Chapter 6 Diablo
The next night I showedup at the door again with dinner. After knocking twice, the front door swung open, revealing Olivia wearing a red apron with tiny candy canes printed all over the material and dusted with white powder. Flour?
“Mama’s making snickerdoodles!”
“Is she now?” I stroked my chin with my free hand, pausing as Olivia watched. “I wonder if she’ll let me trade this lasagna and garlic bread for some cookies. What do you think?”
“Only if I can have both,” she giggled as I walked inside, spotting Rev on the couch.
He ticked his head my way. “Hey, Diablo.”
Olivia planted her hands on her little hips, glaring at her brother. “Rev wouldn’t answer the door because he’s playing called off dookie.”
Huh?
Rev rolled his eyes. “It’s Call of Duty or COD, Liv.”
“That’s what I said,” she replied haughtily, spinning on her heel to walk into the kitchen.
“She never says it right,” he complained, amusement twitching his lips. Perking up as he noticed the bags I carried, he jumped to his feet. “Is that dinner?”
“Yeah. Brought lasagna, garlic bread, and salad. Thought your mom might enjoy another night off from cooking.”
“She will! She’s baking cookies with Liv.” He shut off the Xbox, and I followed him into the kitchen, placing the bags on the table.
Olivia stood on a stool next to her mother while Gina’s head lowered, showing her how to roll the cookie dough into balls, then coat them in the cinnamon sugar mixture already prepared in a separate bowl before placing the cookies on the sheets to bake.
The moment was bittersweet for me as memories of my mother and a Christmas like this one, many years ago, that I had chosen to forget. Gina wasn’t the only one who hid away pain from the past. Maybe that was why we connected.
Soul magnets that found their match.
My attention focused on Gina’s ass, enjoying every little wiggle and shake of that rounded bottom.
“I can feel you staring, Diablo,” she laughed.
“Oh, I am,” I replied, hoping I’d get a chance to squeeze those firm bubbly cheeks later. “Brought you all somethin’ to eat.”
“Yay!” Olivia screeched, knocking over the bowl of cinnamon sugar as it slid from the counter and crashed to the floor. Her little mouth popped open in surprise. I caught the devastation she couldn’t hide as she stared up at me.
Blink. Blink.Her expression crumbled in an instant.
Immediate tears filled big blue eyes as Olivia wailed. “I’m so clumsyyyyyy.”
“Oh shit,” Rev whispered, rushing to the closet, where he pulled out a broom and dustpan. “I’ve got it, mom.”
The plastic bowl on the ground remained undamaged, but the mess scattered across most of the linoleum. Rev began sweeping as I picked up the bowl and placed it in the sink.
Gina spared her son a quick nod before pulling Olivia into her embrace. “Baby, we talked about this. It’s okay. Accidents happen. I’m not upset with you.”
Olivia was inconsolable, hiccupping as her chin wobbled. “It happens at school too.”
Gina tilted her head up, concern dominating her delicate features as our eyes met. It wasn’t a call for help exactly, but I wanted to let them both know I could shoulder any burden they encountered.
My foot lifted just as a gray ball of fur zipped underneath, startling me as I tripped over my boots, spun in a half circle, and slammed into the cabinets next to the girls. Well, fuck. That wasn’t quite what I had in mind.
The damn cat—invisible before tonight—darted underneath the kitchen table out of sight.
I heard a snort and glanced at Olivia. Her lips quirked up at the corners before a snicker escaped. Rev joined her, coughing to hide a laugh. His chin dropped as he avoided my gaze, trying hard to keep it in. Olivia giggled, slapping a hand over her mouth.