Desire (Desire, Book 1) - By Missy Johnson Page 0,21

was uncomfortable to her? How would she feel about a kid? Or chlamydia?

“I am safe.” She said through gritted teeth. “I’m on the pill, and we use condoms.” She shook her head and covered her face again in embarrassment. “I am so not having this conversation, Kait.”

Whoa. Shut down by a fifteen year old.

“How about if we don’t have this conversation, you’re not going out?” I shot back. Neri glared at me, anger flashing in her eyes.

“You’re not my mother, Kaitlin, so stop acting like it!”

“I’m not trying to be your mother.” I sighed and gripped the steering wheel. This had gone much more smoothly in my mind. “Look, I know it’s been hard for you, coming here, and with mom going missing, but you have to help me out here, Neri.”

“You don’t know anything, Kait.” Cried Neri. “Where the hell have you been the past four years? You think you can just waltz back into our lives and everything will be fine?”

“I didn’t waltz back into your lives. It’s not like I had a choice-“I stopped, realizing what I had just said. Neri shook her head. Shit.

“Right. Well sorry to stuff up your perfect little life.” She glared out of the window. All the progress I’d made with her had just untraveled in a matter of minutes. The Beatles track blaring out of the speakers failed to cut through the tension.

“What’s condoms?” A voice from the back piped up.

Oh shit! Sam! I cringed internally. Suddenly my fight with Neri was not the worst event of the day. How was I going to talk my way out of this one?

“Aren’t you going to answer him?” Neri said sweetly. I shot her a look.

“Nothing Sam. That’s boring stuff for adults. Go back to your music.” I ignored Neri’s sniggers beside me.

That went well.

Chapter Eleven

Ara laughed hysterically as I repeated the story to her. She wiped away the tears from her eyes, before breaking out into another fit.

“Oh Kait, you are a classic, honey.” She sputtered.

“It’s not funny. It was hard enough going through that with Neri. I do not want to have to answer questions from a five year old.” I couldn’t help grinning at the situation though. Neri hadn’t spoken to me since we had gotten home. We were going to finish our conversation at some point. “I ran into Devon again, too.”

“Wow, you and this cop are heating things up, aren’t you?” Ara whistled.

I felt myself blush. If only she knew.

“He is a nice guy.” I admitted, shaking my head as Ara did some kind of hand dance thing. “But there is so much going on right now, I think getting involved with him would be a bad, bad idea.”

“So just have some fun then.” Ara’s cheeky grin had me giggling. When was I supposed to fit in this fun? Before or after my work at the brothel? Hell, maybe I could just invite him down on my coffee break. Ha, I’m sure that would make a good impression.

“Maybe.” I couldn’t lie, the idea of something happening with Devon was appealing. More than appealing actually. It was downright hot.

“Neri! Sam! Dinner.” I set the last of the plates on the table as the kids came scrambling in.

“Smells awesome, Kait.” Sam grabbed a plate and piled it high with hotdogs and coleslaw. Only a four year old could liken pre-packaged hotdogs to a gourmet meal.

“Thanks Sam. Take some salad too.” Sam rolled his eyes, but obliged, placing two lettuce leaves on his plate. Neri giggled behind her hand, but still refused to look at me. The doorbell rang, causing Sam to bolt out of his seat and run to the door.

“How’s Jeremy getting down on Friday?” I asked Neri.

“He has a car.” Neri responded, an edge to her voice. I raised my eyebrows as I watched her slice her roll open and place a hotdog in the center. She delicately picked it up and took a bite.

“I’d like to meet him first.” Neri shrugged and nodded. “Maybe see if he wants to come to dinner?” I suggested.

“Only if you’re not going to cook.” She muttered, picking up a hot dog with a burnt end. I blushed. How did I manage to burn a hotdog?

“Hey!” I tossed a lettuce leaf at Neri as we both giggled. I caught her eye and smiled. The last thing I wanted was for things to be awkward between us.

Sam wandered back into the kitchen with Devon in tow.

“Twice in one day? I might get the