Page 8

Kenna

My life was a hot mess. But standing there staring at a basket of mildewed clothes that smelled like rancid feet—I really needed to get out of here before I did something stupid.

I’d been on my best behavior since David moved his girlfriend in.

I stayed out of her way, not even hanging out at the clubhouse where she’d been holding court for months.

She loved that shit. There were women in Dry Valley that thought they were something special when they hooked up with a King. Nadine was one of them.

Or maybe she was just my excuse. Ghost’s patch vote was creeping closer. I hadn’t worked up the courage to see Cam and Riley. I had avoided Puck as much as possible since he pierced my nipples. And well…

My cheeks heated just thinking about it. Angry at myself for all of it, I held a deep breath and then blew it out to keep from shouting.

I lifted the basket, stomped to the laundry room, and glared out into the backyard at my stepdad’s new girlfriend’s little pink SUV. It reminded me of the Pepto colored lipstick she loved so much. I gagged just thinking about it.

The very thought of Nadine hadn’t always made my eye twitch and my skin crawl. Things had started out nice, but Nadine’s jealousy had soured any hope at a relationship with me.

To her, since I wasn’t David’s biological child, I was only here to manipulate him, take from him, blah blah blah . Not that she said it to me or David, just anyone else who would listen. Every washed-up patch bunny in Dry Valley wanted to tell me all about it.

Nadine was a status climber, and the Desert Kings were the highest rung on the Dry Valley ladder.

Dating David made her feel like she was someone important…

even if she wasn’t. He was so lonely, he had blinders on.

I could shout it at him, pitch a fit, start shit, but it wouldn’t matter.

He was so wrapped up in her he couldn’t see straight.

The only way to salvage my relationship with him was to get the fuck out of his house.

And that’s why I was so angry. I couldn’t afford to be late for work at the club.

The man had raised me since I was twelve and was the closest thing to family I had left. Leaving him, the only home I’d ever known, was like being stabbed in the chest. But I had to. A few more weeks and I’d have a deposit for an apartment.

But I was pissed. These clothes were my work clothes. I’d needed them. Now I was going to be late. Seething, I put my clothes basket on the dryer and glanced from the washing machine to the shop sink beside it.

The machine was running. I opened the lid to see her clothes filled to the brim, sudsy, and halfway through their wash cycle. I dumped them piece by piece into the shop sink, getting myself and the floor soaked in the process. Then drained the machine.

Seething anger churned inside me. Nadine, at every turn, tried to make me feel like less than nothing. Just like she had. Unlike my mother, I didn’t love Nadine…didn’t even like her. And I certainly wasn’t seeking her approval.

The angry, neglected, abused little girl inside me grabbed the bleach bottle and opened it before I could stop myself.

Nadine couldn’t hurt me like my mom had.

And for the first time in my life, I lashed out, pouring the bleach into the sink and onto her clothing in a large circle before capping the bottle and putting it back.

It took one quick cycle of my clothes to clean up the floor and change into dry clothes. It would take weeks to heal the wound I’d opened back up. The memories would sneak in then. David had given me something no one ever had—safety and security.

I’d grown up, become my own person, and was too damn old to be so petty. But that’s what I did. I ripped at scabs, behaved poorly, and then paid for it later.

On a sigh, I made David’s dinner like I had every day since middle school. He had the palette of a toddler, something Nadine couldn’t quite figure out. Not that it was healthy food, but it was a little middle finger to the bitch when he went straight for it in the fridge every night.

Tonight would be beef tips and gravy that came in a plastic bag I boiled, and rice that came the same way. I cooked them, mixed them together, and covered the concoction with shredded mozzarella in the fridge.

David hated pork chops and wouldn’t eat the ones she left out to thaw, but he didn’t have the heart to tell her. He’d push them around on the plate, then go scavenge to see what I’d left him as he had every night since she’d moved in.

Once I moved out, he’d figure something out…or bite the proverbial bullet and tell her he didn’t like her food.

I sort of hated I wouldn’t be there for that.

At least dealing with Nadine had kept me from thinking about Puck. In the past twenty-four hours, not thinking about him had been harder than ever before. Partly because I was embarrassed and partly because that had been the single hottest thing I’d ever experienced.

I was dressed and out the door when my phone rang. I made the mistake of looking at the screen before I answered. My heart raced. My face heated.

Puck.

“Hello?” My voice cracked and squeaked like a cartoon mouse with a big red bow. I cringed at the sound, shouldered my bag, and unlocked my truck.

“You working tomorrow afternoon?” No pleasantries, nothing like that. He was always straight to the point. His husky voice rumbled through the phone and right down to all the places it shouldn’t. Even my sore nipples tingle and throbbed as he spoke.

“Um…no. I’m off tomorrow. What’s up?”

“Think you could pick Eli up from school? We’ve got another babysitter, but he’s been asking about you a lot lately.”

And I went from hot to warm for very different reasons. I missed the kid. I leaned against the door of my truck and squeezed my eyes closed tight. This was a bad idea. But…I could picture his sweet little face and big bright smile.

“It’s just that you’re on the list, I’ve got some club shit to do and Mom can’t.”

Was that a hint of desperation in his voice? Fuck me.

“Sure.”

“You’re saving my ass, here. Thanks. I’ll owe you.” He made the last three words sound dirty.

I snorted and fought the urge to flirt. “See you tomorrow.”

I disconnected before I got myself into trouble.

***

Clinging to the cute red apple with Eli’s name on it, I stood away from the small group of preppy moms. They’d stopped casting sideways glances at me after one had worked up the courage and audacity to ask if I was Eli’s mom.

Babysitter seemed to appease them. I guess they all had a single dad fantasy about Puck.

I couldn’t blame them for that.

The doors to the small private preschool burst open right at three o'clock. This wasn’t my first time picking Eli up, but I hadn’t been here in over a month. Maybe he’d forgotten who I was.

Not long after that thought, a cute little boy with dirty blond hair and dimples that always made me smile stopped to search the crowd. He saw me and brightened instantly.

“Kenna!” His little backpack made swishing noises as he ran to me.

I had to steady myself as he hit me with an exuberant hug. I took the hit with a laughing step backward.

“Hey, buddy, how was school?”

Ignoring my question, he slipped his hand in mine. “Daddy said you’d get me today. I thought maybe he made a mistake. Where did you go? Did you miss me? I drew an elephant today. Want to see?”

At Puck’s large truck, which I’d driven to pick him up, I knelt and turned Eli’s face to mine. “I’ve been working, I’m sorry. But I absolutely missed you with my entire heart. How about you show me your elephant when we get home? Maybe you can show me how you drew it.”

I pulled him close and snuggled him. He smelled of tear free shampoo, applesauce, and the happy scent of a clean little boy who had played hard all day. I wanted to cry, because I had missed him so much.

By the time he climbed into Puck’s truck and I’d buckled him in, he was well on his way to giving me a full accounting of his day. By the time we pulled into the driveway, I knew every snack, every game, and how he was the smartest at math.

“I’m glad you came to get me. Can I have a Kenna snack?” he asked as we walked up to the back door.

“Absolutely.” He meant a fluffernutter. Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwich with the edges cut off. Puck kept all the stuff to make it, but apparently Eli deemed mine superior.

There’d been a prickle of disappointment that Puck’s bike wasn’t in the driveway when we’d got back.

He’d been gone when I picked up the truck, too.

He’d not told me who’d relieve me, whether he’d be back or his mom.

I hated myself that I hoped it was him. I needed a distraction, because in two days he’d blasted right through all the anti-Puck and Desert Kings barriers I’d built.

Eli ran off to play while I set about making his sandwich. I was fighting the sticky fluff over the white bread when Puck texted me. He apologized and said he’d be late, asking if I could fix Eli dinner too and get him ready for bed.

I spent the rest of the evening drawing elephants, constructing ramps for monster trucks, and cooking spaghetti. Eli ate the noodles and sauce with a vigor unlike anything I’d seen. I gave him his bath, and when he asked for a cuddle, I climbed into the small bed with him and held him close.

Messing around with his dad was a bad idea. Because I’d missed this almost as I’d missed Puck.

The little guy had just fallen asleep when Puck’s bike rumbled up the drive and shut off.

Eli twitched and mumbled a little, but I was able to calm him.

His lashes fanned out on his rosy little cheeks.

He was precious. I didn’t even like kids most of the time, but this one was different.

I could relate. I knew what it was like to have a shit mom.

At least he had a good father. Eli was a lucky one.