Burnt (17 page)

Lexi doesn’t look convinced. She looks over all the monitors and wires and says,

“I don’t think I can hugs you Kenny. You’ve got things everywhere on you.”

Smiling at her, my girl takes her hand from mine, cocking her arm at the elbow,

“If I’ve still got one good arm to hold you Doll Baby, so I can still get my hugs. Come here sweetie.” Lou bursts in to tears at Kendall’s comment, and Anna goes with her. Billy curses a ‘Fuck me’, under his breath wrapping them in his arms, trying to comfort them both. Kendall just cocks a brow at me and motions for me to lift Lexi up for her. Tucking Lexi into Kendall’s arm and covering them both with the spare blanket, I give my seat up for Lou to settle in to. She does in a heartbeat and leans in to kiss Kendall all over her face cursing her for ruining all the hard work she put into her make up.

Fucking women.

Whispering back, I can’t make out the words from where I’m standing, Kendall motions to Lou who places Anna, half on Kendall’s, and half on Lexi’s chest Bringing her casted arm up she cradles the still screaming Anna under her diaper clad butt, keeping her firmly placed, so she’s not able to roll off. Bumping Lexi’s head softly with her cheek, she asks loud enough for Lexi to hear over the howling Anna,

“You know what we’ve got to do Doll Baby?” With the widest smile I’ve seen in a good long while from Lexi, they both start humming.

Fuck. Me. Sideways. The quiet sounds of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ fill the room and Anna quiets immediately. I bet Lou and Billy are kicking their own asses for forgetting about that on trick, though I’m almost positive even if they had tried it, it wouldn’t have worked. My woman’s sweet voice has that special calming effect on people, especially babies by the looks of it. Lou starts to rant as soon as I finish the thought.

“Oh, Christ on a fucking crutch. Why didn’t I think of that? Kendall I could kick your ass for not being here to…” She stops, covering her mouth when she realises what she said. Tears fill her eyes again as Kendall lets out a raspy laugh, followed by a pained cough. She stops coughing quickly enough for me not to go into a full blown panic, but I have to admit it still scares the shit out of me knowing that he ribs are broken, her lung is punctured, and even laughing has the potential to hurt her.

“How about this? Everyone stops being so sensitive over the time I was gone, stops trying to avoid the subject, and I can save my breath to repair this stupid lung instead of wasting it on telling you guys not to worry.” As Anna starts to whimper again Kendall gets Lexi to keep humming. “And speaking of babies and wasting breath. What did I tell you Lou? I told you I get both name and godmother status. I win you lose. Now you have to pay up.”

Drying her eyes she bursts out laughing. Billy looks confused, but not for long when he’s forced to grab his gut after a stray elbow from Lou connects with it. Cursing he barks out,

“Fuck woman. What the fuck was that for?” Rubbing the offended area he scowls at her.

“You dick. This is your fault. If you hadn’t demanded we make her middle name Kendall,” hearing that, Kendall shoots a soft look in Billy’s direction and my best friend smiles back at her. Not one to be deterred from handing him his balls, Lou carries on, “I wouldn’t have to pay up on this stupid bet. My God Kendall. Have a heart will you.”

Smiling softly at Billy again, and addressing him first, Kendall looks as if she’s barely containing her laughter,

“Naw, Billy. Not only is that the sweetest thing, but you helped me win the bet. I owe you one.” Billy looks frustrated by them talking in circles, but nevertheless amused at the same time.

“What the fuck is this bet my woman is losing her mind over? It can’t be that bad Baby.” Lou roughly shoves the hand he’s placed on her shoulder away. Pointing her finger in his face.

“Oh, it’s plenty bad biker boy. Do you know how ridiculous me blonde is going to look? Let me tell you; I’m going to look like an amazon hooker with a baby paunch and bad shoes.”

The look on Billy’s face is priceless, and I can’t help noticing the light bloom in his eyes when she says blonde. The guy always did go for blondes until he got together with Lou.

“What the fuck are you talking about? First; you aren’t tall enough to be a fucking amazon, you fit under my arm just right. Next off; you don’t put out enough to be a fucking hooker woman. You ba…” That earns him another elbow. Seriously, does the guy not know when to shut the fuck up? Billy scowls at her and growls, “Fucking stop it woman. I’m giving you a fucking compliment and shit. You don’t have a goddamn baby paunch, you’re fucking hot. I wouldn’t want to fuck you ten times a day if you weren’t. I don’t know shit about your shoes woman, but the ones you dug in my back the other night were sexy as shit.”

These two are fucking ridiculous. One minute they’re fighting, the next they’re making out like two horny fucking kids. I can’t say I wouldn’t be doing the same thing with Kendall if she wasn’t so banged up, I definitely don’t like Lexi hearing this shit though. Before I can tell him to tone it down Lou adds,

“Naw, you say the sweetest things baby. But, you lost me this bet, and for that, I should make you dye your hair blonde too, just because I’m all about sharing the love and all.”

Kendall comes to Billy’s rescue before he can run screaming from the room. I know for a fact there is no way in fucking hell, he’ll go through with that shit.

“Nope chickita. The deal was, you’re going blonde, you and only you. I would’ve held up my end if I lost, and mine was much worse than yours. You have no choice but to hold up your end. It was your stupid idea anyway.”

Lou continues to protest in vain,

“Seriously? It was under duress Kenny. You wouldn’t leave me alone about getting both the godmother title, and her middle name, I had to do something to shut you up. Anyway your payment for losing wasn’t even that bad.”

Trying to kick her with her good leg Kendall scoffs,

“Not that bad? Are you kidding me with that? You going blonde only has to last a day, two at the most. Hell. You can dye it back any time. For Christ’s sake you work in a hair salon. What you proposed for me was permanent you cow.”

Lexi is giggling now, and Anna is enjoying the gentle bounce of Kendall’s arm under her butt. I think they’re both enjoying Lou getting told off. Kendall’s always been the only one with the balls to do that and get away with it. Billy steps in while Lou fends off her own giggles,

“What were you going to make her do Lou? I hope you weren’t making her do anything stupid.” He sighs, shaking his head ruefully, “Forget I fucking said that. Of course it was fucking stupid.”

Lou waves her hand around dismissively,

“Pshh, no. It wasn’t that bad. You’ve already got tattoo, and one of them is kind of the same thing anyway, I don’t see what the big deal would’ve been. I mean, Christ Kendall, you’re a tattooist, and you’ve got some crazy big tatts already. It was only going to be tiny in comparison to all the rest you’re sporting.”

Kendall’s eyes widen and her mouth drops open.

“Not a big deal. You really are a crazy bitch. Tattooing someone’s name on my boob is a big f-ing deal Lou, I wouldn’t even make you do that.”

Lou gives an unladylike snort at the idea. It’s true though. Kendall would never make someone permanently mark their body as payment of a bet.

“Come on, it would have been funny as hell. Can you imagine? You’re making out with a guy, and you have big bad Declan’s name tattooed right there, front and centre on your boob.” She cracks up laughing. Crazy bitch.

I can’t say the idea of having my name permanently stamped on Kendall’s tit isn’t appealing, because, hell yes it is. The thought of some fucker other than me seeing it though? Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Over my dead rotting corpse. Those gorgeous tits are for my viewing pleasure only.

“Would you have really gone through with it, Baby?” I have to know. In the end she would’ve been able to convince Lou to drop it if she hated the idea that much, but I want to know whether or not Kendall would get my name inked in such an intimate place. My heart races while I wait for her answer, and my cock starts to harden in my jeans. Yeah, he like that idea all right.

“Yep,” she says popping the P like always. “What Cruela over there doesn’t get is; I’m a really, really good tattooist, I would have designed it in a way you would have to look really, really closely to see it.”

“Hey now!” Lou exclaims loudly making Anna squeak a little in fright at her mom’s high pitch voice. “That wasn’t the deal. The deal was you had to….”

“Shhh, you’ll wake her up again.” Anna burrows her face into Kendall’s tits and lets’ out a little snore. Yeah, kid, I’d be content right there too, I muse. “And yes it was the deal. All you said was that I had to tattoo Dec’s name on my boob. You never said anything about how it had to be tattooed chickita. You should know by now, unless you are really specific with this stuff it leaves room for interpretation, and I was all for interpreting that particular pay out in my favour, not yours.”

Lou huffs putting an end to that round of conversation, and promptly launches into one about; how horrible thirteen-hours of labour with her useless husband, and crazy mother was, how tired she is because Anna never sleeps, what a pigsty Billy leaves the house, and all the gossip Kendall has missed out on. Kendall looks fucking amused as shit. I’ll give Lou one thing, the bitch is funny as fuck, and is doing a fucking good job keeping my woman’s mind off what she’s been through.

Billy waves me over to the corner by the arm chair, and we speak as quietly as we can. We don’t need little ears overhearing what I’m sure he’s about to ask me.

“So brother, how’s your girl really doing?”

I haven’t had a chance to catch him up yet. I know Reaper would’ve, but he wants to hear it coming from me. He’s been my best friend for years, and my brother for as long as we’ve been patched in together.

“She’s doing better than expected, brother. Lots of shit happened to her, but nothing that can’t be fixed. It’ll take time, and a shit load of work but, she’ll heal.” He gets my meaning and nods, so I go on. “That fucking cunt Isabella was the one that did the majority of the damage though. Billy snarls out a ‘Fucking what’? Nodding in agreement, I continue, “Yeah brother. Fucking blows my mind the level of fucked up that bitch is. Not for long though. When I find the cunt, she’s going to ground.”

Billy pulls me in for a one armed hug, thumping me on the back a couple of times. Pulling back, he promises to have my back when I go on the hunt for my ex-wife that I should have dealt with years before. I’ve always known Billy would have my back no matter what. He always has. It’s no surprise his road name ended up being ‘Steel’, because he is, strong as a steel. Holding up, and supporting any-fucking-thing we need him to. He hated the name at first, but when his dad, Reaper, told him it was that, or Care Bear he accepted it quick fucking smart. Road names stick, and his definitely has. Raising my eyebrows towards the girls, specifically Lou, I go on,

“You’ve got to reign her in though, brother.” I say nodding towards Lou again for effect. “I understand she’s jonesing to be all up in my woman’s business 24/7, but you’ve got to control that shit. Kendall needs to rest, heal up, and get the fuck home. She doesn’t need Lou all over her when she’s doing that either.”

“I get what you’re saying brother. I’ll talk to her tonight when we get home, yeah? It’ll be hard keeping her away, but I’ll try to limit the visits to once a day.” He’s a good man, a better brother, and the best friend. He knows he’s going to get a shit ton of crap from his woman, but he’ll do what needs to be done for my woman’s sake.

“Good man. I don’t pity your back sleeping on the fucking couch when you tell her, but thanks, brother?”

He snorts,

“Yeah, what can I say? I’m all sorts of fucking awesome like that.”

Flicking my eyes towards Kendall I notice the tightness in her eye has come back, and she seems to be wincing more often. Everyone’s been here for about an hour and a half now, so it’s high time to start moving people out.

Making my way over, I pick up Anna being careful not to wake her, and notice Lexi’s nodded off in Kendall’s arms too. Lexi obviously hasn’t been sleeping to well if she’s crashed so quickly and in the middle of the afternoon too. Priest and Brenna come back through the door just in time, I’m not sure when they snuck out, but I think it sometime in between Lou crying, the first time, and Lexi getting into bed with Kendall. They never said anything when they left, so I didn’t notice they had.

Grinning Brenna says,

“Aw. Look at the babies, all tuckered out, fast asleep. How about we get Lexi and head home now? The poor thing is exhausted, we’ll let you get some sleep too sweetheart.” She says to Kendall. God bless Brenna, because that was her nice way of saying it’s time for Lou to head out.

“Well, Miss Thing here had Anna asleep in thirty-seconds, so I guess I’ll take my chances and hope it sticks, for the car ride home at least.” Getting up and kissing Kendall’s cheek again she takes Anna from me, and Lou instructs Billy to get their shit. “Time to go hubby, the matriarch has spoken. That was a nice subtle way to kick me out too Brenna, I like it. I have to learn some subtlety like yours one of these days. And you,” she says pointing a red tipped nail at me, “Don’t you even think of keeping me from my girl here. I won’t be up in your grill, but I WILL be here every day.” Damn woman is smarter than I give her credit for. She must’ve read my mind. “Don’t just think it’s because I missed my best girl either, it’s for entirely selfish reasons. If she can get Anna to sleep, I’m coming back to get my beauty rest too.”