Page 81 of Axton
“Stop!” I ordered Koty as he tried sneaking in the door. “Alexa, be quiet.” The music stopped and I glared at my brother. “Where have you been for the last two days?”
Koty looked at my husband for help. “Nope, don’t you look at him for help. Where have you been?”
He was a mess. His hair was unkept and his clothes were all wrinkled and probably dirty. He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “I was out with Josh Magnus.”
I put my hand on my hip. “Josh flew out early this morning with Kayla. I saw him yesterday when he bothered to show up here after our ceremony.”
He shifted on his feet then he looked at Michael again then smiled. “I um, was doing some research. Yeah, and I lost track of time. I was in the library.”
“Creed’s Lake doesn’t have a library, Koty. Fess up.” I waited for an answer.
Suddenly, he pointed at my husband. “It was his idea!”
I looked at Michael and his jaw dropped.
I looked back at Koty. “You’re a grown man.”
He was looking at Michael, so I turned to look at him and I caught him mouthing no and running a line across his throat like his finger was a knife. I crossed my arms as I glared at my husband. “Where was my brother for the last two days?”
Michael swallowed hard. “He umm…Magnus took him to Club X, and he didn’t want to leave when Magnus did.”
I gasped and I looked at Koty. “For two days?”
Koty shrugged his shoulders. “I was making friends.”
“For two days?” I repeated my question.
“I needed clean clothes, so I came home.”
I was so confused.
Michael let out a laugh. “He was having sex, Belle.”
Koty’s eyes grew.
I gasped. “Koty!”
Koty’s face fell in defeat.
I squealed then clapped. “Really? Did you like it? Aww, my brother had his first sex.” I cooed over him.
He scrunched his nose. “Ewe, I’m not talking to my sister about this.” He stormed off to his room.
I turned and looked at my husband and we both burst into laughter.
After breakfast, we headed over to Creed’s Lake. Michael left me with Creed while he went to do something related to motorcycles and claiming me as his old lady. It didn’t seem to be in the plans, but I noticed he wasn’t real happy when several men whistled at me as we walked through the community center. Before he left, I looked at Michael, then Creed, then Michael. “Are you sure the two of you aren’t related?”
Michael laughed. “If that were the case then I’m pissed, because that guy was raised with money, and I didn’t have shit growing up.” There was a resemblance, but they had different colored eyes. Both were blue, but Creed’s was almost turquoise.
Creed seemed as excited as me about the opportunity he was offering. I really wished Michael was with me. I wasn’t sure about the financial aspects. My papa gave me money to buy a bottled water when I went to classes. That was three dollars a day, so I had absolutely no understanding of money. I wasn’t paid for student teaching, and I never visited a store by myself. Either papa or one of my brothers were always with me. I only carried a purse because I had identification and chap stick in it. When I had my period I carried extra panties and a menstruation pad.
“This will be your pay for each day you substitute teach.” He pointed at some numbers.
“Is that good?” I asked.
He tilted his head. “I would hope you’re happy with it.”
I gave him a half smile. “Okay.”
