Page 72 of Vapor
I laugh. The woman is a little crazy. “Everyone likes my eyes.”
“Did you give Ranger a look for his comment about you keeping kids?” Because he acts like a clown on drugs.
“Yeah, I knew Julius for a damn day.”
Her dark eyes pin me but I give it right back. “It was a month.”
I shake my head. “No, the month of which more than three weeks was out of the country. I wasn’t here for it. I saw him the day after I got back with a bunch from the SOAR team. Cort came up and ordered him to have dinner at the pool.”
She nods. “I heard that different. Your eyes are intimidating.”
I give a curt nod. “I like that.”
She laughs. “Where are the drinks?” I could use one.
She scans from the left, I go from the right. “She’s big on the watermelon and fruit punch so…there.” I follow her hand and start walking.
“This is punch?”
“Alcohol or not. Pilots don’t drink. Aylen gets a cup and drinks about half all night long. No one drinks if they’re flying within 24 hours.”
I nod. “I’m with her but our clock starts at 48 hours. Badass is 24? I haven’t seen it anywhere.” We weave around smaller tables to get to the one Aylen and an older Indian are at. “Neema from the Mohegans in Rhode Island but she worked with the Connecticut tribe and now Head of Indian Resources for Zion Rising. She’s a reader too.”
I smile at the woman with her. “Vapor Ross, nice to meet you. I need a drink and was told this is the place.”
“Wait, drinking is 24 hours for Badass?” Freedom didn’t forget.
Aylen shrugs. “I don’t think it’s written. We adopted the Baxter rule as kids but I was flying long before my 21st birthday.”
“Ours is 48 hours. Freedom said you do 24.”
“I rarely drink more than half a cup or half a beer.”
I nod for the red icy drink she holds up. “I have a job in three days. The kids will be picked up by their new Club.”
She smiles and hands it over. “It’s half the alcohol.” She gives a shrug. “I was shooting for finishing the drink. I like the watermelon, it’s like a Del’s frozen slush, I’ll make another.”
I don’t know Del’s but the fruit is fresh and I need a drink, it was a long flight and I’ve had very little sleep in the last few days. I smile just thinking it. My Badass boy next door JAG dropped the boy next door persona with his clothes this morning. Homemade whipped cream hit my body before I was awake. The awake turned out to be worth it as his tongue…
“Stop there, we’re readers and Mucimi is close with Aurora so no blocking is happening today.” Aylen has my eyes on her.
After I repeat her words, I laugh. “Fuckin’ intrusive readers are bad enough then there’s Mucimi and Mase.”
She laughs with Neema nodding. “Mitena eggs her on but The Three and Teller are like walking power plants for readers.”
Aylen gives me a ‘what are you gonna do’ face and sad nod. “My dad is like that too. Add Christian, Dakota and Aiyana to him and I bet they see his energy on the moon.”
“Do you always count the four as three? I’ve heard and read about the three but you all name four and for Justice five or six.”
They bust out in hysterical laughter. Freedom recovers first. “Mase is the enforcer, he’ll show up and stop shit for the three and Teller. Citiali’s new but he’s a shield and messenger. Zeke is the teacher. It’s an Indian three and Badass three they mix together like salad regularly.”
Aylen nods seriously. “Yeah, but Justice has a whole council.”
Mitena, the Security woman sits by Aylen. “They love it here and said Vapor has them covered. A woman is the overseer.”
I laugh. “Overwatch. It’s a position aviators take regularly. Aunt Becky loves the women and watches everyone that comes close to them or the kids.”
Mitena focuses my way. “She’s a pit-bull like Abbey.”
