“Why are you always fucking here?” I scowled at him.
“You’re welcome for cleaning up the mess,” he gestured around at the now tidy room.
“I don’t believe for a second that you cleaned this.”
“You shouldn’t,” Rooster scowled, coming down the stairs. I let out a barking laugh as I took in his appearance. He had lipstick on his lips and teeth, his cheeks were a very charming bright green, and his eyes were covered in the most hideous purple eye shadow I had ever seen in my life.
“Very handsome,” I chuckled.
“Who the fuck let her watch Monster High again?”
“Which one are you meant to be?” Vienna asked.
“Venus Mcflytrap… apparently.”
“Be grateful she didn’t dye your hair pink. And yes, I know what all those characters look like. It took me ages to get the blue out of my hair when she wanted me to be Lagoona.”
“You could always try saying no?” I suggested.
“Rachel!” Vienna gasped, as though I had suggested head-butting the child. “You’re a monster!”
“What? What did I do?”
“She only got out of the hospital yesterday. As if any of us are going to say no to her for a long, long time.”
“You’re making a rod for your own backs,” I said, detangling myself from Dante’s grip and moving over to the kitchen. “She’ll grow up to be spoilt.”
“And?” Vienna said, looking at me like I was stupid.
“And that means the teenage tantrums will be even worse.”
“So?” Dante shrugged.
“Which means life will be very, very difficult and…” I shut up as the three men stared at me as though I had two heads. “On your heads, be it,” I said with a shrug, flicking the kettle on.
“You never fucking include me in anything!” Mama’s voice came shrieking from the backyard.
“Katherine, keep your fucking voice down!” Came Crash’s hissed response.
“What the fuck are they arguing about?” I asked.
“Macbeth,” Dante replied.
“What about him?” There was a pause. “What?” I demanded. “What is it?”
“She wants to name the new bar after him.”
“I beg your pardon?” I nearly laughed, pulling out the cups to make everyone a brew.
“We spoke to the contractor this morning, and they can have work started on Monday. She said when it’s finished, she wants to name it after him. Said it will be a nice way to honour the man he used to be.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life – and that says a lot considering I’m Dante’s old lady, and I’ve heard him utter shit on a daily basis. You wouldn’t have to rebuild anything had Macbeth not decided to play arsonist.”
“Hence the argument.”
“Do you think he’ll give into her? Oh, thanks,” I said as Vienna came to take over making the brews. I sat next to Dante, and he flung a lazy arm over the back of the sofa and stroked down my upper arm.
“How was work?” He grinned at me.
