I take off early since the girls have my shift covered. Hendrix and I have a lot to do, and I am due a vacation. My mom will be here next week, the day Dad is moved, to visit and help me settle him in. She is still having a hard time with what happened to me, but I am hoping that by the time she visits, she has come to terms with it.
I want to make sure the guest room is ready for her; therefore, I go straight home to make a list of what I may need to make it perfect. Floyd greets me as soon as I enter the garage, and the first thing I do is squat down and rub my face against her fur. Doggie nuzzles are one of the best parts of my day. I scratch behind her ear then stand up, making my way inside as she follows closely like always.
“What’re we gonna make for dinner, Floyd? Chicken and rice? I know that sounds good to you.” I talk to the dog, laughing to myself. “No? Frozen pot pie will have to do.”
I move around the kitchen, heating up the frozen dinner.
“Spring is here. Spring is here. Floyd, that means longer days.” I look to the pooch, and I swear she turns her head to the side like she understands every word that comes out of my mouth. “Longer days mean going to the dog park to play.”
Her paw comes up over her nose to cover her eyes like she disagrees with my play date idea. Too bad, baby girl, too bad. I laugh to myself again.
Morrison emerges from his room in basketball shorts and no shirt with his blonde hair a mess on top of his head. I giggle, looking at the clock to see it is four in the afternoon.
He moves through the kitchen silently, getting an orange juice from the fridge.
“Long day, slick?” I laugh more.
“Livi, my days are your nights, and you should know, when a Caldwell is involved, it’s definitely a long one.”
“Anyways, how long are you in town this time?” I ask him since he is gone more than he’s home.
Hendrix has stressed over the last two months that this is my home. The one day I even considered the idea of finding my own apartment again, I was quickly shut down.
“Livi, do you not live here now? Do I not have panties in my sock drawer? Have I moved one thing that you purposely came in here and put with my stuff?”
I open my mouth in shock that he knew I did that to mess with him.
“No, I haven’t. Have I complained about having you here? Have you had any complaints about being here? Why would you move out? Did I not tell you I wanna put a Caldwell in your belly? If we’re gonna do all that, then why the fuck would you move out?”
A smile builds as I think back to Hendrix reminding me he wants me here, and I belong.
“Stop thinking about my brother when I’m trying to have a conversation here, Livi.” Morrison smirks at me.
“Sorry, I kinda think about him all the time.” I smile bigger.
“Fuckin’ crazy broad. Swoonin’ and shit over the wrong damn Caldwell.”
I punch Morrison in the arm. “He’s the right Caldwell for me. One day, a woman is gonna come along and lay you flat out, slick.”
“Oh, women lay me out all the time, Livi, right before they climb on my cock,” Morrison replies arrogantly.
“Make sure you wrap it up, Morrison. Some things you can’t smooth talk your way out of, ya know,” I remind him, laughing, yet wanting to protect him at the same time.
“I can smooth talk my way out of anything, Livi. Don’t underestimate me.”
“Never, slick.” I simply shake my head at him.
What more can I say? He truly has a ‘poker face.’ He is unreadable. I feel it in my bones that there is more to him than the playboy he personifies. He simply won’t let anyone see it. One day, though, one day.
Chapter Twenty-Five
It’s Monday night, and Livi’s mom is coming; as a result, we’re getting ready for her visit. Livi is excited, yet nervous. I should be the one who is nervous. My pad is a flophouse for my brothers, I own a bar, and I’m banging her little girl, trying to knock her up, like, trying all the fucking time.
Shit, now I’m hard.
“Livi?” I yell to her. She’s in the bar, and I’m in the kitchen.
“Yeah?” she asks as she walks in.
I smile when I see her wipe the back of her hand over her forehead, ridding herself of the sweat she’s worked up.
“Can you reach across here and grab that rag?”
“You can’t?” She shakes her head and laughs before bending over in front of me.