Ask Me If I Care (SWAT Generation 2.0 #4) - Lani Lynn Vale Page 0,10
them to see what kind of life we’re having to live without his help.”
I blinked.
“Desmond isn’t going to fall for that line,” I said. “You have a professional baseball player for a brother. Who’d be willing to help you if you only asked. Not to mention I gave you five hundred dollars last month on top of Desmond giving you child support. Where are you putting the money if it’s not into Raj’s care?”
I looked pointedly at the new phone that Christiny was holding.
The old phone had a crack down the middle of the screen because she’d let Raj play with it to keep him occupied while she got her nails done.
“I don’t have to listen to this,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Where’s my kid?”
I nearly rolled my eyes.
“He’s by the hot dog cart,” I said. “Ares is handing him a hot dog as we speak.”
Christiny’s face turned mutinous as she practically stormed over to the stand, grabbed her kid, and hauled him away kicking and screaming.
Ares wiggled the hot dog at her, asking her if she wanted it.
“I’ll take it,” I rasped, holding out my hand.
She gave it to me, her eyes wide.
She hadn’t known that I was there.
“Umm,” she said. “Do you know her?”
I tugged on the balloons still attached to Ares’ wrist.
“She’s Ryan’s sister,” I answered.
Ares tilted her head.
“I knew Ryan had a sister, but I never met her,” she said softly. “I’m…”
“Glad that you didn’t meet her?” I laughed, filling in the blank.
“Ummm, yeah,” she admitted.
Her eyes went back to mine. “She’s not your sister?”
I shook my head. “No, well technically she’s a step-sister. But she’s Ryan’s sister. No relation to me. His mother was married before she met my dad.”
Ares snorted. “Uhhh, yeah. You could say that.”
I eyed her.
“I can give you the balloons back,” she said. “But shit, she just made me really mad. She was yanking him and pulling him along, and he was dragging his little feet on the ground. And she let him get lost in the first place…”
I held up my hand to stop her.
“I know,” I said. “Trust me, I know.”
Her eyes went soft. “Kinda between a rock and a hard place, huh?”
If only she knew.
“Have a good one, Ares.”
With that, I walked away, managing not to look back until I was in the shadows.
Only then did I allow myself to sneak a peek at the very first thing that caught my attention in years.
And what a beautiful thing she was.
Chapter 1
If you don’t mean what you say, shut the fuck up.
-Ares to her brother
Ares
Six months later
“Mom,” I said into the phone, praying that she would check her messages in time.
“What?” she asked, startling me.
“You answered. Oh, thank God.”
“What is it?” she asked, sounding alarmed now.
“My period is here. I’m at your house. You don’t have any tampons at all.” I moaned. “I have a date in like forty-five minutes. Can you bring me some tampons?”
“No,” she said. “I’m at work. I can’t just leave. Why can’t you just leave?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“Because I’m here with Lock’s demon spawn while he goes and buys an anniversary present for his wife,” I answered. “And I don’t have a car seat.”
My mother hummed in understanding.
“Your dad is at the store.”
I groaned.
“Mom,” I whined. “I’m not asking dad to buy me tampons.”
“I can’t do this, Ares.” My mother sighed. “I’m sorry.”
I sighed, long and loud. “I’ll figure it out.”
Turns out, I didn’t have to.
Because my dad called moments later, sounding amused.
“So I heard that you need something from me?” he drawled.
I closed my eyes and tried not to feel embarrassed.
Having a period was a normal bodily function.
It wasn’t the end of the world if your father knew.
“Yes,” I sighed. “I do.”
He chuckled.
“What kind do you want?” he pushed. “Tampons or pads?”
I tried not to let mortification overwhelm me.
“Tampons,” I answered.
“Okay,” he sing-songed. “There are about eighty different kinds. Will you be playing sports while wearing one?”
I squinted. “No. I’m going to be going on a date.”
“Gotcha.” He paused. “How about those ones that are small and can fit into small places? Like between your