Chaos series by Kristen Ashley

I winked at her.

“Oh my God, you got it!” Deb cried.

I turned my attention her way and saw her walking in, going straight to the countertop where my electric blue Stella bag was.

“Totally,” I told her, and went on, “I just hired a new member of staff. I need to be buying Stella bags like I need a hole in the head. But I couldn’t resist.”

Deb grinned at me. “I’m jealous. You went electric blue. I’m not adventurous like that. But I wish I was because it’s phenomenal.”

I grinned back and commented on the color she chose. “Black is nothing to sneeze at, sister.”

“Too true,” she replied, then glanced around before casting her eyes back to me. “You have a gorgeous home, Millie.”

I was still grinning when I returned, “Thanks, babe.”

“What’s that smell?”

This came from Zadie and it wasn’t snotty. It also wasn’t simply curious either.

What it was was indication that she still wasn’t there with me.

However, she did seem to be alert and this alertness centered around her mother and me.

“And hello, Millie, how have you been?” Deb replied as a rebuke.

Zadie gave her mother a look that also wasn’t snotty but it wasn’t sweet. She then gave me the same look.

“Hello, Millie,” she said by rote.

“Hey there, Zadie,” I replied warmly, giving her a big smile.

“Lettuce wraps,” Logan declared, and everyone looked to him. He had the girls’ bags in his hands and was on the move toward the living room. “I’m thinkin’ of ordering a pizza,” he went on.

“I like pizza,” Zadie declared.

“You’re eating lettuce wraps,” Deb returned.

“Yeah, you are,” Logan confirmed. “But before you do that, want my two girls followin’ me. Gonna show you where you’re sleepin’.”

“When I get back, Millie, I’ll help,” Cleo called as she followed her dad.

Of course she would.

“I’d love that, Cleo,” I replied.

“And, Mom!” Cleo cried, still walking. “Wait ’til you meet Millie’s cats!”

Zadie followed her sister, glaring daggers into her back.

Nope, she totally wasn’t there with me or any of this.

Deb got close and said low, “Just so you know, the mini-attitude Zadie is throwing isn’t all about you. I gave it to her in the car about how she’s going to handle this weekend. She isn’t a big fan of being told what to do. So she’s not super happy with me.”

“I’m sorry,” I muttered, turning my attention back to carefully separating leaves of lettuce without tearing them. “Seems I’m a pain in the ass for Zadie on a variety of fronts.”

Deb got even closer and I turned my attention from the lettuce to her. “Don’t think this is you, Millie. It’s not. I actually think this is good. It’s a life lesson she needs to learn. And it’s something High needs to get too. It’s not gonna be easy on any of us. But it’s been needing to happen a long time. You’re just the catalyst for it.”

“Not doing cartwheels about that,” I shared. “But I understand what you’re saying and hope it works out for everyone in the end. Though, I have to tell you, I bought them both a few gift cards. We’re gonna go shopping this weekend.” Her expression didn’t change, in other words, I couldn’t read it, so I went on to admit, “It’s transparent bribery. But I’m not above doing anything to get past this hitch in the road. Unless, of course, you don’t like that idea. Then they’ll be stocking stuffers. Logan’s okay with it but you need to be too.”

“I don’t mind,” she replied. “Unless you do it every time you get them.” Her eyes danced. “If you do, they’ll never wanna come back to me.”

My voice was filled with humor when I said, “I doubt that.”

She looked down to the lettuce, then back to me and again her voice was low when she said, “You’re pretty cool, too, you know?”

I’d been cool, once, back in the day, in my cutoffs and halter tops.

I didn’t think I was cool now, especially since I just admitted to my plans to attempt to bribe her daughters for their love (or at least like).

“I am?” I asked.

“What are you putting in those?” She tipped her head to the lettuce.

“Well, I have this chili peanut chicken thing happening,” I answered. “And then I’m searing some ahi tuna with some sesame seeds, serving it with julienne cucumbers, and a crème fraîche tartar sauce. Low was not pleased with the grocery list, seeing as he had to go to three stores, including LeLane’s, which isn’t his scene, and what was on the list he wasn’t real fired up about. But he got us covered.”

“You eat lettuce wraps often?” she asked.

“No,” I told her. “Never. Not even at P.F. Chang’s. In fact, it’s a crapshoot this stuff is gonna taste good at all.”

“And that’s what’s cool,” she returned. “Because I know you’re doing that for me and I appreciate it. The girls will notice and they’ll appreciate it, even Zadie. I haven’t had pizza in seven years so I’m not even sure my body can process pizza. Ahi tuna…” she smiled, “definitely.”

“I wish I could say that I was sacrificing for my coolness,” I replied. “But I totally love ahi and if that peanut chicken is even a little close to as good as it looks in its picture on the Internet, even Logan won’t complain.”