"No Tawny, YOU are just like our Mama. I'm still a virgin and you have a kid and no husband. Do the math sister."
"Whatever. Bye."
The call ended. I felt sick at my stomach at the thought of Larissa being left overnight with some sitter. There was no telling who Tawny would get. I dialed her number back.
"What?"
"After work I'll come over and keep her overnight. Don't get a sitter for all night."
There was a brief pause.
"Okay, fine. What time do I tell the sitter you'll be here?"
"I work a double but I'll get someone to switch with me so I can leave by eleven. So tell her eleven thirty. I may have to walk."
"Fine."
She hung up again.
If it wasn't for my niece I doubt I'd even talk to my sister.
There was no love between us and I wasn't sure why. When we were little, I tried so hard to gain her approval, but nothing I did pleased her. It was as if my being born ruined her life. Who was I kidding. My mother acted the same way.
My birth had not been cause for celebration for anyone in my family. Some days I imagined getting on a bus and leaving this town behind. The memories weren't good. At leaving this town behind. The memories weren't good. At least most of them weren't. I could fit my life into one suitcase. The only person who would miss me would be Cage. Well and Larissa until she forgot I existed. Just starting over anywhere else was so tempting. Eventually Cage would see the wisdom behind my leaving. He'd be free of his need to protect me. I'd make new friends. Maybe find a decent job and finish my education.
"Deep thoughts?" Marcus's voice startled me and I jerked my gaze up from the cement floor to stare up into sleepy green eyes.
"Hey, what're you doing down here so early?" He shrugged and sat down a basket of laundry on the ground beside him.
"Well I thought I'd get some laundry done before I fixed breakfast. But it appears all the machines are in use," his tone was teasing.
"Oops. Sorry about that. I didn't think anyone would need them so early."
"That was my thought too."
I let out a small laugh and fiddled with my thumbs while my hands fisted nervously in my lap. Did he know I'd run out like a jealous idiot last night?
"So, you left me last night." His tone didn't give anything away.
I tucked the hair acting as a wall between us behind my ear.
"Um, yeah. Sorry. I was tired and needed some air." He didn't respond right away and I prayed my breathing was normal because my heart was doing a strange little fluttery thing.
"I would've taken you home if I'd known you wanted to go." Because he was one of the good guys.
"You were having fun. Your friends obviously miss you. I didn't want to ruin your night. Cage was coming my way so it worked out okay."
A small frown touched his lips and I turned my eyes back to the cement crack in the floor I'd been staring at before he'd arrived.
"I was enjoying your company too. I'd looked forward to taking you home."
Okay now the fluttery thing my heart was doing had turned into a full blown pounding.
Had Marcus Hardy just insinuated he was upset because he didn't get to take me home?
"Oh," I responded. What else did I say to that?
The first washer stopped and I jumped up and made myself busy with putting the load in the dryer.