Page 30 of Wildflower Hearts
Lyla turned her attention to her plate, which seemed far more intriguing than anything she had ever seen in her life.
“Let’s go.”
“I ain’t playing basketball,” Mark argued, “and Noah can’t play.”
“He can be the cheerleader.”
“You guys go ahead.” Noah’s voice rumbled from his sprawled out position on the couch. “I need to take some medication and nap.”
Debra snapped the dish rag on the counter and marched into the living room. Lyla continued to wash the dishes in the sink and listened to the woman join in loudly to the conversation.
“Mark, I remember us having a conversation about shopping. You promised me!”
“Baby, I…”
“No! You’re taking me to the mall, and that’s final.”
Slumped in the recliner, Elias chuckled. “Aw, Debbie Downer wants to charge something else on Mark’s card. I’m shocked. I’m sorry, Sweetheart, but his credit cards are all maxed out thanks to you.”
“Shut up. I don’t remember anyone ever asking your opinion on anything!”
Lyla shook her head and placed the final dish on the drying rack. She dried her hands with a towel and turned to the doorway to find Elias standing there.
“Hey.”
She smiled and tossed the rag on the counter. “Are you guys going out to play basketball?”
“Nah,” he rolled his eyes. “Cruella de Vil has Mark on a tight leash, so I’m going to go with Billy to see his kids. Wanna go?”
“Someone needs to look after your brother.”
“I’m sure he’ll be-”
“You did say you wanted me to get to know him better, didn’t you? No better time than this.”
“You’re right.” He placed a quick kiss on her forehead. “We’ll be back shortly.”
“I’ll be here.”
It was quiet in the house except for the sound of the television playing in the living room. Lyla tapped her fingers on the kitchen table and glanced at the clock. Everyone had only been gone for twenty minutes, and she hadn’t heard a sound from Noah. It was getting close to time for his medication, and she knew for a fact it was upstairs. She entered the living room to find him lying on the couch, remote in his hand. “It’s time to take your medicine.”
He didn’t shift his attention away from the television. “Okay, go get it.”
“I don’t think that’s how you ask someone nicely to do you a favor.”
He shrugged, still not looking at her. “Please get my medication for me before I fucking die. Thanks.”
“Okay, that’s enough.” She marched around the couch, bending to tear the remote from his hand. She hit the off button and watched in satisfaction when the screen went black. She tossed the remote onto the coffee table. “It’s time to end the pity party. You’re acting worse than some children at the hospital.”
“Give me back the remote.”
“Why? So, you can rot your brain more with that crap? There’s nothing good on anyway.”
“I said, give it back, Lyla.”
“Or what? You’ll attack me with witty sarcasm?”
Noah was on his feet faster than she thought possible. She was fully aware then that the table was the only thing separating them. “Maybe I’ll kiss that loud mouth of yours and shut you up for good.”
