His blue eyes became more intense as he watched her. “Men like to smash an ass like that.”
She grinned.
“Men who won’t die doin’ it,” he corrected himself.
Her lips flattened out. They would have to have a discussion about that once she showered, changed and her stomach was no longer complaining.
“Do you happen to have aspirin in your bag?” she asked, hopeful.
“In the Bronco.”
Oh, thank fuck. She needed a handful. “I guess you needed some, too.”
“Go shower, Reilly. I’ll grab the aspirin and set out the food. You take too long, I’m eatin’ without you.”
After her shower, she was glad she hadn’t put on her jeans. Instead, she pulled on cotton shorts she had shoved into her backpack. She was thankful that she did since her stomach now felt twice the size after stuffing herself on the smorgasbord he had set up on the table during her quick shower.
A whole cheesesteak hoagie and a few fries later, all washed down with a large bottle of water, she couldn’t even glance at the food on the table that still remained uneaten.
She placed her hand on her gut with a groan and stared at the movie he had turned on. She guessed it was an old John Wayne movie, but wasn’t sure. It certainly wasn’t something she would watch if given a choice.
With the aspirin and carbs kicking in along with the drone of the TV, she was starting to nod off. And here it was only early afternoon.
She glanced at Rev propped up against the headboard on “his” bed, his eyelids also getting heavy. His fingers were laced together and his hands planted on his belly. He was barefoot once again but he still wore his jeans and today’s choice of T-shirt, otherwise she might have been tempted to eat him instead of the cheesesteak.
Less calories, hopefully more satisfying.
However, if they remained in this room—in separate beds—both of them would soon be asleep, then wide awake tonight. “Maybe we should head down to my storage unit today.” At least that would get them out and moving. She paused. “Unless you’re afraid to go too far from your parents’ house.”
He’d said nothing about his visit there earlier, but she could tell it was eating at him. Just like it had yesterday.
And, of course, he had to have smoked at least half of a joint while she showered.
She didn’t bother taking a hit or two since she had already been ready to gnaw off her own arm. Smoking pot would have made her inhale that damn cheesesteak even faster. She had to force herself to slow down so she wouldn’t choke as it was.
His words were a little sluggish but nothing like last night. This time it was only exhaustion and weed causing it, not copious amounts of alcohol. “That stubborn old fuck ain’t gonna die today. Doubt it’ll be tomorrow, either. Thinkin’ we go get your shit tomorrow mornin’ since it’s forty minutes away. Matthew’s got my number, he can call me if anythin’ changes. No point in puttin’ off emptyin’ your storage unit, ‘cause as soon as that motherfucker’s black heart stops beating, we’re headin’ home. Already sick of this place and we’ve only been here two days.”
Not even two days. Just a little over twenty-four hours. And even that short amount of time was taking a toll on him.
But she understood his impatience to go home and put this all behind him. What little interaction she saw yesterday between Rev and his parents couldn’t be healthy for him. And he was even out of the house and grown. It had to be so much worse when he’d been too young to leave.
Reilly was damn lucky she had Reese to step in place of their shitty mother. Even though that was a burden a young child should never have to bear. But Reese sacrificing her childhood to raise her baby sister was what helped Reilly survive and become a functioning adult in society.
Yes, sometimes Reese still acted like her mother instead of her sister and, yes, it could get extremely annoying, even smothering at times, but Reilly knew she only did it because she loved her, and it was all Reese had done since she was only eleven years old.
Reese became Reilly’s “mother” at eleven.
She wondered how often Rev had to step in to help his baby sister. He didn’t even hesitate to bring Saylor onto the farm and into the club once she was released from juvie. While she was eighteen—and, legally, an adult—he could have easily told her that she was on her own and not taken that burden on himself.
But he did. He made sure his sister was set with a roof over her head and a job. He also ensured she was welcomed into a better family than the two people who were supposed to be their parents.