Read Online Strong Reflection: Book 2 of the Dark Series Trilogy by Cate Mckoy - Free Book Online

family.”  She covered his hand on the table with her small wrinkled one.  “I know he worries about being a good man when it comes to his relationships.  I know my son is in love with a woman he’s been fighting his feelings for, for a very long time.”
     
    Kyle’s jaw went slack.  “How…?”
     
    “Come on, Kyle.  I am old, not blind.”
     
    “But, I didn’t do anything to indicate how I felt about Ash… uh, her?”  Kyle gave Sanchez a glance.  He knew the other man couldn’t hear his conversation with his mother over the noise.  Sanchez was having one of his own with his niece and sister.  But, Kyle wanted to be careful of anyone from work finding out about his feelings for Ashley before he was ready to reveal them.
     
    “You were rude to her, insulted her, wrote her up constantly and told her we were not her family.”
     
    “And  that  told you how I feel about her?”
     
    Cheryl shrugged.  “Dear, it’s just a version of that old playground classic of pulling the girl’s ponytail or pushing her down when you like her.”
     
    “Ah, didn’t realize I was so transparent.”
     
    “No one but me noticed.  Nancy thinks you think Ashley is ugly and that you hate her.”
     
    Kyle choked on the swig of beer he just took.  “Ugly?  Is she crazy?”  Kyle gave his sister a bugged-eye look.  She was laughing along with Holly at something Sanchez said.  “Anyone with eyes can see that Ashley is beautiful, stunning really.”
     
    “Nancy said something about you comparing Bunny and Ashley with Ashley being the loser.”
     
    “Great!”  Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose.  “Look, I am not proud of that moment.  It was taken out of context.  Ashley nor Nancy were ever meant to hear those  stupid  words!”
     
    “So you admit the words are stupid?”
     
    “Of course I do!  I wish I had never said them.  I was pissed and said something that wasn’t true because I didn’t have proper knowledge.”
     
    Cheryl gave his hand a gentle pat.  “That’s why I always say: never talk out your ass without all the facts.”
     
    Kyle gave his mother a double take, seeing the humor sparkle in her eyes he laughed, “You  always  say that?”
     
    “Of course, dear.”   Cheryl Strong cupped her son’s cheek.  “Now, what is taking you so long to get Ashley in bed and giving me some more grandbabies?  You know, Drew is 19 and Holly is 18.  I need my baby-babies to cuddle and spoil.”
     
    Scandalized, Kyle looked around the table, making sure no one had heard his mother’s words, “Mom!”
     
    “What?”  His mother was unconcerned.  Kyle saw that she expected an answer.
     
    Giving up on any semblance of decorum with his parent, Kyle answered good-naturedly, “I am working on it mom.”
     
    The lights were dimmed and an MC came onto the stage.  He was young, jovial and good-looking, a perfect host.  Kyle listened as the man explained the rules of the competition and how the final decision would ultimately be theirs.  He also told the audience they were about to see 5 teams compete and the judges would be taking into account: style, originality, technique, severity, sexiness and showmanship. The judges would reduce the contestants to 3 teams and the audience would do the rest when the time came to vote.
     
    “Mack and Drew got the technique, severity, originality and style in the bag!”  Holly spoke as though it were a foregone conclusion.
     
    The MC called for the first team, Citified.  Citified was a black couple, both were in their late teens early twenties.  The music started hard and fast.  Kyle watched their moves with interests.  Hip-hop was very athletic.  The couple moved with an enviable fluidity.  The guy did some great flips and tricks, while the girl gyrated in time with the beat.
     
    After the first 3 groups went Kyle was ready to admit he was enjoying himself.  The dancing was very energetic.  The participants executed some