I can do domestic stuff. I even know how to bag groceries. Eggs. Cookies. Bread. Seventy-pound frozen turkey. – Chance
It was Saturday and the Lowery men had already done their weekly workouts. They got together every Saturday for a workout, which was just an excuse to beat the hell out of each other. Werewolf was called into the office and asked Chance to go help his wife, Charlotte, do her Saturday errands. Although she could do them herself, he felt better if someone was there to help. Especially with the large bags of dog food.Chance rode out to his brother’s house and took his brother’s family to lunch at his sister’s restaurant. He made several jokes about driving the minivan that the kids had dubbed Wilbur from Charlotte’s Web. The back window even had a spiderweb in the corner with amazing written in it.After dropping the four kids off, they headed back into town in Werewolf’s dark blue extended cab pickup with bed cover. Chance had tried to convince her thatI’m not afraid of the dark or even what’s in the dark. I’m afraid of what the tazer can’t keep away. – RyeRYE’S MEMORIESIt had been two and a half years since her father died. Rye lay on the makeshift palette of blankets and clothes on the closet floor hiding from the noises in the bedroom. She wasn’t stupid, she knew what was happening. She knew it was only a matter of time before she had to do it to. That thought scared her. Rye had been offered up once before. She fought and Leigh Anne took her place. Her mother was beaten. They ran after that and lived in the car for nearly a month.It was how Donna Leigh paid for things once the monthly check ran out. It ran out sooner and sooner every month. Which is why Rye slept in the floor of the closet of the small one-bedroom apartment. Leigh Anne made her sleep there. She had gotten a locking doorknob and only she and Rye had a key. Rye didn’t ask how she got it or if she even paid for it. She was just grateful f
I’m sorry. I just needed somewhere to go for a few minutes and calm down. – RyeInk opened the front door to find Rye standing there in tears. He called for Evie over his shoulder as he opened the door further for her. The petite brunette came down the hall carrying an infant. “Ink, take Camden.” She handed off the fussy baby.“Come on, little man.” The large, tattooed man took his son and headed towards the basement. “Let’s go do some manly things. Maybe a beer will get rid of that colic.”“I promise, he’s not going to give his son a beer.” Evie said leading Rye over to the living room couch. “What can I get you to drink?”Over coffee and crumble cake, the two women talked about various things until Rye relaxed and told Evie about the incident at the grocery store. At some point, Tank and Ink both joined them, each with an infant. They also heard about the man grabbing Rye. “I know that he probably didn’t mean anything.” Rye admitted. “But after so many ye
She still infuriates me. It’s just… different. – ChanceKaran looked at the clock and knew that it was nearly time for her favorite daytime show.Chance vs Rye If anyone was keeping score, Karan was sure that Rye was winning.Grabbing the tablet, she changed the cameras to the employee backdoor and back hallway. Then she went back to her lunch and her latest homework. Right on time, the alarm chirped. She turned to watch the little squares. Admittedly, she missed Werewolf and his commentary. Today she had Jax from Pop’s Place. He might get a kick out of her favorite show too. Karan didn’t know him and therefore did not know if he would keep his mouth shut. Reaching behind her, she closed her door to the reception area. Then she picked up her cell phone and acted like she was on a personal call. As Chance and Rye stood by the backdoor, Karan turned on the audio. “-insist on us meeting here every day?” an exasperated Rye asked. “Damn good ques
How much of a culture shock was the weather? – JoannaFor most of her life, or at least what she could remember, Rye had lived in the South. The winters were mild. Summers were long. Snow was scarce.In the month that she had been in Ridgeview, she had seen more snow than ever before. The first few days that the daycare was open, there was a terrible storm. The natives all called it a nor’easter.But even the natives all said that it was worse than usual.After her first week, Rye had splurged and bought a secondhand quilt at the local thrift store. She should get herself a better coat. The old thin jacket that she had was not even worth putting on most days.But she was saving every penny she could for a new car. Her biggest fear was that her old Volvo would die on the side of the road. If that happened, who would she call? What would happen if she had Michael with her?Sleep had finally pulled her under as she thought about these and caused her to have fitf
That’s the deal. I get a blowjob; you get your heat back. – John Erik“Chance.” Karan knocked on his door. He looked up at the upset woman standing in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”“Bear is sending Jax over. I need you to go take care of something.”Yeah, something. He was pulling into the Tuscan Place apartments. If there was a worse place to live, he didn’t know of it. After parking his bike near a melting snow pile, he went up the icy steps outside the Italian inspired building. Why was there no salt on these steps?On the landing he pulled out the keys that Karan gave him from his front jeans pocket. Two keys. An old Volvo key and a house key. Hell, even he had more keys on his keychain. Bike key, room key, house keys to his mother’s condo and siblings’ houses. Two keys. What woman only had two keys?Chance approached the door only to discover that it was slightly open. He pulled the gun out from the back of his waist band. As soon as Karan told him where
I’ve never seen you so lost around a woman before. It’s entertaining. – MiaKaran walked into the classroom and watched the happy four-year-olds. They were playing a game where they were jumping and spelling simple words. She laughed as Rye misspelled car with an E at the end. The kids corrected her, and she took her punishment of doing three push-ups as the kids spelled out the word correctly. “Miss Rye?” Karan said as she stood back up. Rye smiled over at her. “Mr. Chance needs to speak with you in his office.”Rye nodded. “Miss Cora, can you get the snack box?” She asked her assistant. “If you guys are good, Miss Cora will read you a story. First table, go get your water bottles and sit down in your spot in the circle. Second and third tables follow.”All twelve of her students did as she instructed. Knowing that she was leaving them in capable hands, Rye left her classroom and headed downstairs. She crossed the common room and knocked on his open door. The
I am trying to help you, Donna Leigh. You have to take your medicine. – AnthonyRYE’S MEMORIESLeigh Anne was spooned around Rye in the twin bed. They shared the room with two twin beds with their mother. Her cousin had offered a place to stay under two conditions. No more drugs.Donna Leigh had to take her medication. Anthony thought that it was simple and straightforward. He even arranged for rehab. Paid for it out of his own pocket. Thirty days in patient. The rest of the program was outpatient. Both girls were doing good in school. Not only was Leigh Anne going to school, but she was also passing all her classes. With all the classes that she had missed, and without any transcripts, they had tested her and placed her in eleventh grade. They did the same with her younger sister who was also placed in the eleventh grade, in all honors classes.Honestly, Anthony had been surprised that Ryanne had remained on track with her classes. He knew that she ha
I was in the Coast Guard for thirty years and I own more useless shit. – LawLaw waited until Chance got back and then went to the home improvement store. He bought ten moving boxes and a roll of bubbles. Although he had not seen much while he was sitting there, he decided that he could go back for more if needed. Mainly the little bubbles. He liked popping the little bubbles. He learned long ago, it’s the little things in life that make it worthwhile.He got back and Chance had emptied the kitchen cabinets. The man had been in a bad mood before Law left. But now, he was downright pissed. Law had known the man for a little over a year, and during that time, he had never seen Chance angry like this.They had drunk together. Partied together. Been each other’s wingman. Had even fought with each other from time to time. Overall, the man was laid back and easy going. Law had quickly learned that there were dates that were harder for the younger man. After one