Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Reinforcements have arrived,” he said, spreading his arms upon entry.
Rain’s long, skinny legs bent at the knees where they stuck out from under a Toyota Corolla. “I told Dad I can handle it,” she grumbled.
“And he knows you’re losing sleep because of the little girls and need some rest, so here I am. Don’t have anything better to do anyway,” Mike said and pulled his hair back into a ponytail. He hadn’t changed after cleaning his own bike, so he could get straight to work in ripped jeans and tank top. “Do you and Mona still have the energy to take care of one another?” he asked, grinning.
Rain laughed, but then kicked the concrete floor and started swearing. “Shit, got oil in my mouth. None of your business, dumbass perv.”
“No? But I very much care about the wellbeing of my sister and sister-in-law,” Mike said, ducking when a damp sponge flew his way and hit the wall behind him. “That’s so hurtful.”
“You know what? If you’re here, I might as well take a break.” She rolled out from underneath the vehicle, black hair out of order. “Give me a cigarette.”
Damn it.
“I gave up,” Mike said, quick to pick up the journal they used to list the chores for a given day.
Rain groaned and had a sip of water instead, wiping the black goo off her face with the sleeve of her overalls. “Since when?”
The decision to lie—or rather, omit truth—was swift. “Oh, you know, I’m not getting any younger. I thought it was time to take care of my health.”
It had absolutely nothing to do with Arden’s distaste for tobacco. Nothing at all.
Rain snorted. “What next? Yoga? Juicing?”
“Who knows? Gotta keep those hips working like a well-oiled machine until I’m old and gray, sis,” Mike said, pushing his crotch back and forth to demonstrate what he meant.
“You moved those hips yet with your new boyfriend?” she mocked, but there was a hint of true curiosity in her eyes.
Mike stilled before rapidly looking over his shoulder, but there was no one there to tease him alongside Rain. She really wanted to know.
Mike cleared his throat and left the journal on the desk, approaching the Toyota. Blood pulsed in his temples as he met her gaze and took a deep breath. “Will this stay between us? And I mean us, not me, you, and Mona.”
Rain groaned and took her time swiping him with her gaze from head to toe. “Fine. What is it? And it better not be nothing stupid.”
“Why would it be anything stupid?” Mike whispered, placing his hands on his hips, but he didn’t wait for her answer and spoke as soon as he double checked that the dark corners of the work area didn’t hide anyone else. “The thing is that… it’s all play, but it also isn’t. Do you get me?” he asked, sensing sweat beading on his forehead.
Rain’s expression remained stony. “Hmm… not really. Are you talking about Arden?”
Mike groaned. “Who else? Rain, have you been living under a rock? You must see how insanely hot he is!”
Her frown only deepened. “I mean… He’s a pretty kid. I guess. So… this whole boyfriend thing isn’t a joke? I’m confused. You know he’s not transgender, right? I asked, and he told me he just likes to be feminine. Whatever you’re imagining, he is not a girl.”
Mike waved his hand. “I know he’s a guy, but he looks and acts like a girl. I mean, you’re gay. How do you not see it?”
“I don’t know, Mike. I’m a lesbian. His face might be pretty, but he does nothing for me. I thought you were all about pussy, and at thirty-seven, you still manage to surprise me, old man. Now I’m mad I can’t tell Mona,” she grumbled.
Mike rolled his eyes. “I do love pussy. And I bet his is lovely too!”
“That is such a wrong thing to say! You guys live together. Maybe you’d get it out of your head if you saw his dick.” Despite the crudeness of the words, her voice expressed concern. Maybe out of all Mike’s family and friends, she’d be the one to treat his problem seriously. Because Mike had too much of a rivalry going on with Leo to be vulnerable with him.
Mike licked his lips. “He won’t let me. But he flirts back all the time, and he watches me like I’m the juiciest steak, but he won’t say he does. It’s making me insane, Rain.”
She took her time gulping more water. “Okay. I get it, shit can get a bit confusing, even for an old dog like you, but Arden’s been through some shit. He’s vulnerable and half your age. If you wanna experiment with a man, and I can’t believe I’m even saying this, then go on Grindr and hook up with some pretty rando. You can’t pull Arden into bed, then freak out when his dick rubs against you. It would crush his confidence.”