sniff her arousal from a mile away. Her damn sister had pushed her onto the figurative ledge and she was definitely considering a jump—one that would either lead to nonstop masturbation or Sky’s bed. Her heart raced as she climbed the stairs, her sweaty palms slick on the railing.
Laughter greeted her and she smiled despite her jangled nerves when she spotted Pop and Sky sitting at the counter eating Dagwood-style sandwiches.
“Hungry?” she asked as both men dug into the subs with enthusiasm. Riley’s head popped up behind them.
“Where the fuck have you been?” her sister asked.
“Riley Collins,” Pop chastised. “You will curb that filthy language or I will get out the soap.”
“Jesus, Pop. I’m twenty-two years old. You can’t wash my mouth out with soap.” 53
Mari Carr
“Riley,” Pop said and Teagan watched her sister nearly bite her tongue off to obey.
Pop was the only person left in the world who managed to retain a small bit of control over her sister.
“Welcome home,” Sky said. “I was about to send out the troops to look for you.”
“It’s Wednesday. Music class at the preschool.” She fought to keep her voice from betraying her anxiety and was proud of her efforts.
“So I recall.”
Pop entered the conversation. “You should have called in sick, Ruby. You and Sky have a lot of work to do for this album. You’ve got your future to think of.”
“My future?” she asked. “I sort of thought I was living my future. You know how much I love teaching music to the kids, Pop.”
“I know that, lassie, but you’ve got an opportunity to really accomplish something with your music. I don’t think it would hurt anything to curb your usual routine for a few weeks. This could mean the big time for you.”
“What if I don’t want the big time, Pop?” She felt the usual tightness that constricted her chest when she considered moving out of this beloved apartment. She loved being home, loved being close to her family.
Her father scoffed at her comment. “Not want to share that talent of yours with the world? Why on earth would you throw away what you’ve been blessed with? I’ve never heard such foolishness. You have a true gift, Ruby. I must confess I’ve often felt guilty about my role in halting your mother’s career.” Sunday had met Patrick Collins when she was singing in a small pub in Ireland.
Pop swore to this day her mother would have been more famous than Madonna if he hadn’t snatched her off the stage to make her a wife and mother. Teagan could remember her mother laughing whenever Pop told the tale, dismissing it as an outright lie, though Teagan knew Sunday had reveled in her husband’s unwavering belief in her talent.
54
Ruby Tuesday
“Your pop and Riley have just been reworking the schedule in the restaurant so we can work on our songs,” Sky said. “They’ve very graciously reassigned your shifts so we can have plenty of quiet time up here. Alone.” Teagan’s heart skipped a beat as she pondered whether he’d really stressed the word alone or she’d just imagined he had. “Oh Pop, I couldn’t do that to you and the others. I refuse to leave you short-handed.”
“Short-handed?” Pop repeated, shaking his head emphatically. “It’s the slow season, Ruby. You know that. Joyce has been complaining about her lack of work hours for weeks. She’ll be delighted to have a chance to pick up some extra pay.” Joyce Bernard was one of the few people not related to the Collins family who worked in the restaurant. She’d been a waitress for them for nearly a decade and she would most certainly like the extended work hours, as her husband had recently been laid off. Keira and Ewan had been working like mad to give Joyce as many hours as they could afford to help keep her family afloat.
“Oh, that’s true.” Teagan struggled to think of some other argument against she and Sky being left alone, but nothing came to her. She’d lost the bet and
Laughter greeted her and she smiled despite her jangled nerves when she spotted Pop and Sky sitting at the counter eating Dagwood-style sandwiches.
“Hungry?” she asked as both men dug into the subs with enthusiasm. Riley’s head popped up behind them.
“Where the fuck have you been?” her sister asked.
“Riley Collins,” Pop chastised. “You will curb that filthy language or I will get out the soap.”
“Jesus, Pop. I’m twenty-two years old. You can’t wash my mouth out with soap.” 53
Mari Carr
“Riley,” Pop said and Teagan watched her sister nearly bite her tongue off to obey.
Pop was the only person left in the world who managed to retain a small bit of control over her sister.
“Welcome home,” Sky said. “I was about to send out the troops to look for you.”
“It’s Wednesday. Music class at the preschool.” She fought to keep her voice from betraying her anxiety and was proud of her efforts.
“So I recall.”
Pop entered the conversation. “You should have called in sick, Ruby. You and Sky have a lot of work to do for this album. You’ve got your future to think of.”
“My future?” she asked. “I sort of thought I was living my future. You know how much I love teaching music to the kids, Pop.”
“I know that, lassie, but you’ve got an opportunity to really accomplish something with your music. I don’t think it would hurt anything to curb your usual routine for a few weeks. This could mean the big time for you.”
“What if I don’t want the big time, Pop?” She felt the usual tightness that constricted her chest when she considered moving out of this beloved apartment. She loved being home, loved being close to her family.
Her father scoffed at her comment. “Not want to share that talent of yours with the world? Why on earth would you throw away what you’ve been blessed with? I’ve never heard such foolishness. You have a true gift, Ruby. I must confess I’ve often felt guilty about my role in halting your mother’s career.” Sunday had met Patrick Collins when she was singing in a small pub in Ireland.
Pop swore to this day her mother would have been more famous than Madonna if he hadn’t snatched her off the stage to make her a wife and mother. Teagan could remember her mother laughing whenever Pop told the tale, dismissing it as an outright lie, though Teagan knew Sunday had reveled in her husband’s unwavering belief in her talent.
54
Ruby Tuesday
“Your pop and Riley have just been reworking the schedule in the restaurant so we can work on our songs,” Sky said. “They’ve very graciously reassigned your shifts so we can have plenty of quiet time up here. Alone.” Teagan’s heart skipped a beat as she pondered whether he’d really stressed the word alone or she’d just imagined he had. “Oh Pop, I couldn’t do that to you and the others. I refuse to leave you short-handed.”
“Short-handed?” Pop repeated, shaking his head emphatically. “It’s the slow season, Ruby. You know that. Joyce has been complaining about her lack of work hours for weeks. She’ll be delighted to have a chance to pick up some extra pay.” Joyce Bernard was one of the few people not related to the Collins family who worked in the restaurant. She’d been a waitress for them for nearly a decade and she would most certainly like the extended work hours, as her husband had recently been laid off. Keira and Ewan had been working like mad to give Joyce as many hours as they could afford to help keep her family afloat.
“Oh, that’s true.” Teagan struggled to think of some other argument against she and Sky being left alone, but nothing came to her. She’d lost the bet and
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