David just sighs and shakes his head. “That whole family is a real piece of work.”
Aunt Liz hesitates for a moment, but then blurts, “You realize her aunt was in your mom’s graduating class, right? Head cheerleader. Just like Aria.”
Oh, fucking hell.I pray my mother never had to deal with her like I’m dealing with Aria. I’ll tuck that little piece of information in the back of my head as I continue to look into my mother’s past.
“Hey. Did you ever see yearbooks in Mom’s stuff?” I put some chicken in my mouth for something to do.
Aunt Liz winces. “If we have them, they’d be in the boxes out in the garage. I can maybe help you look one afternoon?”
I nod. “No rush.” Though, now that she’s brought up the HBIC from my mom’s school years, I really want to go take a look. It’s sort of hard to believe, yet… not. I have no doubt that kind of bitchiness runs in the family.
Chapter 35
The next day I’m hard at work with my hair piled up on top of my head in a bun, my Teri & Terry’s T-shirt smeared with hot fudge, and my jeans falling down around my hips because I forgot to bring a belt with my change of clothes. In other words, I’m a mess.
The bell above the door jingles, and I glance up. My standardWelcome to Teri &Terry’sgreeting is about to drop from my lips when a pint-size cutie in pigtails walks through the doorway with none other than Xander behind her, a hand on her shoulder.
I blink in surprise, and it takes me a moment to find words again. I knew he had a sister, but I hadn’t realized she wasthisyoung. “Well, hi.” I smile at her, then up at him.
He winks at me, eyes taking in my crazy hair and messy shirt.
Yep. Makes perfect sense that he’d show up when I look like I’ve been turned around in a tornado.
His sister gives a shy wave and tucks her little strawberry blonde head against his outer thigh, her tiny hands holding onto the waistband of his jeans like a clingy animal of some sort.
I press my lips together, seeking his eyes with mine. “Xander, she’s adorable.”
He grins, playing with one of her pigtails. “My sister. In case that wasn’t obvious.”
I lean across the counter when I see her peeking at me. “What’s your name, cutie?”
Her voice squeaks out, “Janie.”
“I love that name. I’m Scarlett. Your brother calls me Red, though.” I look up at him with a wink, and a broad smile stretches across his face.
She frowns up at her brother. “Scarlett is so much prettier, Xan. Why would you do that?”
A quick laugh bursts through my lips at how straightforward she is with him.
He groans, but doesn’t hesitate to answer her. “I don’t know, Monkey. It’s kind of like how I call you Monkey when you hang on me—and you don’t like it. I do it because it irritates her, the same way it irritates you.”
“But I know you do it because you love me.”
Oh, fuck.I catch Xander’s eye and raise my brows.
He coughs behind his hand to cover his surprise at her observation and looks down at her. “Yes. Very observant of you, smarty-pants.” He scoops her up into his arms, letting her bottom rest on his forearm as he brings her closer to the counter.
She wraps an arm around his neck to hang on and peers into his face. “Can we get ice cream now?”
He nuzzles his nose against hers and tickles her ribs. “We sure can. Come on, let’s take a look at what Scarlett has in the ice cream case.”
“I don’t need to look. I want bubblegum.”
“But you always get that flavor. Don’t you want to try something new? You can try some samples.”
“Bubblegum.” Her lower lip sticks out as she pouts.
Huffing out a laugh, I catch her eye and nod my head. “You can have bubblegum. Don’t be like your brother. The first day I worked here he tried three different flavors before he finally decided what to order.”