Under Your Skin (13 page)

When a cab showed to take Avery back to his hotel, Norah walked him out. She promised to keep him updated about her plans. He waved as he climbed into the car and Tommy jogged up the steps to her.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. I'm glad you didn't beat him up.”

“I really only wanted to do that the first night you came home.”

She shot him an incredulous look.

“Okay. Maybe a little longer. But you were right. You made your decisions. He didn't do this to you and he was man enough to show up here. I'm assuming he wanted to discuss plans?”

“Yeah. We're good.” She threw her arms around him and hugged him as tightly as she could. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Being here.”

“Anytime, squirt.”

Kai had no idea his mom could be so exhausting. How the hell had Norah done this all week? Every time he turned around, Mom was calling him for something else. He only hoped that by eight she'd be as tired as he was so he could have his biweekly poker game without interruption.

Right now, she sat on the couch reading a book with some news channel droning in the background. This might be his only chance to escape to buy the beer he needed for tonight. He grabbed his keys. “I'm running to the store, Mom. I have some friends coming over.”

“Friends? Like a party?”

“No. We play poker. Don't worry. We'll be in the basement so no one will bother you.”

“Do I get to meet these friends?”

His muscles flinched at the thought. “No.” He didn't offer any other explanation, including the fact that she already knew—and hated—most of the guys that were coming.

Before she could bitch or ask anything else, he rushed out the door. He couldn't wait for her knee to return to normal so he could have his house and his life back. At the store, he grabbed a case of beer and as he cut through the next aisle, he noticed the yogurt display. He knew Norah had finished the few containers she'd left at his house. He tried to remember what she liked. Something gross. Then he remembered the green label. Lime. He scanned the shelf and stacked cups on top of the case of beer before moving carefully to the checkout.

The cashier glanced at his purchase and smiled. “Interesting blend. Lime yogurt and beer.”

He handed her cash and grabbed the bag with the yogurt and his beer and left. Back in his car, he had no desire to go back home. How long could he sit parked before his mom started calling him?

He was being selfish and he knew it. On the way home, he stopped to pick up dinner. Although he handled most of the same things Norah had done for his mom all week, including a slow-as-hell walk a few houses down, he wasn't going to cook dinner. Chicken in a bucket would be fine.

Juggling the bag, the bucket of chicken, and his beer, he nudged the car door closed and stomped up the stairs. “Hey, Mom. I brought dinner,” he called as soon as he cleared the door.

He turned the corner and saw his mom standing, leaning against the chair, gripping tight to the back. Dumping everything on the table, he rushed to her. “What's wrong?”

“I got up to go to the bathroom. I did okay. But then I couldn't get back onto the couch. My leg didn't want to cooperate.”

“How long have you been standing here?” He grabbed her elbow and felt the tremble.

“Not too long. I knew you'd be back soon. The store is like a repellent for you.”

He didn't believe her for a minute, but let her have the lie. He eased her back to the couch. “You okay now?”

She released a deep breath. “I'm fine.” Then her gaze landed on the table. “What'd you buy?”

“I brought chicken for dinner. Beer for poker.”

“In the bag.” She eyed him like she knew.

“Yogurt for Norah.”

“Hmmm.”

“Don't hmmm me. I was at the store. I remembered there wasn't any in the fridge. If the only perk she gets for spending her entire day with you is disgusting lime yogurt, it's the least I could provide.”

“Of course. I think it's nice you think of her on her day off is all.”

For Christ's sake. He grabbed the bag of yogurt and pointed at her. “Do not try any of your matchmaking bullshit. Norah has enough going on in her life without you meddling.”

In that moment he realized what his mother had done. He told her not to interfere in order to protect Norah, not himself. Unlike his normal self-centered response. His mom had routinely pushed herself into his life to
fix
it, and he'd always told her to butt out. These women were going to make him crazy. He took the yogurt to the kitchen and shoved the whole bag into the fridge.

It had only been a week. How the fuck had they wheedled their way into his life? His mom, he'd expected. He liked her living with Jaleesa for that reason. The physical separation meant less interference. But he hadn't seen Norah coming. He shouldn't give a fuck. He knew better. But it had only gotten worse since he kissed her. She so openly let him into her life in a way he didn't understand.

And he didn't want to.

Maybe some extra space would be good. He was glad he'd given her the extra day off. She deserved it and if it gave him some distance from her, even better.

He grabbed plates and silverware for dinner and pushed Norah from his mind. Poker night was exactly what he needed to forget about women.

Hours later, his mom was in bed, cell phone beside her in case she needed to reach him, and he was in the basement setting up for poker. Beer cold in the mini-fridge, ashtrays out for cigars or whatever else the guys might smoke, chairs in place, cards ready. He'd already texted the guys and told them to come around back to the basement door, which he'd left propped open.

Rooster was the first to show, bottle of whiskey in hand. “Afraid to let your neighbors see us now? Were they complaining about the thugs you brought to the neighborhood?”

“Yeah, asshole, you're an embarrassment.” They shook hands and Rooster thumped his back.

“Sorry about your mom. She okay?”

“We both know you two can't stand each other, which is why you had to use the back door. She's upstairs.”

“I ain't got no gripe with your mom. She hates me. I get it. History, you know? But I wouldn't wish her any harm.”

Just then, Eric and Carlos came in. “What's with the secret entrance bullshit?”

“My mom is upstairs recovering from surgery.” He didn't say anything else. These were his childhood friends, the guys his mom had done everything she could to keep him from because they were a bad influence. She hadn't been totally wrong, but they were still his friends.

The guys each popped the tops on their beer and opened the chips Eric had brought. Rooster took a swig directly from the whiskey bottle and passed it to Carlos. They settled in to their usual catching up while they waited for Dean. He showed up a few minutes later and the game was ready to begin.

Carlos opened the deck of cards and shuffled as everyone pulled out money. They didn't bother with using chips. Their pot was all cash. With an unlit cigar in his mouth, Carlos asked, “Your mom doing okay?”

“She's getting better, for the most part. It's a long road though.”

“What do you do with her all day? Why not put her in rehab?” Dean asked.

“She refused. I got a girl who comes in and stays with her while I'm at work.”

Rooster laid his cards on the table and leaned forward. “A girl? You holding out on us?”

“I pay her to take care of my mom.”

“What else does the pay cover?”

“Shut the fuck up and play cards.”

Rooster picked up his cards and arranged them in his hand. “When do we get to meet her?”

“Never. Your ugly ass'll scare her away.” He tossed a buck into the center of the table.

“She must be hot if you're trying to keep her all to yourself.”

He knew Rooster was fucking with him and he shouldn't let it bother him, but it did.

“Come on, man. We always used to share.”

Kai ground his teeth together. Shit like that reminded him why he only saw Rooster at the poker game. They ran together for years, but Rooster never moved past teenage stupidity.

“Ante up,” Carlos called, breaking the tension.

Kai's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at it. Mom. “Fuck.” He slammed his cards down. “I'll be right back.”

He went up to help his mom get to the bathroom. Hopefully it would be the last trip for the night. He tucked her back in, made sure her phone was close, and turned off the light. He hadn't even gotten to the stairs when she called him.

“Yeah?”

“Can you get me a glass of water?”

He sighed, but got the water and delivered it to her. “Anything else?”

“I'm good.”

Back in the basement, Dean looked at him when he took his seat. “Problem?”

Kai shook his head. He wouldn't give any of them, especially Rooster, the ammunition to give him shit over taking his mom to the bathroom. Over the next hour, she managed to interrupt two more times before he called her on it.

“No more, Mom. I know you don't do this to Norah.”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

He sighed. “Good night.”

Back at the poker table, where he'd lost every hand and was easily down fifty bucks, he barked at Dean, “Deal.”

“Yes, sir,” Dean mumbled.

Kai stared at the crap hand he'd been dealt. Like his life. He folded quickly, not wanting to lose more money.

Rooster followed and while the rest of the guys played out their hands, Rooster sat at the weight bench and did some curls. “Hey, man. I want to talk about getting some new ink.”

Kai didn't even turn around. “Talk somewhere else. You know I don't do that.”

One rule he'd made for himself after getting out of jail was no more gang affiliation. No jobs, no tattoos, nothing. Rooster was his only connection to the life he left behind. Even the other guys had grown up and left it all.

The weights clunked back into place. “Come on, man. You know I don't roll like that anymore. I want this one for my kids.”

Rooster had three kids with three different baby mamas.

“I want them here.” He tapped his chest right over his heart.

“So go to whoever gave you the rest of your ink.”

“That's bullshit. My money's as good as anyone else's.”

“Anyone who comes to me looking for gang tats is told to hit the road.”

“This is personal. I've always preferred your work. You know that.” He stood and went back to his seat to get ready for the next hand.

Kai wasn't sure how deep Rooster was still into the gang. Kai hadn't been with them long. Not compared to most guys. Long enough to get busted. He and Rooster broke into a house. They had a job to steal the drugs that were there and anything else they could grab was theirs. Kai had been stupid enough to think it would be easy. In and out. The gang had their back. They were going to look out and keep them safe.

It was a lesson learned. Kai did his time and steered clear of the gang after that.

Rooster had stayed on and for a couple of years tried to convince Kai to return. Kai might not have been the smartest kid in the neighborhood, but he knew enough to learn from his fuckups.

“Will you at least draw it for me? I'll have someone else do the work.”

“Maybe.” He drank a gulp of beer and swiped the whiskey from Rooster's side of the table. If he couldn't win at poker, at least he could get a buzz on to salvage his night.

* * *

Norah sat in the not terribly comfortable chair across from Teagan's desk, gripping Jimmy's hand. The baby punched and kicked against the stress Norah felt.

“You okay?”

“No.” She shook her head. What if this went wrong? What if they weren't the right couple?

“Say the word and we'll leave.” With his free hand, he rubbed her arm.

She appreciated the sentiment, but she needed to do this. “I had a good feeling about them when I read their profile. I'm just nervous. What if they don't like me? What if I chose the wrong people?”

“First, I don't know how much it matters whether they like you. Second, this isn't anything binding. It's a meet and greet. You can leave here and never see them again. On the other hand, they might be the parents for your baby.”

Norah leaned her head against Jimmy's shoulder. He always made her feel better. A knock sounded at the door a second before Teagan stuck her head into the room. “Ready for us?”

Norah nodded and released Jimmy's hand. She smoothed her T-shirt over her belly. Teagan swept the door wide and Kim and Trevor entered behind her. Teagan moved behind her desk and sat.

The couple stood awkwardly waiting for Norah to make a move. She stood and shook Trevor's hand. “I'm Norah.” She pointed at Jimmy who now stood beside her. “This is my brother Jimmy.”

Kim moved forward and hugged Norah. In her ear, she whispered, “No matter what happens, thank you for meeting with us.”

Immediately, Norah's nerves settled. They took seats across from Norah and Jimmy. Teagan folded her hands on her desk. “Now that introductions are out of the way, this is your chance to get to know one another. Norah, anything you'd like to say?”

“I don't know where to start.”

Kim leaned forward and patted Norah's knee. “How about anything you want to know about us? Ask anything. I'm an open book.”

Norah laughed. She knew Kim was being serious, but she couldn't help it. “Sorry. I come from a family of guys who aren't open about much and hardly talk. So this is a foreign concept.”

“Funny,” Jimmy mumbled.

“Well, then, I'll start. I'm a teacher. Trevor is a lawyer. We tried having a baby for a few years and then found we're unable. We want an open adoption because we want our child to have as many people care about him or her as possible. I can't imagine how hard this is for you. It takes a lot of courage to do this.”

Norah ignored the remark about bravery because she didn't feel brave. “Lawyers work a lot of crazy hours, don't they?”

Trevor nodded. “Sometimes. But I am home every night and on the weekends. I'm established in my firm so I don't have to take on cases I don't want to. And Kim will take time off to be with the baby.”