becoming good at being lazy.

Once dressed, I metJameson downstairs in the living room where he was sitting with Charlie. Icaught the last half of their conversation when I finished waddling over toJameson.

“...you’ll win. There’s no way Tate cancatch you.” Charlie told Jameson. “Even if you do finish last the next fewraces, you’ll win.”

When I yelled atJameson a few weeks ago forpunkingout, I had noidea that would turn into the determined heathen he’d become. Charlie wasright; no one stood a chance against him now. All that frustration, all thosefears he had, all those emotions he felt about what Darrin had done to us hadnow been turned into determination to become a champion and prove the worldwrong.

I wasn’t sure if he’dmoved on, but he had channeled his anger.

“Yeah,” Jameson mumbledrunning his hand across his jaw. I made him keep the beard, I kind of like itfor now. “I don’t wanna get my hopes up but I think I got it under wraps.”

“You do son.” Charliestood. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a nap to tend to.” He tipped his headtoward us and then proceeded up the stairs with Mr. Jangles in tow.

Charlie slept a lotthese days, he also reminded me of Mr. Jangles. Every time I turned around hewas taking a nap but Andrea told me this was normal. If there was one goodthing about this bed rest, it was being around Charlie more. He’d also become areality TV whore just like Emma and me. We all fit in nicely together.

I felt bad for Vanhaving to endure not only Emma, but also all of us watching reality TV all daylong, and the endless amounts of ice cream we all consumed. Charlie had yet totry all the flavors of Ben and Jerry ice cream we’d tried. He had some catchingup to do. Van also gave in when he finally tasted their Mud Pie flavor. So wewere now a bunch of reality TV whores and Ben and Jerry taste testers. If youput all four of our weight gains together, we equaled a tiny person named Benor Jerry, whomever you prefer.

Van was also not veryhappy about that.Something about running ten miles a day andfeeling fat jiggle.I wanted to ask him how he thought I felt butdidn’t. I’m sure, by my frequent complaining, he knew my thoughts on gettingjiggly.

Just as we were aboutto leave for my appointment, Emma finally came out of the bathroom with a washcloth attached to her as she frantically scrubbed her skin. She obviouslydidn’t rub the self-tanner in very well, but how could she of known to?

Anyhow, now she justlooked like that clown fish off FindingNemowithstrips of orange and white and once again, smelled like burnt popcorn. She usedan excessive amount too, but yet again, it’s not like she knew what exactly shewas lathering up with.

Jameson and I bothburst into laughter but as soon as Emma spotted Jameson, she started gaggingagain and ran back to the bathroom without saying anything.

Finally, something hasmade her speechless.

“What was that about?”Jameson asked through shakes of laughter, his arm slung around my shoulders.

I couldn’t stop laughinglong enough to actually tell him what I did so I just simply waved around likea peacock with my arms flailing trying to tell him. I eventually gave up andjust sat there laughing with him until I needed to change my underwear becauseI once again,peedmy pants.

On the way to myappointment, Jameson took a detour that led us to Summit Lake. He spotted a forsale sign off Highway 8, so he followed it and then found ourselves at one ofthe most beautiful homes I had ever seen.

I fell in love immediatelyin the kitchen and its dark cherry cabinets and black granite countertops. Iwas already imagining a repeat performance of the Sway Banana Split.

The house was beautifulbut way too fucking expensive. I almost went into labor at the price. Seeing howwe already had one home in Mooresville, I hardly saw the need for one soexpensive here but I also knew I couldn’t stand living in the same house withthe Lucifer twins much longer.

We walked through thehouse after I told him I didn’t want to but of course he threw out the smirk, Igave in despite myself.

I finally told him myworries when we were standing in the back yard looking at the view of SummitLake from the homes’ private dock.

“We can’t afford thisplace.”

“We can, we—”

“No, we can’t, we havea baby coming and we already have a house in Mooresville.” I interjected,whirling to face him. He stared down at me with an amused expression. Thesetting sun was illuminating the rusty highlights in his scruff along his sharpdefined jaw.

“We can. I—” he startedagain, and I shook my head.

“Jameson, you’re—” Ibegan, but stopped when he pressed his fingers against my mouth.

“Keep interrupting meand watch how fast you get tossed in that lake,” he warned with a twinkle inhis eyes. I just smiled so he continued. “Sway, wecanafford it. If youforgot, I’m a huge NASCAR star and soon to be champion.” He finished breakingout into his signature-crooked grin. “We can do this.”

“You’re prettyconfident you’re going to win there, huh?”

“I have no doubt in mymind I’m going to win.”

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