Our apartment door opens and Travis walks in, but he’s not alone. Maverick.
“Speak of the devils!” Dani twirls her hair on a finger and sits down beside me at the table. “Tanner is coming to work with me at Maxi’s.”
Travis pauses as he opens the fridge. My eyes glance at Maverick who leans against the wall, scrolling through his phone like he could care less about being here.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” he says and grabs a beer.
“Travis, come on. I’m literally turning eighteen in two weeks. I'm an adult. I want a job for extra cash so I can get the things I need while I’m going to college. I will have to get student loans to pay my tuition, but when I get the inheritance, I can pay it all off.”
“I can get you anything you need Tan,” he says with a serious look.
I sigh. “Travis, you let me live here. I think that’s more than enough. I’m not a moocher. I want to take care of myself, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Listen to the woman, Dom,” Dani chimes in, and bats her lashes.
“Maverick, what do you think?” Travis asks as he folds his arms across his chest.
I cock my head just enough, so my eyes meet Maverick’s as he looks up from his phone. He glances at me for a split second before looking over at Travis.
“That’s fine. I’ll have Maxine watch her,” he says, stuffing his phone into his pocket.
“I’m not a child. I don’t need someone to watch me,” I spit before I realize the words are leaving my mouth.
The room gets quiet. My cheeks heat as he tightens his jaw. He steps off the wall and his shoulders stiffen. “Dom, let’s go.”
“I'll be back later. Y’all behave.” Travis raises an eyebrow at Dani. I’m assuming the behavior part is geared towards her.
All she gives him is the bird and a pretty smile.
They both leave and I feel relieved. There was entirely too much tension in this small kitchen.
“Okay, now that was a prime example of a time you stay quiet,” Dani says, crossing her legs. “If any other woman would have talked back to my brother like that…'' She whistles. “There would be hell to pay.”
A very inappropriate thought crosses my mind.
I wonder what the punishment would be?