Adjusting
Chapter 29
November
Bone is turning my baby bad. I just know it. Today I had to go shopping so I left Lucas alone with Bone at the store. Normally, Bone's loud, screaming music upsets Lucas so he doesn't play it. But when I got back, Lucas was still happily playing with Sasuke. The only problem? Bone's music was on.
"Great Bone, just great," I complained, turning it off.
"What?"
"You're going to make him like that stuff?"
"And?"
"I don't want him to."
"You're just mad that he's going to grow up to be like me."
"Great, because this all this world needs is another Bone."
"I know. I'm calling him Cross from now on."
"Why?"
"Cross Bones."
Even fucking better.
Fang was sleeping. Unfortunately, that meant he also was snoring. I pushed him and for a moment, he was done. Then it started all over again.
"Fang," I mumbled, pushing him. He just rolled closer, taking up half of my side of the bed. I tried to pushing him away but it was like dead weight. "Fang!"
He opened his eyes a little. "Hey, finally home?"
"Stop snoring."
He kissed my head. "Upset?"
"No, just tired."
Fang stroked my cheek with his hand. "How tired?"
"No."
"What?"
"No. We're not doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Fang."
He laughed, closing his eyes again. I had worked all night and it was now seven in the morning. Around eight last night, Fang picked up Lucas from the store. While he was there, he offered me to go home and he worked. I declined. Now I'm really wanted to go back and change that.
"The kids will be up soon," I told Fang, pulling the covers up around myself. "You need to get up."
He pulled me closer to him, which wasn't hard seeing as he was still on my side of the bed.
'Leave me alone, Fang. I want to sleep alone. Go make the kids breakfast."
"No," he said, rubbing his head against mine. "I want to be near you."
"We've been close enough for a year, alright?"
"We'll never be close enough."
I started to drift off. "Wake me up by twelve."
"I'm waking you up a three."
"What? No. Then I'll miss the first episode of Maury."
Fang kept running his hand down my back. "Sleep. Come on, Maxie. Just sleep."
So I did.
Damien was bouncing up and down. "It is freaking freezing!"
Cameron smiled at him. "We're in North Carolina, baby."
"I wish I had worn a jacket," he mumbled as they got into the car. Her brother's butler had picked them up.
"I told you to put one on before we left for the airport this morning."
"Yeah but I didn't realize it snowed in November."
"It does some years and others it doesn't," Cameron told him before smiling at the driver. "Thanks for picking us up, Jeff."
"'Tis my pleasure," he said. It was almost an hour ride to her brother's and Damien passed the time by watching the scenery as it went by.
"Wow," he commented as they came on the house. "Your brothers are both rich. God, Cameron."
Cameron rolled her eyes, getting out of the car. "You did bring a jacket with us, right?"
"Yeah. It's in my stuff," he told her, going to get their bags out of the trunk.
"Good," she said, pulling hers tighter around her. It was the one that he gave her when they first got together. It shocked her when he left the house without one on that morning. He always wore one. "Is it your white one?"
"Yeah," he said. The truth was Cameron had ruined the white jacket that he was going to wear that morning. She had washed it with one of her red bras. He didn't' want to tell her that she had messed it up. Not liking his arms to be bare, he compensated by wearing a long-sleeved shirt.
"I have got the bags," Jeff told him, taking them from Damien. Cameron grabbed his hand, dragging him up to the front door.
"Hey, Cameron," Paul greeted, opening the door. She let go of Damien's hand as she hugged her brother.
"Hey," she whispered back. "This is Damien."
Paul gave the other man a smile, putting on a show for Cameron, before removing himself from her. "Come in."
"Hi, Aunt Cameron," her nephew Derek greeted. His mother, who was seated next to him on the couch, made him pause his video game to give her a hug.
"Where do you want the bags, sir?" Jeff asked Paul.
"Cameron's in the guest room upstairs and his in the one downstairs."
"Paul," his wife warned.
"We're sharing a room, Paul," Cameron told him.
Her oldest brother's eyes bore into Damien. "Why?"
"For one, he's my boyfriend and for two, what about Trent? He needs a room."
"He and you can share."
"Ew."
"You're an adult. You can deal."
"No," Cameron said. "We're sharing a room."
"Fine," Paul said finally. "Upstairs bedroom, Jeffery."
He nodded at them before walking away.
"Where's Lucas? Huh? Where is he?" I asked, my voice at a fake pitch. "Where is he?"
My baby giggled from behind the chair.
"Where's my baby? Is he…outside?" I opened the front door. "Nope. Is he…behind the TV?" Again, I looked. "No. Well I just don't know where he is. I guess I'm going to have to get a new baby."
"No!" Lucas ran out from behind the couch. "Mommy!"
I picked him up. "Now you come out."
Lucas patted my cheek. "Hi."
"Hi."
"Max, can I eat at Alex's for Thanksgiving?" Tyler asked, coming downstairs, his best friend following faithfully behind him. I used to think that they were friends because of how much he needed her but at times I wonder if it's the other way around. Maybe she needs him too.
"Tyler I highly doubt that they want you."
"Yes they do. Right Alex?"
She nodded. "Manny asked Mamá for me. She said fine if you said fine."
"Tyler, I don't-"
"Damien isn't with his mommy for Thanksgiving. Please Mama? I'll love you forever and ever."
With a bargain like that… "Ask your grandmother."
"My what?"
I sighed. I had went shopping with Mom and Lucas the other day. He was just learning to say grandma and I was calling her that to him. "I meant Dr. Martinez."
"Why?"
"You know how bad she'll feel if you don't come."
He sighed, as if I was making him exhausted. "I will."
"Good."
Lucas cuddled against me. "Mommy?"
"What?"
"Juice."
I carried him into the kitchen. Fang was doing dishes. I was almost sure that I was in for a talking to about him having to do them but he said nothing. Money might not be everything in a relationship but sex seems to be. I haven't been yelled at in a good while. I kind of miss it…not.
"What are you doing?" Fang asked me as I opened the fridge. "Hungry?"
I could hear the hope in his voice and it made me sick. "No. Lucas is thirsty. You want juice, huh baby?"
"Yes!"
I bounced him a little as I got the apple juice out and put it in his sippy cup before handing it to him. "Can you say thank you?"
"'ank 'oo."
"Good boy," I said as he started to drink from it. "Is Cody still napping?"
"Yeah," Fang said, finishing the dishes. "I have work tonight."
I gave Lucas to him. "Tyler wants to spend Thanksgiving with the Mendoza's."
"Are you going to let him?"
"I guess. They want him so-"
"At least somebody does."
"You're so mean sometimes," I told him.
"I was kidding. I love Tyler."
Lucas hit him in the head with his sippy cup. "Hi."
"Hi, now stop hitting me. That's mean."
Lucas babbled something to him before going back to his juice. I went to go and wake up Cody. The other day Tabitha asked me why Cody and Lucas share a bedroom when we have two extra rooms. I told her that it was because it's easier for me to wake them up. In all truth though, I was afraid to put Lucas in a room alone. He's always so adventurous, always into something. I don't want my baby hurt.
"Well hi, Mr. Cody," I greeted the baby. He was awake, laying there in his crib. "Daddy told me that you were napping but you're not napping, huh? Say no, Mommy. I'm awake. I want up."
I lifted him into my arms before walking out of the room. Tyler and Alex were playing with his Hot Wheels. Fang had Lucas on his chest, making faces at the toddler.
"You're a smart baby, huh? Smartest I've ever seen," Fang said, kissing Lucas's head. "Daddy loves you. Do you know that? Huh?"
Lucas poked him in the eyes. "Ah!"
"Ow! Lucas!"
"That's what Daddy gets, huh Cody?" I asked the baby, walking up the stairs. "How dare he say that Lucas is smarter than you? You're smart too, huh?"
I went into Tabitha's bedroom. She was drawing. Today was Sunday but they were off the rest of the week because of Thanksgiving break. Joy.
"Hey, Tabby. What are you doing?"
"Drawing."
"Oh," I said, sitting down on her bed. Cody whined until I sat him on the floor.
"What do you want?"
Way to be blunt, Tabs. "I haven't seen you today."
"That's because you slept all day."
"I worked all night."
She didn't say anything else. I always feel bad for Tabitha. Most of my time goes to the boys as oppose to her. Then, when I do try to spend time with her, she acts like I'm bothering her. I don't get it.
"I'm going over to Dr. Martinez's house," I told her.
"So?"
"Well I was wondering if you wanted to go with me."
"Why don't you ask Tyler?"
"Tabitha-"
"No. I don't want to go."
"Fine," I said. I wasn't going to beg her. "Do you want Cody in here with you or-"
"No. Take him away."
I held in the sigh and eye roll before picking the baby up. "And Tabitha? I'm not asking Tyler because I want you to go. I love you too."
With that, I left.
"I don't think that your brother likes me."
"Paul? No. Besides, it's not him you need to worry about," Cameron warned.
"What does that mean?" Damien asked as he laid in bed. She was going through her bag, looking for something.
"I've told you all those things that Trent tells Tommy. And I haven't even told you the things he says about you."
Damien frowned. "What has he said about me?"
"Nothing- Hey! What happened to your jacket?" She asked. She had been digging around in his bag, looking for a book that she had put in there.
He blushed a little. "You washed it and it turned out that way. I think it was your red bra that did it…"
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's okay."
"I'll buy you a new one."
Damien laid on his side. "My birthday's coming up."
"Is it?"
"Yeah."
"Mine's in January."
"When?"
"The 19th."
"I'll remember that," he told her.
"If you have to."
"I do."
"When's yours?"
"Tuesday."
"Damien!"
"What?"
"You should have told me," she complained. "How am I going to get you a gift-"
"I don't want one."
"Well you're getting one."
He closed his eyes. "Cammie?"
"What?" She asked.
"Why do both your brothers have all this money and you don? I know that's rude to ask but-"
"It's not rude, Damien. And I have money. Just because I'm not living in a big house and flying places every day doesn't mean that I don't," she told him. "You should know that I have money. And don't call it being rich. It's called being well off. It's not like-"
"It was just a question, Cameron. I was just trying to figure out why you live in a house like that when they try to live large."
"Why would I, Damien? Before you, I lived completely alone. Why would I need a big house? And traveling is no fun when you're alone. Trust me, I've tried."
He was cold. "Where do you all get money?"
"My mother died. She was…"
"Well off?"
"Yeah. Very much so."
"I'm sorry that she died."
"Don't be. Just be glad."
"What? Cam-"
"It's one less person you have to meet. Just wait until you have to meet with my dad and his wife. Ooh, and my step dad will pick you apart."
"…Meeting your family just got a lot less fun."
"Tell me about it."
It was silent for awhile. Cameron found her book and got back in bed with him. She was reading for some time when Damien spoke.
"Cameron?"
"What?"
"I'm cold."
"Damien you are already under the blankets. What do you want me to do?"
'Cuddle with me."
"I'm reading."
He laid his head next to her. "If you were cold-"
A knock on the door cut him off.
"Yes?" Cameron called out.
"It's time for dinner."
She put her book down. "Come on."
Damien reluctantly left the only form of warmth he had and followed him. Once they were sitting down with their food, Paul spoke.
"So, Damien, that's an odd name. You don't hear it a lot."
He shrugged. "I guess."
"I mean, I've never heard anyone else with that name. I guess the Omen ruined it, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Who gave you that name? I mean what made your parents-"
"I don't know," he said, not wanting to think about it.
"Well it's an easy question. I'm just saying-"
"Why did they name you Paul?" Cameron asked him, receiving a glare from her brother.
"It's so hot in the house, Damien," Paul's wife Lacey said. "You should take off that long-sleeved shirt."
"I'm fine," he said. "Really."
"If you say so."
Paul, angered that his question had just been dismissed, tried again. "So, Damien, Cameron says that you work in a tattoo shop."
"Yeah."
"Do you have any?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
"Why does it matter?" Cameron asked. She didn't like Paul talking to her boyfriend. And he was just a dry run for what Trent was going to do.
"Just a question, Cam, really," he said. "Am I not allowed to get to know your boyfriend?"
"I know exactly what you're doing and I don't want you doing it."
"What am I doing? Please tell me? Because I have no idea."
"Paul, stop it," Lacey said. It was silent after that. After dinner, Damien went back upstairs to get in bed while Paul said he wanted to talk to Cameron in the kitchen, even telling Jeffery that they'd do the dishes.
"Cameron," he started after a minute. "I don't know why you think that I-"
"Paul, I know you. Damien's…meek. I don't want you hurting him."
"Hurting him how?"
"You know how."
"No, tell me."
"He's like a kid. He lets other people bully him. You and Trent are not going to do that to him. I won't let you."
"Geez Cameron, you really seem to already have a scenario played out in your head. You're not even giving me a chance!"
"I love Damien and I'm not letting you hurt him," she said again.
Paul sighed. "It's just…you haven't had a lot of boyfriends. Your last one was years ago and he last what? A month?"
"That should show you that I'm serious about Damien."
"You were also serious about Philip-"
"Why can you ever let something go? I was a kid," she said, offended. "You know what? Do your own damn dishes."
"Cameron I'm just looking out for you."
Ignoring him, she went back upstairs. Damien was in his matching Superman t-shirt and sleep pants. Cameron had to smile at how cute he looked.
"Did you take a shower?" She asked, coming into the room.
"I am in the morning," he said, getting under the covers. She changed before getting into bed with him. "Why aren't you cold?"
"I lived in New York as a kid, then Maine for awhile and Detroit. Heat is worse than the cold."
"Not to me. I've never left Arizona."
She snuggled against him. "Was that your first time on an airplane?"
"No. We go to Comic Con on an airplane. But besides that, no."
"Going on a plane now sucks. Takes for ever."
"Yeah," he said, closing his eyes. "Night, Cameron."
"Good night, omen."
I was walking into the house, having gotten back from Mom's when it happened. I walked in and they were all fine. Then Fang said it.
"So did you tell her that Tyler's over at Alex's for Thanksgiving?"
"What?" Tabitha, who was on the couch, looked at her dad. "He gets to?"
"Yes-"
"That's not fair! Tommy is with his mom's family so I get stuck being over there with Dr. Martinez and you-"
"Do not yell at me," Fang warned.
"You yell at everyone else!"
Fang got up and made her go into the kitchen with her. I knew that he was just yelling at her. He never spanks Tabitha. Lucas was playing on the floor with his toys. I went and picked him up.
"No," he complained, reaching back down for his toys. "Mommy!"
I sat him back down before going into the kitchen. Tabitha was crying, mad that she was getting in trouble.
"Fang, leave her alone," I said, putting a hand on his arm. "She was just upset. You're tired. Don't take it out on her."
Fang shrugged me off. "Shut the fuck up Max. What do you know? You're the one causing the problem anyways. Letting him go somewhere else for Thanksgiving. Are you that stupid? Huh?"
Tabitha took the opportunity and left, which is what I wanted. Fang hadn't yelled at me in a good while and he was going to get in a good yelling. I took it too. As he yelled, I went ahead and started to clean up the kitchen.
"Are you fucking listening to me? Huh? Huh?"
"Does this make you feel good?"
"What?"
"Yelling at me. Does it? Are you that small of a man inside?" I walked out of the room, headed to the bedroom.
"Don't you walk the fuck away from me. Do you hear me? Huh? What the hell do you-" Fang stopped. He had knocked over Lucas's tower. His eyes softened and he got down on the ground, trying to stop Lucas from crying. I left as he began to rebuild the castle. I went and got Cody before taking him to my bedroom to sleep in bed with me.
It was Monday, which meant that I had work and Fang did too, just not with me, thank God. With both of us working, I sent Tyler to Alex's house and took the other three with me.
"And he yelled at me," Tabitha told Bone. "Isn't that mean?"
"Yes."
"Then he yelled at Max," she added.
"Tabitha-" I started but she ignored me.
"He was louder too. He yelled and yelled and yelled. And he cussed!"
Bone's face never changed but I knew what he was thinking. Lucas calling to her made Tabitha go play with him.
"He shouldn't yell at you," Bone told me.
"I know. And you shouldn't sleep with a different woman every night, smoke two packs a day, or drink. But you do."
"What are you going to do when Tabitha marries a guy like that, Max? It's not good for her to see that. And then what can you say when Tyler or the other boys treat their women like that? He's bad for doing it but you're just as bad for allowing it."
"You all blow this stuff out of proportion. It's not that big of deal, honestly."
He shook his head. "Whatever, Max."
"Trent!" Cameron basically squealed. It was obvious that she favored him. "I missed you so much."
"Enough to move my ex wife in with you?"
She ignored this, hugging him for another minute before letting him go. "This is Damien."
He just frowned. "Where am I stay, Paul?"
"Downstairs bedroom."
He walked off. Cameron sighed before giving Damien a half smile. Then Paul opened his mouth.
"Come on, Damien."
"Come on where?"
"Let's go play shoot some hoops."
Damien glanced at Cameron. It was almost nine on a Monday night. It was a good thing he remembered the time zone change or else he would have been freaking out an hour ago. "I can't."
"Why not? You're not afraid of the dark, are ya?"
"No…wrestling's about to be on."
Paul, thinking he had heard wrong, said, "Excuse me?"
"He said wrestling," Derek told his father from the couch where he was playing some video game. "You know it's fake, right? Everyone knows it's fake. Only babies watch that stuff."
"You're not talking about WWF are you?" Paul asked.
"Not WWF. WWE. It hasn't been WWF since-"
"Damien just watches it for the fighting," Cameron cut him off.
"Then why doesn't he just watch UFC?"
"Because, UFC is just a bunch of useless to society, think they're good looking, steroid using-"
"Damien," Cameron hissed.
"What? They are."
She sighed. It wasn't that he embarrassed her. It wasn't that at all. Cameron just didn't want her brothers to make fun of him. Paul seemed to be having with this.
"So do you think that it's real?" He asked. "Or-"
"No. But do you think those stupid reality shows are? Or what about TV shows. They have actors and scripts? Why do you watch them then?"
Paul laughed at him. Laughed. Damien was coming off his high of defending something and starting to realize what a nerd he sounded like. Cameron saw the look on his face and, wanting to shield him from anymore torture, grabbed his hands.
"Come on, Damien, we'll watch it on the TV in our room," she said, pulling him away. Once they were in the safety of their room, Cameron said, "Damien, I know that you-"
"I get it, Cameron. You're embarrassed by me talking about it. I don't care though."
"I am not, Damien. I just don't want them to be mean to you."
"I'm not a baby, you know. I'm the man in the relationship," he mumbled, laying face down on the bed. Cameron immediately laid next to him.
"I know, baby. I just don't like you hurt," she said, running a hand down his back. Realizing it was time for his show to start, Cameron went ahead and turned on the TV and put it on the channel. "There. Are you okay now?"
"Yeah," he mumbled, rolling onto his back. "Thanks."
She kissed his head. "I am not embarrassed by you, okay?"
"Yeah, alright."
She got up.
"Where are you going?" Damien asked. "You're going to miss wrestling."
She turned off the light, though her original destination was the living room. "Just getting the light."
He smiled as she got back into bed with him.
Fang wanted forgiveness today. I could tell. Monday he had just ignored me but now, he wanted me to know that he was there and he was sorry.
"Hey," he whispered in my ear. I was back in bed, taking a nap with Lucas and Cody. "You gonna sleep all day?"
"I just laid back down."
He kissed my head. "I love you."
"Whatever. Just go away."
"No, Max. I really, really love you."
"Alright Fang, I get it. You're sorry. Just leave me-"
"Max, come into the living room with me."
"No. Me and the boys are taking a nap."
He frowned before moving away from me. "Fine. Whatever."
I napped with them for awhile, until Lucas woke up. Cody normally sleeps longer so I put him into his crib before taking Lucas into the living room with me.
"Hi," the baby announced to the others. Tabitha was on the couch, watching TV and Tyler was on the floor with Alex, playing with action figures.
"Where's Daddy?" I asked Tabitha.
"In the attic."
I put Lucas down next to Tyler and his friend. "Can you two watch him? Please?"
Tyler had seemed fond of Lucas for that day but after that baby drooled on Bear, it was back to square one. Alex was more than thrilled by watching him, however. I went upstairs and then into the attic.
"Hey, Fang," I said, looking around. It was a lot bigger than the attic at our old house. Huge, even.
Fang just grunted to me, not even acknowledging me for a few minutes. I just went over to his DVD case, pretending to look for something.
"What do you want, Max?"
"To spend time with you."
"Come here."
I went over to him and laid down on his chest. Fang kissed my head.
"I love you," he told me.
"I know."
"Good. And…I'm sorry. Very sorry."
"It's okay," I said, closing my eyes.
"No, it's not."
"Fang, stop. You always act this way and then you just do it all over again. It seriously didn't affect me all that much. I don't care."
"I know that you do, Max. Don't lie."
"I'm not, alright? Why should I care when you call me names or act like I'm dense, huh? I know I'm not and you know I'm not so why should I care? I don't! You're just a stupid, ignorant jerk. What does it matter? I'm still married to you. I'm still stuck with you! Nothing will ever change so why does it even fucking matter?"
Fang blinked. "You done?"
I pushed up off him. "Yeah, I think I am."
"Max-"
"Just shut up already."
"Whatever."
"I need your car."
Paul frowned. "For what?"
"To take Damien somewhere."
"Where? Are you guys going to go get John Cena's autograph?
"First off, why do you know that name? Secondly, it's his birthday and I want to take him somewhere. And lastly, Damien hates John Cena." Well she told him. Cameron crossed her arms, waiting for a reply.
"Where are you going to take him?"
"Just out to eat and to buy him something."
"What?"
"Well I don't know. I was just going to let him get a comic or-"
"Wait, he's into comics too?" Paul shook his head. "You're dating an eight year old boy, Cameron."
"Look, are you giving me the keys or what?"
He reached into his pocket. "Fine. Here."
"Thank you," she said before going outback. Damien was playing with the dog, Truffle.
"Come on, Damien," she said. "We're going out."
"Out where?"
"To eat lunch."
"Why?"
"It's your birthday, Superman."
He sighed. "Do we have to?"
"Yes. And after you get to buy a comic or something," she offered, grabbing his hand. "Do you not believe in birthdays or something?"
"How can you not believe?" He asked as she led him back into the house.
She frowned. "I just meant do you celebrate them or what?"
He smiled, realizing what she was asking. "I'm still getting you a present, Cameron."
"What? Oh, you thought I was-"
"I know you were."
"Where are you two going?" Lacey asked, coming into the kitchen.
"Just out to eat lunch," Cameron told her.
"Where's his jacket?"
Stained partially pink. "I don't need one."
"It's freezing. That long-sleeved t-shirt won't help any."
"He's fine, Lacey," Cameron said, knowing Damien didn't want to have to wear the jacket. Once they were in the garage, Cameron looked down at the keys in her hand. Paul kept the key to his black Lamborghini Gallardo convertible on the same key ring as his truck. She knew which one she wanted her to take but he was being mean to her boyfriend...
"Which car?" Damien asked as Cameron.
"The Lambo," she said, going over to it. Damien frowned.
"If you're sure."
"So sure."
Thanksgiving
"No one's here this year. Not even Tyler," Ella commented.
"Hello, I'm here," Nudge commented.
"You live here now, that doesn't count."
I sighed, running a hand on Cody's head. I was so bored and tired. Fang walked into the room, not looking so good either. He was in an extremely bad mood today. I had already been yelled at four times and it was only twelve. Now we were at Mom's though and he wouldn't say anything bad to me.
"Tired?" Mom asked him as he got a soda.
"Yeah," he mumbled, going over to me. "I need to talk to you."
"Right now?"
I could see him about to say something snarky but bite his tongue. "Yeah."
Nudge had Amber in her lap so I gave Cody to Ella before following him outback.
"I need you to talk to Tabitha for me," he said, cutting to the chase.
"Why?"
"She thinks that I'm mean to you or something. That I treat you bad."
"You do treat me bad."
His eyes darkened. "Look Max, you're going to talk to her."
"No, I'm not."
"Why fucking not?"
"Tabitha thinks that I don't love her as much as her brothers and you don't do a damn thing about that."
"Maybe if you loved equally I wouldn't have to."
"And maybe if you treated me right I wouldn't have to-"
"Shut the fuck up," he said, getting in my face.
I was so over him. "What are you going to do, Fang? Hit me? Come on, do it. You know you're not a man, right? Bone's more of a man than you. Luther left his family and he's a bigger one than you. Hell, Carlos is a whiny bitch and he's-"
"I won't hut you, bitch. I wouldn't give you that satisfaction."
"Please. You just know that I'd kick your ass."
"Hardly."
"Come on then," I said, pushing him. "Go ahead, hit me. Come on, Fang."
He grabbed my hands. "Stop it, stupid."
"No!"
He let me go before going back into the house. I opened my wings and went flying. Straight to a bar.
With the girls inside, it was the perfect time for Paul to get to know Damien.
"You like wrestling, eh?"
Damien held in his groan. He had gone outside to be alone, not interrogated. "Yeah."
Paul jumped him. Surprised, it was easy for Damien to be taken to the ground.
"Hey, get off of me!"
"Nope. Come on, thought you were into wrestling? So fake you haven't even picked up anything from it?"
"Just leave me alone," Damien said, trying to push the other man off him. Trent, who came outside to smoke, took one look at them before moving further down the patio and pulling out his cigarettes.
"Damien," Cameron started, coming out of the house. "I wanted to know if you- Hey! Get off him!"
Paul let his sister pull him off. "What?"
Cameron helped Damien up. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," he said, walking back into the house.
"Why would you do that?" Cameron asked, glaring at her oldest brother.
"We were playing. He likes wrestling right?"
Cameron looked at Trent. "You were just going to let him do that?"
The divorced man took a long suck on his smoke before blowing the smoke towards her. "My wife left me and you give her room and board. Why should I ever help you again, bitch?"
"Hey, you shut your mouth," Paul said, suddenly turning dark. "I'll kick your ass out of her fast than your wife did."
Cameron went back inside to comfort Damien. She found him in the guestroom.
"Are you okay, baby?" She asked.
"What? You think he hurt me? Please."
Cameron kissed his head. "He won't do it again, I promise."
"Yeah, whatever."
"You know you lucked out this year. My dad and his wife are in Europe."
"What about your step dad?"
"Paul hates him. You'll probably only see him if he comes to visit me," Cameron told him, getting into bed with him. "You're freezing, Damien. Just wear that stupid jacket."
"No."
She rolled her eyes.
I had a horrible headache.
"What's drunk?"
"Shut up and get out of here," I heard Fang say. "I told you to stay out of here, Tabitha."
"Is Max sick?"
"No, now leave."
I groaned, pulling the covers up around me more. After Tabitha was gone, Fang asked, "You up?"
"Yeah."
He moved closer to the bed. In a dark tone he said, "Don't you dare come into my house at two in the morning drunk again."
I closed my eyes. "It wasn't the plan."
"Why did you call him?"
"What?"
"Bone. He brought you home. Did you sleep with him?"
"Yeah Fang, and then I had him take me back here."
"I don't find you funny."
"Fang can we talk later?"
He walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. I hadn't meant to get drunk. I meant to have one beer to show Fang that he has no control over me. Turns out I don't even have control over me. One turned into two, two turned into three and so on. I called Bone to pick me up because I knew Fang would kill me.
"Max?"
I groaned. "Not now."
Tyler closed the bedroom door softly before coming to crawl into bed with me. "Do I need to take care of you? I'll rub your tummy."
"No, baby," I said. "Go play."
"I wanna be with you, Mama."
I felt him curl against my side. I shook my head. "How was Alex's?"
"Fun."
"That's good."
"Are you dying?" Tyler asked, fear in his voice. "You said that old people lock themselves in their rooms and then die. I don't want you to die."
"I'm not, silly. And I'm not old, Tyler."
"Yes you are."
"No, you're just young."
"If you say so."
I kissed his head. "I have a headache, Tyler. Go away."
"No," he said, cuddling into me even more. "I want to be with you. I love you and have to take care of you."
"Ooh, you do?"
"Yes," Tyler said with dedication in his voice. "You're my mom and I have to make sure that you're alright."
I rolled my eyes before closing them. "Well right now I would feel so much better if I knew you were off having fun."
"I am having fun."
"You are not," I said.
"Am to! I love being with you, Max."
"Not as much as Alex though."
He was silent. If I was so hung over, I would care. But I was so I didn't.
:Drinking's bad," Tabitha told her father.
"Yeah," he agreed.
"Then why would Max do it?"
"It's only bad in large quantities."
"Why would Max drink a lot then?" She asked. They were making lunch. "Was it because you don't love her?"
Fang took a deep breath. "Who ever said that I don't love Max?"
"Tommy's dad doesn't love his mom and his dad called her bad words."
"You and Tyler need to stop referencing me to Trent. I'm nothing like him. I love Max with all my heart."
Tabitha needed more assurance. "Like Cinderella and Prince Charming?"
"Yes."
"Aladdin and Jasmine?"
"Yeah, Tabs."
"Like…" she had to pause, thinking of the biggest love she ever heard of. "Heidi and Spencer?"
"Who?"
"I don't know. They're on TV."
"Yeah, sure."
Content, she skipped off, leaving Fang to finish lunch alone. He sighed. How could Max go out and drink again? She didn't think that this was going to be the new thing, did she? Because if she did, he was going to leave her. Yep. Leave her.
"Hi," Lucas said from the floor, wanting his father to remember his presence. "Daddy!"
Fang looked down at him. No, he wouldn't leave Max. He'd help Max. What choice did he have? He was horrible to her and she stuck by him. There's no way he could leave her.
"Hi buddy," Fang said back. "Are you hungry? Huh? Dinner's almost ready."
Lucas crawled over and patter Fang's foot. "Mommy?"
"She's sleeping. She'll come eat with us, I bet."
Lucas ran a hand down his father's jeans. They felt funny. Lucas giggled at the feeling. Fang smiled at him again.
"You're so smart, huh buddy? Say yes. Can you say that?"
"Yes!"
"Good baby. I love you."
Lucas giggled. He loved being praised. He was, after all, the smartest bestest baby in the world. Or at least that's what his Daddy told him.
Next chapter is the last one.
