Part 21 (1/2)
He pulled a face. ”Ewww.”
She laughed. ”Maybe, but it's still a good thing.”
He wrinkled his nose. ”Why? It's gross.”
”Cos it means they might get back together.”
His face brightened. ”Really?”
”Yup. Would you like that?”
”Yeah! And Dad can come live with us.”
”Um, I'm not sure 'bout that, he has his own home.”
”But he should live with me.”
”I agree, but we'll see what he says first, okay?”
”Nah ah, I'm gonna tell him now.”
Juliet grabbed him as he went to run past her. ”No, you don't, you'll see them kissing.”
He wiggled free. ”But I wanna tell him.”
”Wait until they finish.”
He scrunched up his face, like he was about to throw a tantrum, then planted his b.u.t.t on the gra.s.s.
Juliet sat next to him, watching as he started pulling out gra.s.s. ”Whatcha doin'?”
”Making confetti for when they get married.”
Smiling, Juliet started pulling out gra.s.s too. Although she didn't think Ash would ever get married, it didn't stop her from hoping that he would eventually ask Tiana. She liked Tiana, always had, and was annoyed when she'd left Ash. And when Beth had come along, it had annoyed her even more, because she could see that Beth wasn't right for him.
Her phone went off. She pulled it out of her jeans' pocket, checking who it was before answering. ”W'sup, Aroha?”
”Not much, where are you?”
”At Tiana's. Guess what?” Juliet said, excited to tell someone the news, then barrelled ahead before Aroha could reply. ”Ash and Tiana are kissing. I think they might get back together.”
”But what about Beth?”
”He's broken up with her; she cheated on him with Dante.”
”Yeah, I can believe that, Dante's a horndog.”
”Don't call him that,” Juliet said, not sure why she was defending him when Aroha was right.
”Well, it's true. He causes so much trouble. Ash does too. Those two are right a.r.s.eholes.”
”Don't you dare insult As.h.!.+”
”Dante not worth defending?”
”Not at the moment.” Juliet glanced down at Angelo. He looked up at her with a quizzical expression. ”And Ash is a sweetheart,” she said, pointing at the ground for Angelo to continue what he was doing.
”Don't make me laugh, he's a...” Aroha stopped.
”He's a what?” Juliet said, trying to control her voice, although she wanted to yell.
”Nuthin', I don't really know him that well.”
”Yes, cos if you did you'd know he wuz lovely.”
”Yeah, I'm sorry,” Aroha said, sounding anything but.
”And so you should be, and why're you calling me anyway, is Corey okay?”
”Yeah, Naf told me all about the fight, shame I missed it. I would've loved to see your bro's face when Corey came out. It would've been cla.s.sic.”
”Why're you being so horrible?” Juliet ground out.
”Sheesh, you're a bit touchy today. And Corey's fine, he's just got bruised ribs. Hardly sumpthin' I'd take him to the hospital for. Though, you're a right love to be concerned 'bout that li'l b.u.g.g.e.r...” She started sn.i.g.g.e.ring. ”Shouldn't have said b.u.g.g.e.r with Corey. I wonder whether he's a top or a bottom.”
”Aroha!”
”If he's after Sledge then I'd say a bottom, and a very sore one if he succeeds, cos your bro looks like he's got a third leg down there, it's so f.u.c.king huge. Got an eyeful once when I walked in on him while he wuz showering.”
”Don't talk 'bout Sledge like that.”
Aroha started laughing. ”Sorry, can't help making a right a.r.s.e of myself, but gotta say he has the biggest slong I've seen hanging free. Wonder what it looks like hard?”
Juliet hung up. She went to pocket the phone, then grunted as it started ringing. She answered. ”What do you want now?”
”Don't hang up again,” Aroha answered. ”I rang for a reason.”
”Then stop grossing me out.”
”Yeah, yeah, I'll watch my dirty mouth. I just needa know where Ash and Dante are staying.”
”Why?”
”The cops wanna know.”
”They can get stuffed, and why would they ask you?”
”They rang Sledge, but, as you know, he isn't home. Plus, I still needa know, cos I hafta give sumpthin' to Ash.”
”Well, I don't know where Dante is, but I overheard Tiana ask Ash to stay with her. My guess is, with the way those two are kissing, he'll say yes.”