“Yeah, they were a gift from Caleb, and she’s worried that he’ll think she did it on purpose because of the crap that is going on between them. He chewed Richard’s jacket as well.” Chloe wrinkled her nose. “I got a replacement, but I don’t know if he’d know.”
“This is why I don’t get connected with men if you know what I mean,” Teri said.
Skylar knew her sister enjoyed a varied sex life, and she had never judged. Her sister always did what made her happy, and relationships never had.
“I’m going to head to the toilet. I got to pee,” Chloe said.
Teri entered the kitchen and began firing up the ovens.
“You don’t wonder what it would be like to love just one of them? To have one look at you as if you were their entire world?” Skylar asked.
Teri sighed, and turned to her sister. “I love you, Skylar. Me and love, it’s not meant to be.” She kissed Skylar’s head. “So, I’m thinking part time. When do you think you’ll hear from the library?”
“I’m hoping tomorrow. You don’t mind me sticking around and, you know, invading your space and all?”
“Skylar, shut up. If I minded I wouldn’t have invited you out here. Remember that, babe.” Teri put on her apron. “How about you make those chocolate pudding pots that I love so much?”
“They’re on the menu?”
“Nope, but I want to do a taste test to see how they go with the customers. I love them, but some people have weird taste and it drives me crazy.” Teri shrugged. “Taste buds is one of those things that will drive me crazy. ‘Ew, this has garlic in, yuck, chili, I don’t like runny egg, I don’t like cilantro. It’s too spicy, it’s not spicy enough.’”
She listened as her sister complained, laughing. “You’re the one that wanted to be a cook.”
“Yeah, well, I love everything, and no one else does. I’m cursed that way.”
“I will get started on the pudding pots, miserable.” She slapped Teri’s ass on the way past toward the fridge. Grabbing cream, milk, and eggs, she headed back to the kitchen, where Teri already had a gloved hand into some meat mixture.
She had missed this so much.
The best part about being with her sister right now was she knew her mother wasn’t about to come home to ruin it.
****
Leo checked his bedroom one final time, happy with the way he had changed everything, creating a tent.
“What are you doing?”
“You heard her. She’s never been to a sleepover. You tell me what is the first thing you think of at a kids’ sleepover.”
“Popcorn.”
“No, there’s always a tent, or something like it, and ta-da.” Leo opened up the door. “This is awesome, right?”
“What if she means an adult sleepover?” Paul asked.
“Ugh, you’re no fun today.”
Paul held his hands up. “Did you know that James gave Dane an ultimatum?”
“He drew a knife. I wouldn’t expect anything less. He’s driving me crazy. I’d vote his ass out the first chance I get,” Leo said. He grabbed the board games, and placed them on the floor. Next, he opened a bag of premade popcorn, and placed snacks around the bed.
“I don’t know if this is gross or not,” Paul said.
“I’m setting the scene. We’ve got to be careful tonight. I want us to be friends, but I want to have the whole friends with extras.” He held up a teddy bear he had found in her room.
“Seriously?” Paul asked.
“You know, I’m trying here. What are you doing for this?”