Spiked by Love (Bellevue Bullies #6) - Toni Aleo Page 0,16
parents. They’re totally in love and don’t care who sees it. I was like that with Jasmine. Always touching her, kissing on her, and she ate it up.
She also enjoyed it from her girlfriend.
When my dad slaps me hard on the back, I jump as I bring my gaze to his. While I look like my mom, I have my dad’s angular features and eyes. All of us but Emery have dad’s eyes. Hers are a lighter green, really pretty, but surely that won’t distract some dude from the crazy.
It will—at first. I can already see this playing out. Dude will be mesmerized, and bam! she’ll slash his tires when he doesn’t get her a latte.
“I’m glad you beefed up. I was worried,” Dad teases, and I snort.
“Thanks.”
He grins, hugging my neck. I lean into him. “It’s good to have you home.”
“With the way the girls are acting, he’ll be out faster than Aiden was,” Mom says, cleaning off the counter. “Maybe Stella should go live in the dorms. Maybe Emery does need a break from her.”
Mom doesn’t agree. “I never physically fought my sister.”
“Because Audrey wouldn’t hurt a fly. Plus, you’re older. She was terrified of you.”
“Ooh, speaking of Audrey, when is she making my carrot cake cupcakes?”
Mom glances over her shoulder at me. “You’ll have to go by and see her for that to happen.”
I nod. “I will as long as she doesn’t pinch my cheek and call me Slim Jim.”
Dad and Mom laugh quietly, but I’m not amused. I love Aunt Audrey, she’s cool, but she loves embarrassing the shit out of me. When I brought Jasmine home to meet everyone, Audrey deliberately told her I pissed the bed until I was twelve. It isn’t my fault I had a bladder issue and Emery loved to pick on me, so she’d put my hand in water! Come to think of it, Emery’s been an asshole since birth. Jasmine didn’t seem to find my pissing misfortune funny, and I was mortified. I still haven’t forgiven Aunt Audrey—or Emery, for that matter—but for carrot cake cupcakes from Audrey’s cupcakery, I just might.
“She will,” Dad and Mom say together, and then they share a look. A look that would make anyone want to gouge their eyes out.
I need out of this house.
Dad leans on the counter, snacking on the strawberries Mom cut up. I grab one for myself as he asks, “You ready for the interview?”
I nod and, around my chewing, say, “Yeah.”
“Good, don’t be nervous. You’ll get it.”
“I want to get it because I’m awesome.”
“You will. I don’t know any kids who graduated early and interned for three arenas at the same time.”
Mom beamed. “We have the gas statements as proof.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, thanks for that.”
“Anytime. We believe in you, bud,” Dad says with a wink, and I smile. My dad wasn’t really into school. He is dyslexic, so he focused all his energy on hockey since he hid his issues. He always thought he wasn’t good enough, and because of that, he really pumps us up. There isn’t a moment from my childhood that I don’t remember my dad telling us we could do and be whatever we wanted. Nothing could hold us back. When Emery was diagnosed with dyslexia, he made sure to get her the best therapist money could buy. She still struggles, but she’s so confident, no one knows.
“Thanks, Dad.”
He pops another strawberry into his mouth. “You go see Aiden yet?”
“Not yet.”
“You going to try to get his condo?”
I grin. “How’d you know?”
He winks. “You haven’t unpacked.”
I laugh along with him as my mom glares at me. “You could stay here for free.”
“And get killed in the cross fire between those two? Nope, I’m good. I think we should all move out and let them burn the house down.”
They both laugh along with me as the girls reenter the kitchen. Emery grabs her lunch as Stella gets her book bag. “I only have morning classes, so I’ll be at Brooks House by two.”
Mom nods. “Okay, have a wonderful day.” She then grabs Emery, kissing her hard on the head. “I love you. Be nice.”
Emery shrugs. “We’ll see how the day goes and how people act.”
Dad shakes his head as the girls say bye and leave. I look at my mom. “Aren’t you worried they’ll fight in the car and crash?”
Mom grins at me. “Stella drives like an old lady. Emery still sits in the back since she’s terrified Stella