Page 56 of Sinful Promise
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Isit on the kitchen counter in silence, scanning each occupant of my home and cataloging their movements while they go about their business of pretending not to notice the others.
Micah snores on the couch, unconscious—though inside his clever brain, I know he’s scheming and planning. It’s what he does.
Cato, the baby, got laid today by a woman he’ll never again see, and who, I’m certain, was never aware she was bedding a minor. Not that it matters; she’s a long-lost memory already, as he watches my wife from the corner of his eyes… but only when he thinks no one is paying him any attention.
He thinks having Condor game highlights playing on the television is enough of a distraction to throw off a cop.
Amateur.
Finally, I watch Minka most of all, the reluctant doctor of the currently living, as she walks back and forth from where I sit beside cartons of Chinese takeout, to where Micah lies, asleep.
It would dampen her entire month if her patient drops dead on her couch this week.
In the quiet, but for the TV, she picks at her dinner, chewing on a spring roll like it’s enough to sustain a strong woman after a long day, then she wanders back to Micah to make sure he’s still breathing and averaging ninety-eight degrees when she shoves a thermometer under his arm.
At this point, he’s lucky she doesn’t stab him in the ass with it, like she does her needles.
“I checked out the Condor stadium today.” Cato hoovers his Chinese like he thinks he won’t be fed again. But he glances across when Minka bends over Micah’s broad body to conduct her hourly temperature inspection. “That place has money.”
Poor, sweet Cato has no clue Minka Mayet doesn’t do small talk. Fuck, but I’m not sure it even registers in her brain. She’s too black and white for such frivolities.
“Their website says they favor players who go to school here in Copeland,” he continues. His eyes remain plastered to her back. His focus, begging her to spin and pay attention to him. “More so, kids who are broke.” He chuckles, like the thought boggles his mind. “They pride themselves on taking kids off the streets and making them famous ball players.”
“Uh huh.” Minka checks Micah’s thermometer when it beeps at her, then setting the cap back on, she slips it in her pocket and takes care to set his mutilated hand on his stomach.
She wants it elevated, but every time he’s left for more than ten seconds, he turns in his sleep and dangles the appendage over the side of the couch.
Oblivious to Cato’s attempts, she glances to me across the apartment. When our eyes meet, her cheeks warm with a beautiful blush.Yeah. I ate your pussy before I ate my dinner. “Where will they sleep?”
“My apa—”
“We’ll sleep here.” Cato sits on the arm of the couch with a scowl and shoves an entire spring roll between his lips. “We’ve come here to seeyou, Doc. Where the hell do you expect us to sleep?”
“Well…” Finally, she gives the boy what he wants and looks his way. “There are no spare beds in this apartment. So unless you three Malones want to share the bedroom while I sleep out here—”
“You’re not sleeping out here,” I cut in. Pushing off the counter, I open my arms and wait as she crosses the living area and walks into my embrace.
It’s where she fits.
It’s where she belongs.
“You and I aren’t sleeping separate, Mayet. No deal.”
“We could probably put them in your old apartment,” she agrees on a murmur. “It’s still close, so I can check in on Micah, but it’s—”
“If you’re staying here, we’re staying here.” Moving off the couch, Cato walks his plate back to the kitchen and leans close enough, his shoulder misses Minka’s by a hair. “Wherever you sleep, we sleep.”
“But there’s not enough room.” Twisting in my arms, she backs up and rests against my chest. “Cato,” she gentles her tone, “this isn’t about getting rid of you. This is literally a matter of beds. There aren’t enough in either apartment for all four of us, plus a cat.”
“The cat’s a bitch.” He snatches a fresh roll from the container on the counter and bites half off in one go. “Micah’s already asleep. You and Archer have your bed.”
“And you?” she presses. “Will you go find a new fuckbuddy so you have a place to spend the night?”
He’s not embarrassed the way many other teens might be. He doesn’t even care enough topretendto be embarrassed. He only smirks and takes another bite of his third or fourth serving of dinner. “I’ll stay wherever you guys and Micah are. We stick together. So if you try to leave, my ass is following.”
“You’re needy.” Peeling away from my chest, Minka moves to the fridge and peruses the contents until she finds a can of soda that satisfies whatever she’s craving. “You act like you’re grown, Cato.” Shutting the fridge and popping the can, she turns back and studies him with a lifted brow. “You think you’re a badass who can travel the country and hold a gun and fuck women older than you. But whenever someone mentions sleeping away from you, you get needy like we’re your safety blanket.”
