Read Online My House, My Rules by Constance Masters - Free Book Online

hurt.”
    “Okay, then,” Kelly said.
    “See you soon, Alex!” Jay called through the fence.
    Again there was a blonde head peaking over the top of the fence. “Hi, Thom! Hi, Aaron!” Kelly said.
    “Hi, Aunt Kelly!” they chorused.
    “Is Uncle Rick coming?” Thom asked.
    “Later. After his shift,” Kelly said.
    “Yay!” Aaron said.
     
    * * *
     
    “How'd you get here so quickly?” Alex asked sliding open the screen door.
    “I told you I didn't have anything to do,” Kelly said. “I did everything I had to do this morning after Rick left. He. Is. Hot !”
    “You think?” Alex asked coyly.
    “Seems nice too. A little bossy,” Kelly said looking around at the familiar mess. “You could clean you know.”
    “Yeah,” Alex said with a shrug. “I just forget.”
    “That's not really a reason,” Kelly said. “Rick would not be happy if I let things get this bad. Not if I was at home all day.”
    “I just forget.”
    “How can you forget? It's right here in front of you.”
    “Okay, little Miss Perfect!” Alex said giving her sister a shove. “I'm the big sister remember?”
    “Not so's you'd notice,” Kelly said with a grin. “Forget it for a while. Tell me about your hunk next door.”
     
    * * *
     
    “Your Aunt Kelly seems nice,” Jay said, taking a bite of his sandwich.
    “Yep, she is,” Thom said. “So's Uncle Steve.”
    “He's a bit mean sometimes,” Aaron said. “But he's still nice, mostly.”
    “Oh?” Jay asked. “Mean how?”
    “He makes us do stuff,” Aaron grumbled.
    “Like what sort of stuff?” Jay asked with a frown.
    “Like pick up our stuff and put them back in places.”
    “Ohh. All that terrible stuff,” Jay said with a smile.
    “He's okay, Aaron,” Thom said. “They just like their house neat is all. Mom said they're anal.”
    “Really,” Jay said. So she thinks keeping your house tidy is anal… still a strange thing to say about your sister to a child. “Did she say that to you?”
    “Well, no,” Thom said sheepishly. “She said it to Grandma.”
    “Then you shouldn't have been listening,” Jay said seriously. “You don't repeat everything you hear an adult say, and you definitely don't eavesdrop on conversations.”
    “Okay,” Thom said.
    “Can we swim yet?” Aaron asked. “Please, Jay?”
    Jay had never heard a better idea. It was hot. “Yep,” he said.
    Both boys jumped up and did bombs into the pool, wetting everything in their midst.
    “So that’s how it's gonna be,” Jay said, following them with a giant leap.
     
    * * *
     
    “Well,” Kelly said. “That's something to think about, I guess.”
    “You don't seem shocked,” Alex said.
    “It takes all kinds, Al. I mean, I would never urge you into an abusive relationship, but I don't think that's what you’re talking about here, is it?”
    “No,” Alex said shaking her head. “I mean, this is crazy, I know. I only met the guy yesterday.”
    “But you really like him, don't you?”
    “Yeah, I do,” Alex said. “He's bossy and sweet, and he's good with the boys, and he cooks… but he is bossy. Did I say that?”
    “Uh huh. Twice,” Kelly giggled. “I've never seen you like this.”
    “I was once.”
    Kelly put her hand on her sister's knee. “Don't go there hon. He's gone. Time to move on. If not with this guy, then with someone.”
    Alex nodded. “I know. I feel it too.”
    “Those boys could do with a man in their life.”
    “I know that too.”
    “You're too soft.”
    “Okay, okay. What are you, my keeper?”
    “Well, I used to think it was my role to remind you what your job was,” Kelly said with a giant smile. “But I think someone just took mine .”
    “Maybe,” Alex said. “We'll see. Got to find something to wear tonight.”
    “Hmm,” Kelly said. “You should shave your legs too, honey.”
    “Done.”
    “Done? Wow, you do like him,” Kelly said. “How about your girlie parts, did you give them a trim?”
    “Yeah. Geez. I tried to shave a