CHAPTER NINETEEN
"Alright, keep hold of your damn horses!" Shawn bellowed out the following Saturday afternoon, staring at his friends who were busy annoying the hell out of him. They had set up for the barbecue down by the pond in order to swim, the light breeze cooling those who didn't trust the water to be snake free. "Stephanie, you sure that stuff is edible?" He asked hesitantly, watching as she set a bowl of something down on the table, remembering her last attempt at cooking.
"Of course my food is edible, you moron!"
Paul winced, staring down into the dish, wondering just what the hell kind of salad it was supposed to be.
"Course it is, I supervised." Raine joked, setting down a dish of deviled eggs on the table. "Glenn, hands of my apple pie or I'll kick yer ass."
"Aww hell!" Glenn grunted, smirking when she turned around and swiped one, popping it in his mouth. When she glanced back at him, he grinned. "What?"
"Boy, didn't your momma ever teach you any manners?" Mark snorted, shaking his head. "Raine, darlin', ya might want to beat his ass for that."
"I'm fixin' too." Raine scowled, launching herself at the now laughing Glenn. "Keep your hands outta the food till everythin' is ready!" She exclaimed, slapping him upside his head, growling when he just kept laughing at her. Finally, she sat astride his chest and planted her boots alongside his head. She was wearing a pair of 'cowboy' boots with the pointed toe, watching with a smirk as his head turned to study them. "Honey, I'm fixin' to kick you with this. Not that it'll give YOU brain damage, but that's your warnin'."
"Come on sugar, I was just wanting a taste of your pie." Glenn smirked when her jaw dropped. Laughing, he rolled Raine onto her back, pinning her arms over her head with one hand and used the other to start tickling her. "Now what was that about brain damage, huh?"
Stephanie was giggling as she watched them, nearly dropping a cheesecake. "Those two are weird."
Mark just nodded, busy watching as Raine's white tank top rode up her waist. The cut off denim shorts she wore didn't help his voyeuristic issues either. "Hey Glenn, need any help with that?" He drawled teasingly.
Raine began shrieking when Glenn just nodded, laughing so hard her heart was going to burst, groaning when Mark joined in the assault. It was a good thing she wasn't claustrophobic because they were both looming over her like massive walls.
"What the hell are you two doin' to her?"
"Givin' me ideas for a threesome."
Beer flew out of Shawn's nose, instantly regretting asking.
Now Stephanie was rolling on the grass while Shawn cursed and held his nose. "Paul, no!" She squealed when he began tickling her next. "Raine, help!"
"Rai's a little busy at the moment with her threesome, Steph." Mark called out, chuckling when Shawn again cursed, more beer flying. "Ya surrender, darlin'?"
"Yeah, surrender to the brothers of destruction and we MIGHT let you go." Glenn added.
"Define surrender!" Raine giggled, trying to kick them away, going red in the face.
Shawn waded into the mess, his nose still stinging and his own face red. "Alright, no more sexually assaultin' my kid." He grumbled teasingly. "She can't even breathe."
Raine inhaled a deep breath of air when they paused. "Shawn, I was likin' being sexually assaulted though!"
He smacked his forehead. "Where did I go wrong?'
Apparently everywhere." Paul snorted, groaning when Stephanie slapped him upside the head. "Ooo baby, you know I love it rough." He growled playfully, attacking her neck.
"Paul!"
Mark was busy with Raine though, more interested in what she had said. "So you like bein' assaulted, eh?" He murmured in her ear.
"Mark, I'm gonna show you the meanin' of assault in a minute!"
"Shawn, your daughter is kinky!" Glenn shouted over his shoulder.
"I didn't need to know that, Glenn." Shawn said dryly, cracking open another beer, this time watching them all carefully so he didn't wind up snorting anything. Though he did look at the three when he heard Glenn gasp, followed by Mark. Both men were red and Raine was getting to her feet looking way to pleased with herself. "I'm not askin'."
"Well I ain't telling. Them ribs about done?"
Mark cleared his throat gruffly, exchanging looks with Glenn as they stood up, both men shooting Raine devious looks.
She just smiled and sat down at the table.
Paul watched as Mark dropped down across from her, Glenn at her side and shook his head. "God I HATE it when you do that, Mark." He groaned.
"Do what?"
"Look like the cat that just ate the canary."
"Mmm, delicious."
Raine flashed Stephanie a sweet smile. "I don't think he was the one eatin' the canary." She said innocently, sniggering when Shawn groaned. "Pops?"
"I really did not need to be aware that I raised a depraved daughter, Rai." He grunted, walking over to the grill. "Paul, bring me the platter, these bad boys are done."
"Which means burnt."
"Quiet."
Paul snickered, going to join Shawn with said platter.
"Darlin', that's not very nice, teasin' your dad like that." Mark said seriously, trying to hide a smirk.
"It's damn funny is what it is." Raine replied, popping a grape into her mouth, sucking on it for a moent before biting down. "Besides, you can't tell me you didn't have several dirty thoughts when I said and DID what I did." She grinned, laughing when he rolled his eyes.
"Enough." Shawn grunted, setting the ribs down before dropping down on Raine's other side. "Damn honey, it's nice havin' you being you again."
"Smut and all?"
"Well… you were just joking right?"
"About everything but the threesome."
Everyone laughed at the expression on Shawn's face.
"Alright, enough with the smut talk."
"Yeah, we're tryin' to eat in peace." Raine added cheerfully, ignoring the snorts she got. She almost jumped when she felt a leg graze hers, looking across at Mark and raised an eyebrow at his overly innocent expression. Smiling, she leaned across the table to grab a biscuit, brushing against him as he reached for one as well. "Sorry, darlin'."
"Tease." He growled, adverting his eyes to anything but her chest which had been in such a great viewing position. He watched as she settled back down, ignoring the smug grin on her face. "Pass the potato salad."
"You alright man?" Glenn asked with a knowing smirk, knowing full well what was going on and loved it. Raine and Mark would be a stellar couple if they could only get across the friendship line that had been shakily sketched between them. He passed down the bowl, eyeballing it skeptically.
"Tell me what you guys think!" Stephanie beamed, watching as it was passed around, finally helping herself to some as well.
"It's… really good." Shawn lied through his teeth, shooting Raine a look. He thought she'd helped make it damn it!
"I lied." She murmured, watching out of the corner of her eye as Mark slid his serving off his plate and onto the grass under the table. "Done so soon, Mark? Damn you must love it! Here." She ladled even more on his plate, aware Stephanie was smiling at them. "Have some more, honey."
Paul could only shake his head as Mark took a reluctant bite.
Glenn choked down the salad, glad he'd taken a miniscule portion.
"I'll have to make it more often." Steph said happily, taking a bite and nearly turned green. Her face scrunched up, turning her head to spit. "YOU ALL LIED!"
"Well at least you know it sucks baby and nobody had to tell you." Paul soothed.
Mark snorted, looking at Raine who was leaning into Shawn, both of them laughing their asses off. "You're an evil wench." He rumbled, devouring the other edible items on his plate.
"Well Steph, at least you know we love you enough to lie to spare your feelin's." Raine soothed, trying not to grin at the look on her friends face.
Shawn shook his head. "Not if it means organ failure."
"Kidneys go first man, trust me."
All she could do was sit back and watch as Stephanie scooped two handfuls of the 'deadly' potato salad and hurled them at both Paul and Shawn.
Mark growled when a cheesecake hit him full force in the face, licking at his lips. Slowly, he removed his now covered shades, tossing them down on the table and stared at Raine, not fooled by the innocent look on her face. "You're done." He snarled, getting up from the table.
Raine wasn't quick enough to move before he was behind her, dragging her off the bench.
"Come on, darlin', let's both wash off." He grinned, tossing her over his shoulder and carting her to the pond.
"Mark, no!" Raine screamed, right before he dived in, both of them going under.
"So much for dinner…" Stephanie sighed.
Paul nodded, trying to wipe potato salad off his nose. Finally he gave up and looked at her, arching an eyebrow when she giggled.
Stephanie's jaw dropped when a pitcher of lemonade was poured over her head.
***
It was near dark when they finally hauled everything back to the house. Mark and Raine were soaking wet from swimming, Raine's boots now resting at the bottom of the pond. She walked directly into Shawn when he skidded to a halt. "Damn it, pops!"
"Rai, you have a visitor." He said coldly.
Frowning, she followed his gaze, eyes widening at the sight of Shane standing beside his car, watching them coolly.
"Dick head." Paul snorted, following Shawn into the house.
"Darlin', you want some-" Mark smiled gently when she shook her head. His eyes met Shane's as he kissed the top of her head, heading inside as well.
Shane studied her, trying not to curl his upper lip in disgust. She looked like a drowned rat, her clothes clinging to her like a second skin. The white tank top hiding nothing underneath. As usual, he himself was perfectly groomed. "My parents said we can have dinner tomorrow night before the show." He said finally. "I gave you what you wanted, now you give me what I want." He held out his hand to her. "Come on, Rai, the planes waiting."
Raine blinked, staring at him incredulously. "What the hell are you talkin' bout Shane?" She demanded, stuffing her hands in her pockets. "You said you were done. Ya didn't call or anything for a week, then you show up outta the blue thinking I'm still gonna be waitin' on your ass?" She snorted, shaking her head. "Ain't happenin'."
"I didn't mean LITERALLY." Shane groaned, not believing how dense this woman could be. "I simply meant I was done trying to control you, I was giving you some space. That's why I haven't called. Jesus, Rai, I love you. Don't you know that?" His brown eyes were full of hurt. "I hate fighting with you and I know I'm trying to change you. Really baby, it's for the best though. I mean look at you." He gestured to her wet clothes. "You don't even look like a lady right now, more like… like a lowdown hick."
She burst out laughing. "Damn straight and proud of it!" She drawled, green eyes sparkling with amusement. "I spent way too many nights cryin' after you fell asleep, wondering why I wasn't enough for ya the way I was. I let you talk me into ALMOST walkin' away form my dream; into acting and dressin' like another person. I'm not THAT woman, Shane. I'm simply Raine. I wear blue jeans, I cuss and drink; I wrestle the guys and I'm not changing that for ANYONE. You keep saying you love me when you don't. you love this image of me you got in your mind."
Shane stared at her, his facer growing redder and redder with each word that had come out of her mouth, his hands balling into angry fists. "That's a load of shit and you know it! Your dad poisoned you against me just like he always does! When are you going to stop being daddy's little girl and start making decisions for yourself, Raine? WHEN? You're never going to make a proper woman or wife until you leave daddy's side and you know what? You know what? You're not worth it! You're not worth my time or my effort anymore. So go ahead, be daddy's princess; be a little whore; be whoever you want and fuck your little hick friends with your little hick pussy!" He was positively livid, shaking as he glared at her.
"Better than being your preppy whore!" She laughed, shaking her head. "Go buy yourself a Barbie, Shane. Cause you're lookin' for a woman made of plastic. Now, if you'll excuse me, I got hick friends to go fuck." Waving at him, she skipped up the front steps and into the house.
Shawn was waiting with a .22. "Can I?"
"He called me a lowdown hick who's a whore who fucks hick friends with my hick pussy. Please do."
Shawn stepped out onto the porch. "You got three seconds to get on outta here before I show you the meaning of the word HICK."
Shane was in his car already, backing out of the drive. "SHIT!" He screamed when Shawn fired a round, taking out a headlight.
Mark had heard everything Shane had yelled at Rai, green eyes flashing dangerously as he turned to Stephanie.
"You want a match with him, right?'
"Damn fucking straight."
"Make that a handicap match." Glenn added, cracking his knuckles dangerously.
Paul groaned as Stephanie whipped out her cell phone, seeing the overly cheerful look on her face. "Lord…"