Page 67 of Bad Habit
“Stop looking at me like that.” She says knowingly.
“I’m not.” I grin.
Things have been really good this week. We worked on the house a little bit. I had to threaten to throw her blush away when she tried to color the mismatched brick again. She came to my fight that night. I won. I don’t lose when she is in the corner watching me. It felt good, solid, having her there. Like she is meant to be there.
She and Eli worked on a new move for her women’s defense class. And her birthday is coming up. When we asked Max to help get it set up, he was more than happy. She has no idea it’s happening and I think AJ is excited for the first time ever over a surprise.
“Food is all here, let’s eat!” Maxwell calls out from where he is already holding his plate and in line to start getting food.
While we are at the table, I can’t help but covertly watch everyone but Dad and Melinda. It’s not that any of us ever actually care to buy everyone pie. It’s the losing we hate. And since I lost Assassin, my hunger to win tonight is strong. No one has made a single joke, or attacked, or anything. Which makes me weary. AJ is beside me on one side and Eli is on the other side. Mia is directly across from me sitting next to Max. AJ and Dad have been insulting each other the whole afternoon and Rory is just happy to be here. It’s nice having Melinda here too. To have a motherly presence is foreign but somehow she just makes us miss not having a mom a little less today.
“How did your meeting go with your partner, Melinda?” Dad asks across the table where Melinda is sitting. I watch her shoulders get a little stiffer and then drop.
“They emailed and asked to push it to mid December. Something about getting a board together and needing a little more time. I wish they would go ahead. The stress of not knowing if they are wanting to pull out or shut me down is killing my body.” I can hear the stress in her voice actually.
“The center is the most successful youth program I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to shut it down.” Mia assures her softly andthen turns to my dad, “Eddie, this turkey is actually incredible. How did you make it?” Mia smiles over at Dad. And to everyone else, she looks polite. But I know that smile.
She moves her hand to her lap as Dad is talking us through the new technique he tried this year. She makes eye contact with AJ and I’m the only one that notices. AJ’s lips twitch and I feel my pulse pick up a little. They are up to something bad. Mia’s hand comes back up to reach across the table to grab her drink and she looks over to me with an unwavering stare. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and watch her eyes flare when I reach for it.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I catch AJ side eye me and Mia is practically squirming in her seat even though she’s sitting still. I open her message and, “fuck me.”The words fall from my lips before I have a coherent thought to even try and stop them.
Mia just sent me a selfie she took in my bathroom, soaking wet, when my shirt pushed up to rest on the top of her chest as she is squeezing her breast in one hand, her other nipple on full display across her forearm, and she’s biting her lip at the camera. She has to be leaning on her tiptoes because she’s short enough that the counter should have hit her waist but it’s hiding absolutely nothing. Wicked, filthy, dangerous.
“What did you just say?” Dad’s voice sounds muffled through the rushing of blood through my ears. I’m pretty sure I’m fucking blushing right now.
“I thought you had a dinner table rule, Mr. West?” Mia fakes innocence as my brothers are absolutely losing it. Eli leans over to see what I’m looking at and I nearly throw my phone into my plate. AJ is cackling like an evil witch beside me and I turn my glare on her.
“You fucking knew.” I whisper harshly at her.
“Obviously.” She reaches over and clinks her glass with Mia’s.
“Dishes are all yours Oliver.” Dad declares from his seat.
Maxwell grins victoriously across from me. “And the pie tab.”
I keep my eyes on Mia. “I hope you know I’m keeping that.”
“Keeping what? How did she get you?” Maxwell leans over the table to try and take my phone but I’m making sure that damn thing is glued to me forever now.
“Yes, share with the class, Ol.” Eli goads from beside me.
“Want me to share with the class? The class also includes your dad.” Mia winks at me, knowing damn well she wouldn’t dare share that picture.
“I’m going to make you pay for that.” I point my phone at her. Like I said, I’m not letting go of it any time soon. No one is seeing that photo.
“Oh I hope so.” She purrs.
“Scrabble time!” Dad announces like this is the moment that he has been waiting for. And it has been. I’m just the only one that knows.
We gather around, pulling chairs up to watch him and AJ face off. He needs to cool it before his confidence gives him away but I think he’s too excited at the possibility of finally beating her. They draw their letters and line them up. AJ is the definition of calm as always. It’s supposed to be a Scrabble tournament but none of us want to miss the entertainment of watching these two battle it out.
“Hope you’ve been memorizing your word of the day, Eddie.” AJ says as she squints, planning her first word.
“I’m prepared, Avery.” They do this. Calling each other by their first names when they are trying to make a point. I remember the first time that Dad pulled the Scrabble board out. It was the first time that life was evident in AJ’s eyes. She genuinely loved it. Dad has been playing with her ever since.
She lets Dad make the first move, because she likes to pretend she is being kind but in reality it helps her know what letters are left in the bag. She’s calculated, always. We watch Dad lay his tiles down and he doesn’t even try to hide his smile.
“Jabot.” AJ reads the word out loud. Dad nods and writes his points down on the well used notepad.
