Tangled Up In You (A Savioe Family Novel) (5 page)

I looked over to where Jess was slowly making her way down the steps. I quickly told him my number. He smiled up at me and got out of the car with the first aid kit in his hand. “Bye, chèr.”

“Bye, Luke.” I gave him a quick smile back and then removed my bag from behind me. I noticed his shirt was still on the console. When I looked back up to tell him he was already on his bike, helmet on and driving away. I quickly shoved the shirt in my bag and started the car.

Jess plopped in the seat and gave me a strange look. “Who was that and why is my seat pushed so far back?”

I took a deep breath as she adjusted the seat back to where she had it and admitted to her. “That was Luke. He and his brothers noticed I was sitting out here and decided to keep me company.”

“All I saw was the bike. Where was the truck?” She asked putting her seatbelt on.

“They left a minute or two before you stepped out. Beau had to drop off Charles before going to work. Luke saw you walking out a second ago and left then.” I lied. Again. I so do not need her telling anyone anything.

“Cool. So are they going to be hanging with us now? If so, I really need to get my hair done and some new clothes. I want to at least appear somewhat presentable.” She wiggled her eyebrows as we pulled away from the school.

“I don’t know. We’ll see.” I bit my lip for a second before I said. “I might want to get a few new outfits as well.”

“AH-HA! I knew it you do have a crush. Which one is it Mr. Babyface Charles or Mr. Stone Cold Serious Beau or the dreamy blue eyed god Luke?”

“Blue eyed god
? Are you hearing yourself?” I laughed shaking my head at her.

             
                                          *****

Luke

When I got home twenty minutes
later, Beau and Charles were waiting for me outside. They both noticed that I had on a different shirt. I walked my bike into the garage and placed my helmet on the workbench. They followed me inside. Charles jumped up and sat on the workbench. Beau leaned against the garage door.

“So care to explain the shirt?” Beau asked face blank of all expression.

“She scratched her wrist really bad. I cleaned it off and used my shirt to soak up the water so it didn’t get on her upholstery. I guess I must have left it in her car when Jess came out of the school.” I pulled out the first aid kit and emptied out the trash from the band-aid and alcohol wipe.

“So how did she hurt herself?” Charles asked in obvious concern.

My heart faltered in memory of it. I took a deep breath then released it before telling them. “I couldn’t find the lever to adjust the seat back. Before I could get out of the car to find it and move it back. She just climbed over the console and stuck her hand between my feet to move it. Her bracelet got stuck. When she noticed exactly where her head was, she got embarrassed and jerked back scratching her arm in the process.” I replenished the missing supplies and put the first aid kit back in the saddlebag.

Charles jumped down walked around the bike and whispered something to Beau. Beau silently chuckled shook his head and went inside
the house. I narrowed my eyes at Charles. “What?”

“I bet you really didn’t mind her head there. I know I wouldn’t.” He smi
rked at me before running in the house.

I growled at him and followed him in the house. “Get back here you little shit!”

He gave me a shit-eating grin indicating that mom was home and just heard me swear in her house. I groaned when I heard her yell. “Lucien Gabriel Christophe Savioe did you just use foul language in my house!”

“Yes ma’am. I’m sorry. It will not happen again.” I narrowed my gaze and mouthed the words
‘you are fucking dead’
to him.

“It better not young man. You know I don’t tolerate crass behavior in mixed company. Now come in the kitchen and tell me how your day went since you came home so late.” She ordered from the kitchen.

I hung my head in frustration and slowly made my way to the kitchen. My mother stood next to the sink washing off a few vegetables. She was in her late-thirties with the same dark hair and blue eyes as me. Although she was so old, she had little to no wrinkles on her face. She always joked saying that was because the fat filled them out. Not that she is obese in any way just chunky, probably from having six kids. I walked up beside her gave her a kiss on her head and sat at the center island. That was when I realized that she was the same height as Roxy.
How could I have missed that?

“So why were you late?” She asked her back still toward me.

“I stayed to keep someone company so she didn’t have to sit by herself waiting for her friend to get out of detention.” I picked up a washed and skinned carrot and took a bite.

“A her? Does this mean you are going to get rid of t
hat girl you have been dating?”

“I don’t know, Momma. That all depends on if she likes me and if Charles and Beau stay away from her long enough for me to find out.” I admitted taking another bite out of the carrot.

“Oh. That why you tried to chase him through my house calling him that?” She turned around with more vegetables and a knife in hand. She handed me the knife, nodded for me to stop eating them and start cutting them up.

“Something like that. Diced or slices?”
I quickly washed my hands before taking the knife from her.

“It doesn’t matter. So what does this girl look like?” She asked drying her hands on a
dishtowel.

Charles poked his head in the doorway. “I have a video of her putting Christie in her place if you want to see it, Momma.”

Her eyes widened in amusement. “I’d love to see that, Boo. Bring it on over here.”

Charles hurried into the kitchen with his cell phone in hand. He already had the video cued up. “Christie had just told her that she needed to stay away from him and that there was no way he’d be interested in Roxy.” He pressed play and I heard that soft smoky voice of hers twisted in anger echo in the room.
“Who the hell do you think you are coming up to me and getting in my face? I don’t like your boyfriend. I know he doesn’t like me. Are you that insecure that you have to scare off any girl he talks to in a friendly manner? You don’t know the first thing about me. I might be small but I will not hesitate to wipe that smug grin off that mess you call a face.”

I closed my eyes and swallowed the lump in my throat when I heard her say she didn’t like me. My mother noticed my expression and patted my hand. “I’m sure she was just saying that to keep that cooyon from attacking her further. She’s a beautiful young thing. So tiny though. ”

“Christie is not that much of a fool, Momma. Roxy is very pretty and she’s the same height as you.” I admitted chopping up the celery.

Charles looked Momma over and let out a snort. “He’s right. She is your height.”

“Who’s what height?” Marie asked limping into the kitchen.

“Luke’s crush is the same height as Momma.” Charles held up his phone to her and explained what had happened before hitting play once again.

“You like her! Luke she’s the one that made me sprain my ankle and get me suspended.” Marie cried out.

“Why did that happen, Marie? Did you not try to shove her best friend into a locker and ignore her telling you to quit. She was not the one to turn you in by the way the vice principal’s kid did that.” I explained watching her face turn a shade of red before she turned her head.

“It is cool that she went off on the witch. Wish I was allowed to do that.” Marie mumbled and hobbled over to the other stool. Charles handed her a knife and she helped me cut up the vegetables.

“She’s also an artist. She wants to sketch Beau because… and I am repeating her words… his eyes are so beautiful.” Charles chuckled watching me narrow m
y eyes at him again.

“She does landscapes too. She is currently working on a scene of the bayou for me.” I picked up the green peppers and cut them into strips before dicing them. “It looks almost like Grand-mère’s backyard minus the tire swing.”

Marie looked over at me in a state of shock. “She’s giving you one of her sketches?”

Momma smiled at us. “She sounds nice. You should invite her over one day.”

“Tomorrow okay?” I asked her giving her the best puppy dog eyes I could manage without busting out laughing.

“If that’s what you want. Just let me know a few hours before dinner so I can make enough for everyone.” Momma shook her head and chuckled at me.

“I thought you had a date with Christie tomorrow night?” Charles frowned at me.

“I’ll cancel it if Roxy can come over.” I placed the knife in the sink and walked up to my room.

                                                        *****

             
             
Chapter Five

Roxy

Later that night just as I had finished coloring in the cypress to my standards my phone buzzed. I looked over at the time. Eleven thirty three. Who could be texting me this late? I picked up my phone and looked at the message.

Unknown number: This is Luke. Want 2 come 2 dinner 2morrow?

I released the breath I had been holding, saved his number in my contacts and texted back.

Me: About what time and what’s on the menu?

I waited a few moments wondering if I should have just said yes and left it at that. My phone buzzed again.

Luke: We eat round 4:30 and whatever mom cooks.

Me: Cool! Home cooked meal? I am so there
.


Luke: LOL. Do you wanna come by earlier?

Me: Um…. Sure. Say 2ish?

Luke: Sounds great.

Me: One thing.

Luke: Yes?

Me: Where do you live?

Luke: LOL. I knew I forgot something. Do you know where the old Phillips greenhouse is?

Me: Yeah I do.

Luke: I’ll meet you there at 2 2morrow and you can follow me. Otherwise you’ll get lost with my directions.

Me: Okey dokey artichokey.

Luke: LOL C-ya then.

Me: Laters.

I put my phone down and looked at my reflection. What should I wear? Hmm. I guess that will depend on the weather. I rushed over to my laptop and pulled up the forecast for tomorrow, partly cloudy with the highs in the mid 70’s. I’ll wear shorts then and some sort of t-shirt.

                                                        *****

The next morning I rolled out of bed around nine. After I grabbed a quick shower and scrubbed the funky morning breath from my
mouth, I sat down at my desk quickly sketching out Luke. I captured him in my car shirtless with his head bent down looking at my wrist. I glanced at the clock and groaned it was only ten fifteen now. I sighed stood up and walked over to my closet.

My mom walked into my room in search of me. “What are you doing in your closet, Sweetie?”

“I’m looking for that old picture frame. I just finished up a picture of a swamp for someone and wanted to put it in something nice before I give it to them.” I shouted over my shoulder continuing my search through a plastic tub of old sketches and paintings before I found the plain silver frame.

As I walked out of the
closet, I noticed my mother standing at my desk looking at my rendering of shirtless Luke. I ran over to her and snatched the pad out of her hands. “Mom! That book is private.”

“He’s a little hottie, Roxanne.” She smiled at me. “Is he your boyfriend?”

“No. Just a friend.” Taking the cypress out of the pad and placing it on the desk, I closed the pad and placed it in my messenger bag. My mom just shrugged and sat on my bed. I unlatched the closures on the back of the picture frame and removed the old childish drawings of butterflies and flowers. Carefully, I placed the cypress in the frame and put the back of it back on the frame securing the closure.

“Why isn’t he your boyfriend?” My mother asked as she got off
the bed and walked to my closet.

“He already has a girlfriend, Mom
. Oh and I won’t be here for dinner. I’m going over to his house for it as payment for the picture.” I wrapped the frame with tissue paper before putting it in a leftover gift bag of mine from my birthday.

“So what are you going to wear?” Her voice ec
hoed out of the walk-in closet.

“I was just thinking about shorts and a t-shir
t. Just something comfortable.”

“When do you have to be there?” She asked walking out of my closet with a look of disappointment on her ageless face. Even though she was in her
forties, she still could pass for late twenties. I would kill to have her height. She stood at 5’9 maybe 130 lbs. soaking wet.

I sighed. “I’m meeting him at
two at the old Phillips greenhouse so he can show me how to get to his house.”

“Okay, that gives us two and half hours to go shopping and get you something perfect.” She giddily clasped her hands in front of her. “Grab your purse we are off to the mall.”

                                                        *****

After spending all morning with my mother
shopping, I felt happy for once over my choices in attire. She helped me pick out a few pairs of shorts that didn’t make my legs look shorter than they really were and they fit my butt perfectly. She also suggested a few pairs of capris, skirts, a dress and a ton of different shirts. With the bags placed on my bed, I scrambled to find the right outfit. I didn’t want to look too skanky as mom says or too nonchalant. I needed to just be me. I settled on a pair of black shorts with tiny embroidered stars on the hem and a white v-neck fitted t-shirt. Only left, to put on were my shoes. I decided on a simple sandal and placed a pair of socks and sneakers in my messenger bag just in case.

Mom stood at the door
with a smile on her face. “Oh Sweetie, you look so pretty. Just keep your hair down. Hmm… I’ll relent on the makeup this one time. But I have to put it on you.”

“Thank you mom!” I exclaimed as she headed to grab her makeup case. I really didn’t want to tell her I alread
y had some.

She came back in with her black case and opened it. She applied a light primer over my eyelids before emphasizing my green eyes with shades of dark green topping everything off with a small bit of
eyeliner to enhance the almond shape and a pop of mascara. She handed me a strawberry red lip-gloss. I applied the gloss and smiled at my reflection.

“You had better leave the house before your father sees you or he’ll make you stay at home tonight looking like that.” She gave me a tearful smile and a hug.

“Thanks, mom. I’ll call when I’m on my way home.” I hugged her back, grabbed my bags and headed to my car. It was only one fifteen but I didn’t want to be late.

             
                                          *****

Luke

I pulled into the parking lot at Phillips greenhouse at one o’clock. I shut off my bike and leaned back pulling out my phone from my pocket. Christie had already called three times today and texted fifteen. With a
grimace, I decided to answer one of her texts.

Me: Have to cancel 2nite. Mom wants family time.

I held the phone in hand knowing she’d reply or call as soon as she read that. Sure enough, she called. I tapped answer on the touch screen. “Hello.”

“What do you mean you have to cancel? We had this night planned out for weeks now.” She whined at me.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “I’ve already told you why. Mom wants family night.”

“But, Lukie…” I cringed when she used her pet name for me. “What am I going to do now?”

“Hang out with your friends.” I suggested.

“They already have plans with their boyfriends.” I could almost see her sticking out her bottom lip in a pout. “Can’t you just hang out with your family any day of the week?”

“This is the first weekend all of us have had off at the same time and mom requested we all be here. You know I don’t like to disappoint my mother.”

“What about disappointing me? I already have my dress picked out, the reservations are already set and I was thinking about us possibly getting a room for tonight.” Like I am really going to fall for that line again, every time I try to reschedule or break a date she always hinted around at getting a room so we could be alone for the night. She never followed through t
hough. A consummate dick tease.

“I’m sorry, Christie. Family comes first.” I hung up the phone and placed it back in my pocket. The phone immediately rang. I pulled it out and swiped ignore. She tried to call again. I hit ignore once again. Hopefully she’ll take a hint. I glanced down at the time I still had
thirty-five minutes before Roxy showed up.

I got off my bike and walked around. I haven’t been this nervous since my first day of school here. It’s not
as if I don’t see her every day at school. Why should today be any different? Because she is coming up to the house and meeting the entire family. Not even Christie has set foot at the house before and she definitely hasn’t met the twins or dad. Why did I set this up? That’s right. I wanted to spend more time with her outside of school.

The sound of tires on gravel drew my attention to the entrance of the parking lot. I glanced back at my phone one thirty five. She’s early. I smiled when
she spotted me and drove over.

“Hey. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one early.” She giggled resting her arm on the rolled down window. Her eyes covered by a pair of oversized sunglasses.

I walked over to her door and leaned down. “Now’s the chance for you to change your mind. Everyone is home right now and it can be a bit of a mad house.”

She smiled up at me. “I am not one to turn down a home cooked meal no matter the surroundings.”

I shrugged, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll take it a bit slow so you can get a feel for the area. That way in case you want to make your escape, you can do it as quickly as possible.”

She laughed and bit her bottom lip. “Lead the way, Luke.”

I hopped on my bike and started it. Fastening the helmet, I nodded to her and took off. When we first moved up here, we crammed ourselves into a tiny three-bedroom apartment in town until my parents could find a house big enough for everyone. When this place went on the market as a foreclosure after the local factory shut down and people had to downsize their belongings. My parents jumped at the opportunity. They purchased it at a fraction of what it was really worth and moved us kids in days after everything was finalized. It is a simple three-story house with a three-car garage with a large kitchen and dining room. That was a must for mom. The upstairs has the bedrooms the master bedroom is right at the top of the steps. A must for dad to make sure we didn’t sneak out in the middle of the night. The rest of the second floor has Marie’s, the twins and Charles’s rooms. The third, which was originally the attic, is where my room is and Beau made a small apartment above the garage. This is the first time all of us besides the twins have ever had a room to ourselves.

The twins, Dev and Remi, were a surprise to everyone. They are currently six but they think they are sixteen and damn are they a terror. When they get along is when we all worry. Today, they are the best of friends. So Roxy is
going to be in for a treat.

I pulled up to our gate and entered the code to get in. That was another
necessity for dad in his line of work he wanted to make sure some of his clients never had the chance to get close to his family. Before I drove through I glanced back to see if Roxy was still behind me. She sat in her car mouth agape before she realized I was looking and quickly shut it. I pulled up to the garage, walked my bike inside and quickly removed my helmet in a rush to get back out to her.

When I exited the garage
door, Beau and Charles were already outside talking to Roxy. She had her bag flung over her shoulder and was carrying a small gift bag in the other hand. Her dark hair was down flowing around her shoulders. Her sunglasses still rested on her face obscuring those mossy eyes. She was wearing a white t-shirt that looked to be a size too small for her and really showed off her ample cleavage. Her shorts showed off a tantalizing amount of leg. Yeah, today is really going to test my patience and my self-control.

The twins burst out of the front door and ran toward them. With a
groan, I jogged over to try to intercept the twin tornadoes of destruction only to miss them by a few seconds.

“Hi. Who are you?”
Remi asked looking up at Roxy.

She smiled took off her sunglasses and squatted down to meet his eye level. “I’m just a friend of your brothers. My name is Roxy. What’s yours?”

He stood there his dark head tilted to the right before giving her a big grin. “I’m Remi. That’s my brother Dev hiding behind Beau. Gawd, you’re really pretty. Want to be my girlfriend?”

She smiled at him and touched his cheek with her empty hand. “That wouldn’t be fair to all the other girls.”

“You’re right I need to keep my options open.” He gave her a hug and took off running back into the house.

Dev, the shyer of the two, peeked out from around Beau’s leg and whispered before following his twin in the house. “She is pretty.”

Roxy stood up and placed her sunglasses on the top of her head. “I bet they are a handful.”

Charles rolled his eyes as Beau said, “You have no idea.”

I walked up behind her. “Here let me help you with your bag.”

She smiled and gave me her messenger bag
. “Thanks. You have a beautiful house.” Her fingers twitched a bit like she was trying to draw it.

“Momma would love to hear that. Why don’t we head inside so she can meet Roxy?” Charles suggested looking up at the living room blinds moving.