“Okay. I gotta go in and check on dinner. Will you be okay with Jimmy? If he gets on your nerves just send him back in to me.”
“We’ll be fine.” I move off the porch and out to the shed to grab some tools.
Jimmy comes racing behind me. He’s got a pair of little black leather boots on, jeans with the knee ripped out, and a flannel with a white t-shirt underneath. The boy has his momma’s eyes. Big green orbs that remind me of the shade of pine tree needles. He’s eager to help and does as he is told.
He walks next to me carrying the wrench. I pull the cover off the water meter and explain everything I am doing as I work to shut the water off. Little dude follows me back up to the house where I lay my cut across the seat of my bike. I have to crawl under the house.
“You scared?” Jimmy’s voice comes out echoing in a squeak as I move further into the crawl space.
“Nah, just some spiders and worms under here,” I tell him as my arms sink into mud. “Fuck,” I curse under my breath feeling the wetness seep into my jeans. I pull the flashlight I took from the shed from my back pocket and start looking for the source of the problem. It takes me a few minutes, but I finally discover a loose pipe, it needs a new fitting. I think I saw what I need in the shed when I was digging out the flashlight.
It doesn’t take me but about twenty or so minutes to complete the job, but I’m nasty as fuck.
Melissa and Jimmy laugh at my appearance. “Look it, Momma, a mud munster.”
“Oh! A big scary one!” Melissa giggles, egging him on. “Run, Jimmy. Don't let him get you,” she calls as she darts away, avoiding my touch as I go to grab her.
Jimmy sticks his tongue out at me. “Can’t catch me,” the little shit teases.
I chase them both around the front yard, slinging clumps of mud at them but missing. I catch Melissa, hooking an arm around her waist and hugging her against me as I smear dirt down her face. “Look, bud, your mom is a mud monster too.” His face lights up with a huge grin as he laughs, holding his stomach. The sun is going down and the temperature is dropping. Goosebumps travel up and down my spine and Melissa shivers as she breaks from my hold.
“Let’s get cleaned up. I’ll wash your clothes and you can get a shower. You might as well stay for supper too.”
I nod. “I’d appreciate that.”
Jimmy dashes inside to get me a towel while his gorgeous mother orders me to strip. I raise a brow at her and she rolls her eyes. “Don’t roll your eyes at me, woman,” I warn.
“Or what? You’ll bend me over like a bad girl and spank me.”
I step into her personal space, my voice low and husky. “I just might.” Right now would be the perfect time to make a move but Jimmy interrupts telling me he has my towel. “Thanks,” I tell him as Melissa turns her back and waits for me to strip down.
I get the towel around my waist and she grabs my dirty clothes and tosses them in the washer. Knowing my way around the house already, I get in the shower.
The bathroom door cracks open and Melissa pokes her head in waving a pair of hot pink athletic shorts. “Sorry,” she hisses. “This is all I have.”
“Thanks,” I snort.
She leaves the shorts on the back of the toilet. “Dinner is ready. I hope you like lasagna.”
“Sounds good,” I say but she has already closed the door.
I emerge from the bathroom in her fucking pink shorts. Her and Jimmy both fights back their laughter at the sight. I wouldn't be caught dead outside of this house in them. I can only imagine the shit Boogeyman would have to say if he caught sight of me wearing this pink girly shit. He’d fucking take pictures to torture me with. Knowing that crazy bastard he’d team up with Amber, Terror’s old lady, to print posters and hang them up around the clubhouse and the Cherry Room.
“Momma, sumbidy drawed on him wif a marker.” He grins, staring at all my tattoos, and I chuckle.
“Kind of. Only this art doesn’t wash off.” I take my seat at the table and dig in.
Dinner goes smooth…nice and comfortable. I hang around until my clothes get dry. Melissa gets Jimmy ready for bed and he grabs my hand. “Tell me a tory.” This kid is something else.
“Whatever you want. Whatever you want.”
He runs to his room and jumps into bed, pulling the covers to his chin.
Melissa touches my arm stopping me by the door to his room. “You don't have to...I mean I get it if kids aren’t your thing.”
“I love kids and Jimmy is great.”
She gives me a chin lift. “I’m going to go clean up the kitchen if the two of you are good.”