At her embarrassed nod, she chose juicy magenta.
“That’s lovely,” Meri complimented her choice.
“I know.”
She started filing Meri’s nails after she had removed her old polish. “I see you have your sister’s habit.”
“I’m trying to stop.”
“You and Keri both have your licenses now. You should come to the shop once a month and let me do your nails. It looks like a newbie has been doing it for you.”
“I do them.”
“Oh… that explains it.”
She painted Meri’s nails as Calder helped Harley get ready for bed then put him in the spare bedroom as Star took her shower and put on her nightgown and robe.
She used the opportunity of Calder being out of the room to swipe at them further.
“You have pictures of your boyfriends?”
“Uh… no.”
“Come on, share. I promised not to tell. When I get done painting your nails, I’ll show you pictures of some of my old boyfriends.”
“All right. Keri, show her.”
Keri got off the chair, bringing her phone over to show a picture of one boy who was sitting at a desk.
“That one yours?”
“Yes. This is the one Meri likes.” She swiped her finger to show a picture of another boy sitting on a motorcycle that no brother would be seen dead on. The baby bitches made it too easy.
“They’re cute. Yours get help for that skin condition?”
“It’s usually not that bad. He said it was an allergic reaction to something he ate.”
“Then he should stop eating,” she said disparagingly. “Meri’s is much better-looking. I bet he gets all the girls in college with that picture. Of course, they don’t know he doesn’t know how to ride it.”
“He rides it all the time.”
“It’s brand new. I bet he’s ridden it once.”
“How can you tell that from a picture?”
“You can see the sales person behind him.”
“That’s his brother.”
“His brother’s name is Jonathon.”
Keri’s face scrunched as she turned the picture, trying to see the person in the background. She sat back down when Calder came back into the room, ignoring them to clean and wipe down the counter.
“Hand me my phone. I’ll show you the pictures of mine.” Crazy Bitch held her thumb down as she opened her cell phone, going to her photos. “Scroll through those bad boys.”
Keri sat down on the floor next to Meri as they stared at the pictures.
“That’s a good picture of Uncle Calder,” Keri complimented her uncle.
“He looks damn fine. Keep scrolling.
“That’s Sam. I brought him to Star’s birthday party.” She hated him now, but he was good-looking.
“That’s Jace,” she continued, smothering a smile at their faces.
“He’s one of dad’s friends.”
“Yes, he is. He’s mine, too.”
“Who’s this?”
Each photo showed men who would stroke any woman’s fire.
“That’s Joker. He had a big gut, but he was still smoking hot.”
Keri stopped when she came to a face she recognized. “That’s Shade.”
“That was wishful thinking.” She finished Meri’s nails, closing the nail polish to put it neatly back in the case. Holding out her hand for her phone, Keri placed it in her hand. “I can show you the rest another time. It’s bedtime.”
“I wanted you to paint mine.” Star jumped up after putting the cards back in the box.
“I’ll do yours tomorrow night,” Crazy Bitch said, closing her case as Star looked at her wistfully. “Come on; you can help me open the couch.”
Star got a kick out of tossing the cushions off. Crazy Bitch then let her pull the strap that would open the full-sized bed.
“Can I sleep here?” Star pleaded.
“No, me and Calder are sleeping here. You’re sleeping….”
Meri’s face fell as if she had wrecked the sweet used car Stud and Sex Piston had surprised the twins with when they had gotten their licenses. “I thought me and Keri were sleeping on it.”
“You’re a guest. I can’t have my guests sleeping on the couch. Time to go beddy bye. You all have school in the morning, and Calder and I have work.”
“That’s right. I’ll pack your stuff into your room for you.” Calder gave her an amused smile as he passed them to get the twins’ suitcases that they had deliberately left by the door in the hopes of being able to go to Sex Piston’s parents’ home.
When the twins huffily went into the bedroom, Calder hooked an arm around her shoulders, pulling her toward him. “Sorry my nieces are being such brats.”
“I’ve dealt with worse.” She lay her hands on his chest. “We have any ice cream left? I’m in the mood for something sweet.”
“You’re sweet enough.” He kissed her then went into the kitchen. “Step into my parlor,” he teased.
She sat at the counter, admiring his easy familiarity with her kitchen. “You know, you’re very sexy when you’re waiting on me.”
He sat a bowl down, scooping in ice cream then dousing it with hot fudge sauce. “Am I as sexy as the other men on your phone?”