“Come on, asshole, let’s see what we can find,” Sunny growled.
“Yeah, we all know I’m more cut than you, old man,” I taunted.
Sunny spun so quickly that he startled me, and I stepped back. He yanked up his own tee. “Check it out and weep. You wish you’d be this fit at my age.”
Freddie whistled, and I had to admit, Sunny was impressive. Fuck. I think the asshole won that one.
Callie
“I’ve not seen anything, and we’ve had no activity here. And Jack’s saying the women’s cellblock is a bust too,” Freddie said after several hours.
“This is the downside to investigating,” Sunny murmured in an aside to Levi.
“Hanging around for ages and nothing to show for it? I can imagine,” Levi agreed.
“The last two nights were the exception, not the norm,” I explained. “The entire programme might be just based on them.”
“Would that matter?” Levi inquired.
“No. Because we’ve proved there is activity here. That’s what counts,” I replied.
“Madi’s enjoyed herself,” Levi said as Freddie walked away.
“Glad we could help. Levi, I’m sorry about what happened,” I murmured.
“It’s okay, Callie, and I’m happy for you and Sunny. You both deserve a family. But try not to turn him grey overnight,” Levi teased.
“We’ve discussed what will happen when the baby is here.”
“Will you quit?” Levi asked.
“No, we’re going to get a bigger RV and hire a nanny. Maybe even a tour bus somewhere in between the size of the RV and the crew’s one.”
“That’s good. If you quit, you’d be miserable. You’d make the most of the situation; that’s the type of person you are, but you’dalways feel unfulfilled. And with your money, you and Sunny can do this until you’re old,” Levi said, and I nodded.
“Yes, we’ve even talked about schooling. We’re considering hiring a tutor, or Grandma suggested a boarding school, which I nixed. But we will be returning to spend all school vacations at home in Spearfish. We want the baby to know their cousins and extended family,” I explained, and Levi lit up.
“That’s amazing!” Levi exclaimed. “Were the quints happy?”
“They’re pleased.” I didn’t know what else to say. Things weren’t as strained as they once were, but we weren’t close. Sunny was my family, and so were my crew. I knew their little foibles. Jack detested grape jelly, for example, but I couldn’t tell you any of my siblings’ dislikes and hates.
I still sensed some lingering jealousy from Polly, which meant that although our situation had improved, it wasn’t great. Polly hated the fact that I was a household name for what she deemed the wrong reason.
“Give it time,” Levi murmured.
“Levi, they’ve had plenty of opportunity.” I shook my head. “The truth is, I’m the black sheep, and I’ll never fit in there. They love me but don’t accept or understand me. That’s fine. This is where I’m comfortable, and I don’t regret anything. Life is about living,” I said, and Levi nodded. “Let’s go eat and then we’ll see what happens in the women’s wing!”
Sunny
Someone was watching me. I could sense them, and it was making me very uneasy. I glanced over at Levi and saw he was experiencing the same sensations.
“You feel that?” I murmured.
“Yeah.”
“We’re being watched.”
“Are you sure it’s not just your imagination? Sunny, I don’t feel anything,” Callie said, turning to face us.
