AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That’s when I realize this explosion is going to be two particles coming together and combusting on contact. Particle one: Kayla. Particle two: Bucky.
Hold your applause, Oprah—we haven’t made it through yet.
I step between the two—after all, I am a problem solver. “What if you compromise? Buck could wear the Thor shirt underneath his button-up?”
Buck is already tossing his pajama shirt to the side. He likes my idea.
Kayla sighs, tired, like it’s the end of the day, not the beginning. “Fine.”
I watch as my sister buttons that plaid shirt up over Thor and to the brim. She sets both hands on the boy’s shoulders and pulls him in for a kiss on the cheek. The thing is—Buck’s cheeks could have countless germs on them. And she doesn’t care. She just dives in, smacking her lips to that dirty cheek.
“Wewillbe combing your hair today!” she yells as he zooms from the room, pants not on his body but in hand. “No compromises, Buck!”
I plug one ear. “There it is.”
“There’s what?” she says with a yawn. It’s eight in the morning, and she’s tired already. I may never be up for motherhood.
“Your explosion.”
“Explosion? I don’t explode. It’s a well-known fact that little boys do not hear what you’re saying half the time. I don’twantto raise my voice, Annie. It’s a necessity.”
But with my nephew off and my sister’s attention back, it’s easy to return to my original topic. “So?” I say, holding up the paper for Kayla to see.
“She loves her cats? How many cats are we talking? Isn’t that a red flag?”
“No. Cats are not a red flag.” I can feel the wrinkles bunching up my forehead, but I can’t quite smooth them out. “Yes, Owen is allergic, but it’s not as if he’s going back to her place. They’re going to dinner.”
“Owen’s allergic?Annie.” She shakes her head. “Are you doing this on purpose?”
“Ahh—yes, helping my best friend and my career. Why yes, Iamdoing it on purpose.” I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my opened blazer and graphic tee. Where has Kayla been? I’m pretty sure I’ve made it all very clear.
“No, the cat thing.”
“What cat thing? I didn’t buy her the cats. What?” I toss my arms out of their fold and glare.
Kayla, still in her PJ pants and oversized T-shirt, that I’m pretty sure belongs to Tim, gives me a glare right back. “You just said Owen is allergic to cats.”
“So?”
She scoffs and shoves Buck’s stained flannel shirt into the hamper at the end of his bed. “So, I’m pretty sure that isn’t ideal for long term.” She tilts her head and gives me a cha-ching stare—like she’s won this match. Which she has not, by the way. “And I’m pretty sure you realize that.”
“It’s a cat, Kayla. If she’sthe one, she’ll get rid of them.”
“People don’t just get rid of their pets, Annie.”
“Then, he’ll take allergy meds.”
She absentmindedly makes Buck’s bed. “I guess he could.”
“See? Hah!”
“Hah?” She pulls up the comforter on Bucky’s bed and peers back at me, brows raised. “Did you just sayhah?”
“Yes. You want a fight. Well, that’s fine, but I’m going to win.” I set my hands to my hips—power stance. Who cares that I’m wearing a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup tee beneath my blue blazer.
“We’ll see,” she says. “I still call sabotage.”
13
