Page 114 of Under Her Skin
I wag my finger at him. “See, that’s why right there! That’s why I don’t take your offer. You’ll pay me far more than is right and give me thing after thing. You’re both too good of friends and I’d never take advantage of that fact. So I’ll continue to make you foods free of charge. You buy all the ingredients anyway, and I always eat sometoo.”
“One day we’ll get you,” Kip says with alaugh.
I hand him my list. “I really do appreciate the offer. Please don’t think Idon’t.”
“I know, sweetheart,” he says then turns to Peyton. “And what is Mummy having to drink thisevening?”
She gives him a naughty look then smiles. “Surpriseme.”
When he turns back to me his cheeks are red. “She’s such an evil temptress, that one. Damn glad I marriedher.”
I laugh and he gives me a million-dollar smile then walks away. Kicking a little water at Peyton to make her look at me instead of watching her hunky husband walking away, I say, “I can’t believe you thought at one time that you didn’t need him. You need him like the crops needrain.”
“Ido,”she says with a sigh. “If I ever lost him it would kill me.” She shakes her head to clear it. “I try never to think about that. But it creeps up in my mind now and again. I love that man with everything inme.”
I smile. “And he loves you the sameway.”
Pulling my knees up, I wrap my arms around them and wonder why I can’t be as free as they are. Peyton’s soft hand runs over my foot. “It wasn’t always this easy for us,either.”
“Yes, I know. It was I who found you crying at the airport that fateful day. I’m well aware of what all it took to find what you guys have.” I close my eyes and internally berate myself for mystupidity.
“Have you tried to call him or anything?” sheasks.
I shake my head. “It’s best to let him go. He’s not what I deserve. I may call that jackass friend of Kips’ though. Is Bobby busy, do youknow?”
“You missed that boat. He’s all hooked up with the nurse he met when Pax was born. And he’s surprisingly turned away from the jackass nature he had before he found her. He only calls me Yoko every now and again instead of all the time.” She laughs and Isigh.
“So tell Kip to find me another assholethen.”
Peyton shakes her head. “No, Mam! No more of those foryou!”
Then I’ll just stay alone. Alone is good, no one can get hurt when they stayalone!
Kip
“Hey, mate! What ya up to on this lovely, Saturday evening?” I ask Blake over the phone as I make my way to the store to get things for our bar-b-que.
His voice is threaded with a tired sound I’ve never heard in it before. “Not a damn thing. Thinking about going back toLubbock.”
“Then you must come this evening. Stay the night with us. I’m making a bar-b-que and won’t take no for an answer. Tell me what your poison is on this night and I shall pick it up foryou.”
“Beer, lots of beer. Not that crap that keeps you trim either. Some full flavored shit that will fuck me up. I need to get my head all the way messedup.”
“Bloke, you sound depressed and that’s not like you. I’ll get you some beer and a couple of shrimp to toss on the barbie as well. How ‘bout that?” Iask.
“Sure, thanks. I’ll go over there in a little while. I do have to warn you I’m awful company though. But I’d hate to leave town without giving you and your family a visit. You guys are great.Goodbye.”
He hangs up before I can tell him Rachelle will bethere.
Oh well, let’s just see what happensthen!
Rachelle
“Crap, Peyton! Another shot! No!” I shout ather.
“Come on, girl. It’s not every night I get a night away from Paxxie Poo. Kips’ parents have him for the night and you and I are going to have some fun!” Peyton tosses down her second shot of Patron and hands memine.
I take it and then we climb to the top of the waterfall and jump off as we hold hands and laugh like crazy people. When we come up all we hear is Kip blasting music as he shakes his ass and grills somemeat.
