“What did you do?” I stare at him, trying to be the parent our parents should be. They’re off on another vacation. An Alaskan cruise, I think. They’re good parents, they’re just wandering souls. Staying still for long periods of time has never been easy for them. My older brother, Carson and I, were able to convince them to put down roots in Edmonton, Alberta, allow Oli to complete high school in one place and we’d take care of him while they were gone. Carson however was granted a huge military contract over the summer and now he’s flying back and forth from Ottawa and Vancouver as often as I need, which I try not to. He needs to focus on his career. I’m still figuring my life out so Oli can come on that ride with me.
“Nothing too bad.” He looks away, which tells me, it was pretty bad.
“Spill Oli.” I drop a hand on my hip in the hopes he confesses.
He rolls his eyes at my use of his nickname. “There were these kids, they’re real jerks.” Oli is small for his age. Probably thirty pounds less than his peers and a few inches shorter so he always feels like he has to make up for it.
“I’m waiting.” My foot taps on the floor.
“I filled their lockers with inflatable boats so that when they opened them, it would explode open and they’d be knocked back.” I’ve got the picture in my head and I know I should be giving him trouble but all I see is Grown Ups 2, when Kevin James nails his buddies with one and I want to laugh.
I turn and walk down the stairs needing to get myself together before I burst out laughing. “Was anybody hurt?”
“No.”
“Property damage?” Wouldn’t be the first time.
“No.” This is good.
“But…?” I know there’s something. There is always something with Oli.
“I also put shaving cream in their mouth guards last week.” I can hear the defeat in his tone.
Christ. “You really pulled out all the stops huh?” I never really thought I’d be walking back into JTM after leaving. I should have known better. “Get your crap together, we’ll leave in five.”
I suppose this will be the test of whether or not Mr. Daily knew it was me last night or not. In some ways, I hope he does. I wanted his excitement to be for me, Eden Glass, and not for Eden of The Secret Garden.
I enjoy working at the club. The owners are great and care about their dancers, and the bouncers don’t try and grope us. We get paid amazingly and stage fees don’t cost a fortune. Until last night I’d never been tempted to play with a customer. I couldn’t seem to help myself with Mr. Daily though, I even invited him to the Halloween party next week. I’m such a fool. A glutton for punishment it seems.
“You’re the best Eady!” He calls as he runs back up to his room to grab his stuff.
“We’ll see about that after I decide whether I tell mom and dad or not.” I mutter to myself.
Oli is a good kid, he doesn’t typically do anything to intentionally hurt others. But he’s at that age now where size matters and kids are assholes. With our parents and Carson not around much, a lot of things fall to me, and I truly don’t mind, but teenage boys are a species I am not prepared for.
Once we’re in the car and a block away from my old high school, I can feel my brother staring at me. “What?” I finally ask, turning my head to look at him as I park across the street.
Instead of answering me, he jumps out of the car and stands on the sidewalk until I exit and slam my door shut. “Oli, what is the look for?”
“You probably should have changed first.” He tries to hold in a laugh as I look down at myself and what I forgot I was wearing.
Short cotton shorts—like, short, short. As in my ass cheeks are now feeling the slight morning breeze short—and a navy-blue tank top. Without a bra.
“Why didn’t you say anything at home?” I snap at him as we begin to cross the street. I should have noticed but I was so shocked by his need for me to come, that I forgot. It’s not that the clothes can’t be worn in public, more that I don’t usually like to. They’re my comfy stay at home because I’ve been dancing all night long clothes.
“I didn’t know you cared?” He smirks. The shit.
“Well,” I draw the word out as I look around and see all the horny high school boys staring, some might even recognize me from my senior year, “Maybe you’ll get street cred for having a hot sister?” I try to play it off, but really, I just want a damn sweater.
Even though it’s October, the weather is unseasonably warm, or I would have noticed before I left the house. Now I’m stuck.
Christ.
I shake my head as I hear whistling behind us as we walk through the front door of the school, heading straight to the office where of course the secretary from last year recognizes me. “Eady!” She calls, she was always a nice woman. “How nice to see you again!” I’m so glad there’s no judgment from her about what I’m wearing. I might have left if there was.
“Mrs. Archer, you look wonderful.” She has a beautiful tan making her glow.
“Why thank you, we had a wonderful late summer vacation in Hawaii and the tan seems to have stuck.” Grasping my arm, she draws me further into the office and it’s then I see him.