Chapter 14

CHAPTER14

“You missed a spot,” Jonathan murmured as he gestured absently with the ice-cold Coke in his hand for them to get on with it.

“I’m going to kill him,” Cole bit out as he yanked his work gloves off and went to do just that when Uncle Jason drawled, “The gazebo’s not going to finish itself,” from where he lounged on the patio along with Sebastian’s father and Uncle Reese, enjoying a beer.

With one last glare aimed at Jonathan, Cole leaned over and snatched the gloves off the ground as his gaze flickered next door and-

“Don’t even think about it,” Uncle Jason said while Sebastian moved to take a sip of water only to sigh when the little brat snatched the bottle of water out of his hands and finished it off with a glare that dared him to do something about it.

When she was done, Mikey shoved the empty bottle back in his hand and narrowed her eyes on him as she bit out, “You should have taken one for the team.”

“And you should learn to run faster,” Sebastian bit out as he matched her glare, only to end up struggling to bite back a smile when she gasped in outrage.

“I have tiny legs!” Mikey snapped as she reached up and snatched the baseball cap off his head and shoved it on her head.

“That doesn’t explain why you tried to sell me out, you little brat,” Sebastian said, his glare never leaving her as he moved closer, forcing her to tilt her head back so that she could continue glaring up at him.

“Did I not just mention that I have tiny legs? I had no choice but to snitch on you,” Mikey pointed out as he stood there, unable to help but notice just how adorable she was as his gaze flickered to her lips and-

“That gazebo’s not going to finish itself,” Jonathan piped in, making Sebastian swallow hard as he forced himself to look away from Mikey to find his brother watching him with a knowing look. God, what he wouldn’t give to wipe that smug smile off the little bastard’s face, Sebastian thought as he watched his brother take another sip of Coke. That was followed by Jonathan gesturing for him to get on with it.

Grinding his jaw, Sebastian grabbed another two-by-four off the pile and-

“I’d like to make a deal,” Mikey said, folding her arms over her chest as her gaze locked on Jonathan.

“You have nothing on me,” Jonathan said with a satisfied sigh as he made a show of getting more comfortable on the lounge chair that they’d been forced to drag out here after they’d finished their morning workout, which had consisted of running until Mikey’s legs gave out and Sebastian forced to carry her back here and enough pushups, crunches, and jumping jacks to make him think twice about sneaking out of his room for a while.

“I’m listening,” Sebastian’s father drawled, sounding thoughtful as he watched them.

Nodding, Mikey pointed a damning finger at Jonathan as she said, “Fourth of July.” Sebastian watched Jonathan go still seconds before he was swallowing hard and glancing over his shoulder only to wince when he saw the look on their father’s face.

Jonathan opened his mouth, only to end up closing it, swallowing hard again, clearing his throat, and absently gesturing towards the gazebo as he climbed off the lounge chair. “I’ll, umm, just get started on the roof,” Jonathan said, only to clear his throat as he handed his Coke to Mikey and made his way to the ladder they had leaning against the frame.

That was followed by Mikey moving to take a sip of Coke only to murmur, “Understandable,” when Sebastian reached over and snatched it out of her hand. He watched the little traitor make her way to the freshly abandoned lounge chair, where she helped herself to a fresh Coke while he stood there, watching her get comfortable with a satisfied sigh and-

“You’re late,” came the announcement that had Sebastian biting back a smile as he turned his head to find Mrs. Blaine sitting in her wheelchair with her hands wrapped firmly around her cane, glaring at him.

He considered pointing out that he hadn’t planned on coming here today, but he knew better than to argue. So, instead, Sebastian simply said, “I’m sorry, Grandma,” as he pulled off his work gloves and tossed them to Jonathan, who was muttering to himself as he climbed up the ladder, and made his way over to the small woman glaring at him only pausing long enough to pluck the Coke out of Mikey’s hand.

Ignoring her adorable grumble, Sebastian finished off her Coke before tossing the empty can in the small trash bucket next to his father, who was now watching Jonathan’s every move, which was understandable considering everything that happened at the Fourth of July barbecue.

Thankful for the small reprieve, Sebastian stepped behind Mrs. Blaine’s wheelchair, released the locks and rolled her back into the in-law apartment that Uncle Jason built for her. Without a word, she gestured for him to bring her into the living room, where he set her by the couch and-

“Well?”

-felt his lips twitch when she began her interrogation with one word.

“Do you want to know about school or why I’m performing manual labor as punishment?” Sebastian asked, watching as Mrs. Blaine’s frail hands tightened around her cane as she bit out, “Both.”

Nodding, Sebastian said, “School is fine,” as he sat down, only to amend that when he watched her eyes narrow dangerously on him. “It’s better than I remember.”

“And your classes?” Mrs. Blaine asked, watching him closely.

“Have all been changed to AP classes,” he assured her as she slowly nodded before asking, “And Mikey?”

“Already managed to scar the football team for life,” Sebastian said, watching as her lips twitched.

“And the reason why Mikey has been sneaking into your room for the past three nights?” Mrs. Blaine asked, taking him by surprise.

“She won’t tell me,” Sebastian said as he found himself looking back towards the patio doors to find Mikey sitting on the lounge chair, looking completely lost as she stared down at the baseball in her hands.

“And you’re not going to ask,” Mrs. Blaine murmured, sounding thoughtful as he sat there watching her.

“No, I’m not,” Sebastian said and-

It was killing him.

* * *

“But I asked for triangles,”Katie mumbled sadly as she slowly pushed her glasses back up her little nose as she blinked down at her grilled cheese sandwich that had been cut in half.

“And you would have gotten triangles if you hadn’t sold me out last night,” Chloe said as she narrowed her eyes on her little sister as she took a bite of her triangle-cut grilled cheese sandwich.

“You should learn to hide better,” Katie said as she reached over and helped herself to the other triangle.

“You really should,” the reason why she was in trouble said with a satisfied sigh as he dropped down on the chair next to her and plucked her sandwich out of her hand.

“Aren’t you banned from coming over here?” Chloe asked as she reluctantly pushed her chair back and resigned herself to making more grilled cheese sandwiches.

“Probably,” Cole said, not really sounding all that concerned that her uncle threatened to break every bone in his body if he ever set foot in this house again.

“Why are you here?” Katie demanded as her eyes narrowed dangerously on Cole.

“Doing an early check to make sure the monsters that live under your bed leave you alone tonight since I probably won’t be able to sneak out for a while,” Cole said as he shifted his focus to Chloe’s glass of chocolate milk.

“You’re here to anger them…” Katie whispered hoarsely as she threw a nervous look at the kitchen door.

“A little,” Cole said, shrugging it off as he helped himself to her chips while Chloe bit back a sigh and resigned herself to spending the night in a chair watching over her little sister.

“And the other reason why you’re over here?” Chloe asked, throwing Cole a questioning look over her shoulder as she started buttering more bread.

“I wanted to talk to you about next Saturday,” Cole said, finishing off her chips before he shifted his attention to the other half of Katie’s sandwich.

“What’s happening Saturday?” Chloe asked, shifting her attention to what she was doing and quickly assembled the grilled cheese sandwiches on the pan.

“The dance,” Cole said, making her frown.

“What about it?” Chloe asked as she glanced over her shoulder to find Cole devouring a box of Captain Crunch.

“Are you going?” Cole asked as he shoved another handful of Captain Crunch in his mouth as he got up and made his way to the fridge.

“Wasn’t planning on it,” Chloe said, knowing better than to make plans that she had absolutely no hopes of keeping. For the past few years, she’d learned not to get her hopes up for field trips, school dances, parties, clubs, sports, or anything that would require her to find someone willing to watch Katie.

“Why not?” Cole asked, helping himself to a Coke as she turned the sandwiches over.

“Because I doubt they’re going to allow seven-year-olds to go to the dance,” Chloe said with a pointed look at Katie, who was glaring at Cole as she reached for a black marker and forced Chloe to wrestle it away from her before she could give into the urge to do whatever it was that had her lips pulling up into an evil smile as her gaze remained locked on Cole.

“And if they did?” Cole asked, throwing her a questioning look as she somehow managed to get the black marker away from Katie and-

“He’s evil!” Katie bit out as she struggled to get the black marker back only to realize that it wasn’t happening and turned her attention to the bottle of Elmer’s Glue.

“I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be spending next Saturday dealing with a closet full of monsters,” Chloe bit out as she managed to pry the glue out of Katie’s hands and-

“I knew it!” Katie snapped.

“That sounds like a good time,” Cole murmured absently as he used the spatula to grab a grilled cheese sandwich off the pan and drop it on the paper towel in his hand.

“It will be,” Chloe muttered sadly, watching Cole shoot her a wink before he headed out the door, once again leaving her to deal with Katie.