Well, apart from Blaze.
Blaze is for me to have fun with.
“Why won’t you stay away from him,” Rochelle asks while staring at me.
Our nails are drying as we sit in our pedicure seats that massage our backs.
“You need to stay away from him,” Rochelle reiterates, reaching for her phone.
“I’m a big girl, Roch. I will decide who I stay away from.”
“He’s the president of a biker gang, Kat. What don’t you understand about that?” she hisses at me. Her eyes, the same color as mine, pin me. “Think about Annabelle.”
This time it’s my turn to narrow my eyes at her. “Don’t do that! Don’t play the Annabelle card. You know I would do anything for my baby girl.”
Rochelle looks away and down. “I know, but he’s bad news.”
“Aren’t we all,” I say, shaking my head.
“Marcus is going to meet me at the house,” Rochelle states.
I live in Rochelle’s house. I was with her until she moved in with Marcus. She says she hasn’t fully moved in, but most of her things are there, and she hardly ever stays at her house anymore, only when I need her to babysit Annabelle.
“Are you going there tonight?” I ask as we get up to pay. Rochelle knows I’m not meaning to Marcus’s house either.
“No. You know I don’t like to be around him.”
Rochelle and Blaze have never gotten along, but Marcus and Blaze are brothers. So she has to see him.
“Has he mentioned me?” I ask her, as it’s been over a week since I last saw him. And I think about him, a lot. Especially those dark, hypnotic eyes, the way they can penetrate you and play with your emotions.
Men like him are trouble.
Men like him are dangerous.
“Kat, stop!” Her hand goes to the car door, and she turns to face me. “I don’t like him. So, that means I don’t especially like him to be around you. So stop! Please.”
“You can’t judge, Roch. You’re dating his brother, who burns bodies for a living.”
“They’re nothing alike. Nothing.” She opens the door and slides in.
They are, but she just doesn’t see it because she’s so blind in her love for Marcus.
I like seeing Rochelle in love because it looks good on her. Marcus, even in his all quiet glory, is good for her. He makes her smile again, and that smile seemed lost for a while. Rochelle was always the good girl growing up. She never rebelled. I, on the other hand, fought with my mother at every turn and rebelled in every way possible. We still don’t get along all the time, but she is the best with Annabelle, and I am thankful for that.
“If you say so.”
“I do,” Rochelle replies as she drives us back. “You should be dating. Not searching for something in Blaze you won’t ever get.”
“Did you think the same with Marcus?” I fire back at her. “You searched for something in him. And he’s clearly fucked-up.”
Rochelle lifts her hand. “Kat, enough! What is with you? You like Marcus, so why are you tearing into him right now?”
I shake my head at her. “I’m being an asshole. Don’t worry.” I wave my hand at her.
Rochelle pulls up at her house, and Marcus is standing next to his truck as he watches us.
“Your boyfriend is waiting,” I say as I get out of the car.
“If you want me to stay tonight, I will,” Rochelle tells me, walking over to me, catching my hand and giving it a squeeze.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll be fine.” And I will be. I always am.
Rochelle turns and walks straight over to Marcus. It’s effortless as she falls into his waiting arms, and his hands grip her as if she’s his life force. Maybe she is. I know I want that one day.
“Kat.” Marcus nods to me.
“Marcus.”
We all turn as my mother pulls up behind Rochelle’s car. Rochelle hands me her keys, as I have to borrow her car while mine is being repaired. I really need to buy a new car. Mine has seen better days and is starting to cost me more than it’s worth.
Rochelle walks over to my mother’s car and starts helping her as she reaches for Annabelle in the back. I turn to look at Marcus and see him watching Rochelle. He notices me and his lip quirks.
“You look like you want to escape.”
I turn my downward cast lips up into a smile and face my mother as I hear her boots clicking on the pavement as she walks over and stops right in front of me.
“She’s been fed and bathed. I have to go out with your father, so I need to drop her off early. Is that an issue?” she asks, staring at me.
I take a deep breath and manage to smile. “No, Mother. Thank you for watching her.”
Mom’s eyes narrow, and when I don’t say anything more, she nods her head as Rochelle walks over with Annabelle.
Annabelle’s almost one, and I told myself for the first year of her life I would take it off and spend it with her, so I don’t miss any big milestones. I’ve managed to do that and have watched her crawl, walk, and say Momma. And it’s been amazing. But I’m eager to go back to work, so I can talk to adults and socialize again.
“You’re welcome, have a good night.” Mom leans in and kisses my cheek before she wraps her arms around Rochelle and Annabelle, and she even gives Marcus a cuddle, which in turn, makes him freeze on the spot. I laugh at his awkwardness. My mother doesn’t care if you’re shy, she’ll still grab you in a hug if the mood strikes her.
“Do you need me to watch her?” Rochelle asks. “You said you were going to go to work and talk about your job.”
“No. I can do that another day.”
“Are you sure?” Rochelle asks again.
“Yes. What’s another day?” I reach for Annabelle, taking her in my arms. She comes willingly and touches my face, smiling at me. Fuck, I love her. How is it possible to love a small human this much?
“Do you want to come to Marcus’s for dinner tonight?” Rochelle pauses. “Blaze will be there.”
I smirk at her words. “I’ll have Annabelle.”
“Bring her. You know she’s always welcome.”
“Pretty girl,” Marcus warns.
Rochelle turns to face him. “If I have to put up with him, at least give me some normal company who doesn’t hate me.”
Marcus reaches up and touches her face, stroking it. “I’ll be there,” he says in a voice that makes me feel like I’m invading their conversation.
“Yes, and so will my sister and niece. Maybe they can sort out their differences, since it seems Blaze and I can’t.”
“Kat, would you like to come to dinner tonight?” Marcus asks, holding Rochelle to him. She turns against his chest with a smile on her face.
“Yes. Thanks.”
“You know where we live,” is all he says before he heads off, walking with Rochelle. “And Kat?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t come straight away. We have plans.”
Rochelle giggles as they walk to his car.
I know exactly what type of plans he means.
As soon as I step into the house, my phone starts ringing. I had turned it off earlier, as I planned to get ready and go into my old work to get my job back. But now, those plans have changed, as my mother can no longer care for Annabelle.