Page 18 of Drive Me Crazy

"Honey, I'm home!" I yell, walking through my parent's door. "I smell food!"

"I thought I told you to lock the door when you came in, Emerson!" Dad shouts across the room at my sister. I turn the corner to find them sitting at the table.

I stop dead in my tracks, crossing my arms. "I can't believe you people; you're supposed to be my family. The betrayal!"

"Keep talkin,' man. I'm eating while you complain, she fixed pulled pork." Aksel, my brother-in-law, snickers as he plates another sandwich.

I round the table, stopping to kiss my mom. "Didn't I tell y'all he was trouble? Why the hell ain't you home with your parents? They live down the street, go home!"

"Not happening." He flips me off as I kiss my sister.

"I'm getting you a divorce for Christmas." I grumble, taking my seat beside Em.

She elbows me, laughing. "What's the use in me getting divorced, if you end up at his place all the time, anyway?"

"I didn't say we're not friends, I'm saying he needs to get his own food." I drop my chin, glaring up at her.

"How are things with the satellite stores?" Dad wastes no time and goes straight to business, it's in his blood, he's good at it.

I mumble through my filled mouth. "Good. Wilmington's coming along."

"How about we check in early next week, make sure things are going as you want it." I nod with him. "After dinner, put it down for Tuesday."

"Yes, sir." I mutter over my food. "This is killer, Mom."

"Thank you." Her brows raise as she witnesses me as I scarf it down. "When is the last time you've eaten?"

After shoving in a handful of BBQ’s, I lick my fingers before answering. "Lunch."

"You're a pig." Emerson snickers, cutting her eyes at her husband. "You both are gluttons."

Aksel tosses two hush puppies in his mouth, talking while he does. "It's good! Why does that make us pigs?"

"You're talking with your mouths full!" She rolls her eyes, laughing.

We finish dinner and help clean up. Every Thursday and Sunday we have dinner at my parents, Saturday's and Monday's I spend at Em's with Aksel.

Aksel walks in the kitchen with more dishes. I toss him a towel and start running the water. "I'll wash you dry."

"Sounds like a plan." He joins me, waiting on his first dish.

I chew my lip, working like a well-oiled machine. "How's it going with y'all?"

"Em's great, you know that. We're solid because we do everything together." He takes a plate from me, smiling as he talks about my sister.

I've told the guy a ton of times how great they are together, I'm glad my sister has someone like him. "Right. That's the only way to do it."

"So, I'm wondering something." His eyes become mere slits.

I cut mine at him, kind of worried about where this might be going. "Please don't ask me sex questions."

"What? No!" His face distorts. "Not cool, man."

I give a half shrug. "Well, you looked serious. I wasn't sure, I was shook for a minute."

"You're seriously messed up." He shakes his head. "I was going to ask about you."

"What do you mean?" I side eye him. "Is there something going on?"