Page 44 of Mark Us Little Bear
“Hallucinating my ass. You sneaky little rebel.” I charge forward and she starts screaming from the top of her lungs, jumping in front of me to block my path. “Sneaking boys under Mom’s nose. You must be proud.” I lower my voice and tickle her endlessly until I’m tired and throw myself on her bed.
“I’m seventeen.” She pants, tossing her hair back. “I’m allowed to have a boyfriend.”
She throws herself next to me, and giggles, ecstatic about her mischief.
I lie on my back and stare at the stars blanketing the ceiling. When Kat was ten, I offered to decorate it with stickers because our favorite activity was to climb on top of the roof and watch the skies at night.
Dad used to do that with me when I was a kid.
“You will always have the stars,” Kat says next to me, staring at the ceiling too. “That’s what you told me when you decorated it.”
That’s how I felt most of my life like I couldn’t grasp anything but always had the stars to watch at night.
“Who was that?” I ask.
“Someone.”
“Tell me, come on.” I tickle her side, knowing it always gets her.
“Amber, stop!” she squirms and giggles some more.
“Not until you tell me.”
“I d—don’t want to—jinx it.” She clasps her thumb and index finger to my nose and I release her. She uses all my moves against me these days. “We just started dating.”
I shoot her a knowing look, “If you let him inside your room it’s serious. I won’t tell you what to do but use protection and be safe.”
“Amber!”
Ronnie
I’m pretty sure her sister yells again and giggles upstairs. I don’t know what they do but I’m glad she went to someone who can comfort her after our intense introduction. That’s not what I was hoping for. But her Dad seems like a great man, and her little sister sounds entertaining.
While Bradley and Johnny talk I peer outside the window viewing the backyard and catch a movement from the outer wall.
His hood is pulled up as he struggles to lower his Jordan shoes to the ground.
I’m pretty sure Amber doesn’t have a brother so… I’m assuming this is her sister’s boyfriend sneaking out the back.
I look back at Johnny as they continue to chat, completely oblivious to his daughter’s shenanigans. Bradley veers his gaze to me and when he follows my line of sight, a knowing grin pulls at the corner of his mouth.
Being seventeen again… Luka and I already had bikes at that age and we drove our parents crazy. For me, it was a way to be free from the clutches of my disease. Each time I twist the throttle and that loud rev echoes it’s like saying “In your face.”
My eyes land on the boyfriend again seconds before he’s out of sight.You made it my man but wait till you get the lecture once you’re caught.
“It’s a beautiful day,” Johnny waves his hands to the sides, “Nice weather, you should enjoy the pool in the back.”
Nodding at me, Bradley agrees with a wicked smirk. “Yes, we should.”
“Go have fun, I’m taking my wife to her book club and then I’m going to play poker with some friends so you have the house to yourselves.”
Bradley moves to the exit with Teddy in his hands, signaling he’s getting our bags from the car. “Sounds great, Mr. Turner.”
“Please, call me Johnny.” He walks behind him, clapping on his back playfully. “I’ll see you later for dinner or are you visiting your family next?”
“We’ll probably stay here today, but if Teddy is a problem I can take him to our house.”
“No, you can leave him here. I always wanted a dog and I bet my younger daughter will be thrilled.”
