It wasn’t rough, like his father’s laughter, but it was just as beautiful.
When he stopped laughing, he wiped his hand over his mouth and muttered to the view, “Freakin’ hilarious. Dad’s hooked up with a librarian.”
“Yes, I figure I’m not his type,” I, too, spoke to the view.
“Don’t know his type, Clara,” Gear stated, and I returned my attention to him to see he was still gazing at the scenery. “Dad don’t bring women home. Seen him with women down at the Dive, but he doesn’t bring ’em home. You’re the first since he and Ma split three years ago.”
I blinked at him in shock as he turned his head to me.
“But if Ma’s anything to go by, you are definitely not his type. You haven’t once shouted or thrown anything or stomped out of the room. Seems to me he’s aimin’ higher than his first go.”
That was such a nice thing to say, my belly warmed again.
“I’m thinking you’re a good man, Gear,” I said softly, and he grinned a cocky grin.
“Yeah, but don’t get fooled, Clara. I’ll let you in on a secret. That’s how I reel ’em in,” he replied brazenly, and it was my turn to stare for a moment before it was my turn to throw my head back and laugh, something I did.
It felt nice when I heard Gear’s chuckle join my laughter.
When we were done, Gear sucked back soda and I chewed on margarita-flavored ice.
Then Gear muttered, “Gotta hand it to Dad, only he’d find the only librarian in Phoenix who was hot.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed again.
Gear joined me.
13
Tatiana
My body was moved, and my eyes fluttered open.
Time for bed.
I blinked at the clock on the DVD player.
It was flashing twelve, like normal.
But I sensed it was early.
This was because of the program that was on mute on the TV. It had to be before eleven.
Weird, Buck never went to bed this early.
It was after Buck’s enchiladas, which were by far and away the best enchiladas I’d ever tasted in my life.
They were so the best, they could easily be placed in the top five of the best of any food I’d ever tasted, thus explaining Gear’s and Tatiana’s excitement when Buck announced he was making them. I’d set aside plans for just about anything to eat Buck’s enchiladas.
It was also after Tatiana pointedly ignored me throughout dinner as we all sat on stools at the kitchen counter, Buck and I at the counter in the kitchen, Tatiana and Gear on the stools on the other side.
This was a mistake I made innocently, assuming a seat by Buck.
It was clearly Tatiana’s and I knew this when her eyes flashed fire the second I put my behind there.
I immediately slid off and offered it to her, but she refused, mouth tight, eyes angry and she didn’t even try to be polite. Indeed, for some time, she milked this for the insult that resulted in a deep wound she made clear would never heal. A wound she was intent to make absolutely certain I knew I’d delivered.
Gear attempted to inject humor into the situation, and Buck tried to catch Tatiana’s eyes, his holding a warning that he was beginning to get impatient with her behavior, but both deflected off her.
She then began a campaign of chatting about things that were familiar among the three of them. Things I could have no comment on, pointedly keeping me out of the conversation.
Buck and Gear just as pointedly drew me back in.
To this, Tatiana moved on to other subjects that would keep me out.
And Buck and Gear again drew me back in.
Finally, Tatiana fell silent and started pouting.
I could get her being close to her dad, and I definitely understood her wanting him all to herself, especially if things weren’t good at home with her mother and the girls at school. This was her safe place. I could see that. Her father was her safe person, I could see that too.
But the pouting, at sixteen, I thought was taking it too far. It made her look juvenile because it was juvenile.
Though, obviously, I didn’t share this opinion.
Buck did.
When the time had come for them to get ready to go, he followed her to her room, closed the door and didn’t come out for a full fifteen minutes.
Although I had to agree that maybe a word (or fifteen minutes of them) was now due, I made myself scarce through this by fixing myself another margarita and taking it to Buck’s room where I put away my new biker babe apparel and set my phone to charge.
I came out to find Buck drinking a beer and talking to Gear in the kitchen.
Not two seconds later, Tatiana came out wearing a skirt that was way too short, heels that were way too high, and at least a five-day supply of makeup slathered on her face.