Page 46 of Clint & Ivy
“We can get her one of those little scooters like we saw people riding in Vietnam,” Vanessa said and nudged me. “Can you imagine her wearing a vest and riding at your side?”
“No.”
“You’re putting her in a cage!” Sabrina hollered in my face.
“Someone’s getting cranky,” Elle insisted and wrapped her arms around Sabrina. “Do you need a nap?”
“You always take Clint’s side.”
“No, I was against him when he said you were an asset to the club.”
“Dumbass.”
“Whore.”
“I’m in a committed relationship with two women!” Sabrina declared and gestured at Xandy and Moe, who curtsied in response. “You’re the whore! You don’t even know who fathered your big-brained child!”
“Only because I was drunk. So, if anything, I’m more of an alcoholic than a whore.”
“I feel like that was my fault,” Vanessa said and rubbed her sleepy eyes. “I was supposed to remain vigilant against your drunken whore appetites, but I dozed off from boredom.”
“You need more sunlight,” Moe insisted. “You’re lacking Vitamin D.”
As the foxes shifted their conversation away from me and focused on Vanessa’s systematic sleepiness, I moved carefully away from the group and prepared to make a run for the house.
“He’s gonna get away,” Rowdy warned the foxes.
“Traitor,” I hissed at my cousin.
Shrugging, he lit a cigarette and blew out. “I know you’ll never seriously hurt me. I’m not so sure about these foxes.”
“I’d never hurt you,” Moe insisted. “But I wouldn’t interfere if they hurt you.”
“You’re whipped,” Rowdy muttered at Moe who smiled at Sabrina. “In all honesty, I’m a little grossed out by how whipped everyone is.”
“Tell them, son!” Pax yelled out from the deck where he played on his phone.
I glanced back at the lake to find Ford, Sutter, and the dogs missing. Pax gestured toward the house again.
“I’m going inside,” I announced. “Feel free to stay outside where Vanessa can get her Vitamin D.”
I dodged Elle and Sabrina, who tried to block my escape. Jogging past them, I headed into the house and found Ivy in the kitchen with Shay and Bebe. Ford stood nearby with the dogs at his feet. Sutter was at the window, reading on his tablet. There was something comforting about seeing them all together.
“I stir the food to keep it from burning,” Shay said as if sharing forbidden wisdom. “That’s the secret to cooking. Just don’t burn it.”
“Seasoning,” Bebe added. “That’s another secret. Put seasoning in the food while it’s cooking, not just afterward.”
“Is that a crack at my foster mom?” Ford muttered. “Marcy seasoned shit just fine.”
Shay shot him a dirty look. “She dumped a bunch of salt and pepper on the food once it was done. It’s important to seasonduringthe cooking process.”
“Who says?”
Rather than answer, Bebe and Shay looked at Ivy. Her eyes had been bouncing back and forth, following the conversation. They widened when she realized they expected her to speak.
“I learned to cook by watching TV and internet clips,” Ivy said as if excusing her lack of knowledge before shrugging. “I think you’re supposed to season during and after the food is cooking.”
“We were both right,” Ford said and nodded approvingly. “No one correct the girl. She’s getting on my good side.”
