Page 195 of Rebellious

Dropping her hands, she scowled.

“If you don’t wanna fuckin’ go, just tell me, cuz first, you brought up Axel’s birthday. Now, it’s Rebel.”

“Shut up, jerk,” she snapped. “I want to go with you, but Rebel needs me. If she doesn’t improve, I’m staying home.”

Folding his arms, Christopher glowered at her.

“Megan?” Johnnie said, walking up to her, his eyes red and moist, his cheeks streaked with tears. “I need you to talk to Kendall. She called me and said the only way she’ll return is if I move out.”

Megan swept him with a look. “Are those tears for your wife?”

“Yes,” he cried. “I love her.”

“Tell it to someone who believes you. I don’t. As a matter of fact, I hope you drown in your misery so we can throw your cold, dead body in a fiery pit where it belongs,” she said, and stormed away.

Thursday, April 18th

Momma and Daddy had been gone for about forty-five minutes when Diesel called her and asked if anyone was home. Unfortunately, she was there alone. Kaia was off running the errands she sent him on for Axel’s birthday party. Bishop took Gunner to a children’s museum in Portland, the boys were at school, and Aunt Bunny was at her house with Uncle Digger.

Diesel knocked on her door once, then swung it open, walking in as if he owned the world, looking like a million dollars in a black designer suit with black shirt and black tie, his sunglasses resting on the top of his head.

“You’re stretching them,” she said, pointing. It was better than blurting something lame like he was sexy and beautiful, a living, breathing work-of-art. “They won’t fit properly.”

A smile curved his full lips and Rebel bit down on her on. “I’ll buy another pair.

She nodded, catching a whiff of food and realizing he held a bag with the logo of her favorite sandwich shop.

“Do I smell Korean barbeque?”

“You sure do, sweetheart,” Diesel said, sitting next to her and crowding her space. He handed her the bag. “With dirty fries.”

Rebel squealed and tore open the bag. At his rich laughter, she paused to playfully punch him. “I haven’t had one of these in ages,” she chastised, balancing the two sandwiches on her knees. She set the basket of fries topped with bits of pork and sloshed with gravy on the coffee table. “Do you bring fresh squeezed orangeade?”

“I forgot the drinks,” he admitted, unapologetic. “Next time.”

She handed him his sandwich. “Only if we go to the shop and eat.”

Unwrapping it, he took a hearty bite and chewed, thoughtfully studying her before zeroing in on her earlobes. “Only if you take that motherfucker’s earrings out.”

She stole a few fries and shoved them into her mouth, considering how best to answer, definitely not at her optimum to battle it out with Diesel. “They won’t turn my ears green,” she said once she swallowed, suddenly remembering spit or swallow.

Her face flamed. It must be the color of a ripe strawberry but he ignored it, scowling instead.

“He doesn’t deserve you.”

“That’s not for you to say.”

A hawkish look entering his eyes, Diesel bit into his sandwich again.

“Please don’t let this turn into another war between us.”

“If you’re back with Kaia, that means you are forgiving one of the main things you’ve crucified me for. Cheating,” he spat. “Or does it mean, you truly don’t care if he’s with other women. You don’t care if your partner is unfaithful.”

Losing her appetite, Rebel set her sandwich next to the fries on the table and put a little space between her and Diesel. “That isn’t true. I care very much, but Kaia is truly regretful.”

“I doubt that,” Diesel said with a snort, nearly finished with the sandwich, not at all affected by their disagreement. “Fia just haven’t had a chance to fuck him again.”

Hurt and angry, Rebel got to her feet. She still had a limp, but the pain wasn’t as intense, which made it easier to hit the side of Diesel’s head and ease her way from between the sofa and coffee table. He headed her off, meeting her in the middle of the floor and looming in front of her.