“If you think I’m letting you give my girlfriend a sponge bath, you have another think coming,” I warn darkly.
I’m at my fucking limit.
Mikayla’s sick; she’s been stressed, crying and upset. She’s scared and unsure. The last thing I need is a friend adding to our shit pile.
“Boys?” my mom asks from the open door. “What’s going on in here?” she asks warily.
“Just Caine being Caine,” Kyle says, walking to my mother and giving her a kiss on the cheek and a hug.
“He accused me of being a cheater and told me I was gonna throw Mikayla out,” I say like we’re ten and I’m tattling on him.
“Kyle?” my mom asks, her voice suspicious as she lifts a brow at him. Crossing her arms, she tilts her head to the side and frowns.
“I was testing him,” Kyle admits.
“Test him when he isn’t on edge, worried about someone he loves,” my mom says and then smacks him on the back of the head.
“Ouch!” he grumbles, rubbing the spot where she hit him.
“You boys are terrible! I heard you all went out and crashed his date last night, their first date! What’s the matter with you?” she scolds. “I have a mind to smack you again, Kyle Philips. You are not a stupid man, but you certainly are a dumb boy! You may think it’s funny, but Mikayla doesn’t deserve that. When she’s well, you better apologize to her.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kyle looks down at his feet andclasps his hands in front of him. “I’m sorry, Caine.”
“If you’re making a joke of this…” my mother hisses, walking over to him with her hand raised.
I’m a dick. I smirk. Who wouldn’t! My mother is beating up my best friend! It’s kind of amazing.
“I’m serious, Mrs. Montgomery! I really am sorry,” Kyle says, his hands raised, his body turned as he tries to protect himself from her potential blows. She’s perfected the smack! It stings for days!
“Good. I have dinner for you in the kitchen. Caine, refill that bath, and when you’re done taking care of your future wife, make sure you eat your dinner.” The scolding tone is still there even though she’s being loving.
“Don’t fuck it up or I’ll be giving her a sponge bath!” Kyle mutters with a smirk.
I grab a pen and lob it at his head. It hits him right on the temple.
“Fuck!” he yells, wincing, his hand rubbing the other side of his face now.
“You deserved that,” my mother says and smacks his head again. “Go on before I smack more than your head. Don’t make me make you go out and find me a switch!” she warns.
Kyle looks at my mother with a glint in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. I fist my hands at my sides before saying, “Make an inappropriate remark about my mama and I will punch you in the face.”
My former best friend has the presence of mind to leave the room.
I grab the small bath and empty out the cold water and turn on the tap.
“Not too hot and not too cold,” my mom says. “You want to cool her body down.”
I nod, and when I think it’s a good temperature, I fill the basin and carry it over to the table beside her bed.
Mikayla’s eyes open as I place the soft sponge on her chest and neck.
“You’re back.”
“I never left,” I remind her. I kiss her brow and continue her bath.
“Thank you,” Mikayla murmurs. “That feels so nice,” she adds with a sigh.
“You gonna move over and let me sleep next to you?”
