Taming River

Chapter Five

RIVER POV

"What do you want, River?" Mom asked with her attention on her laptop. She and aunt Jazz had been working on some big project.

"Nothing?"

"Then why have you been standing there, staring at me for the past five minutes?" She looked up.

"So, hear me out before you say no-"

"No." She went back to her work.

"But you haven't heard what I wanted to say." I pouted.

"That pout only works on your Ma, sweetie." She gave her attention to my aunt who was silently laughing at me.

I scowled and went to the backyard. Ma was there barbecuing with the guys. Cam sat near the pool reading a book.

"Why the face, babygirl?" Ma asked when she saw me.

"Mom wouldn't even hear me out." I complained.

While my mom was a bit strict, Ma was always laid back. She had a soft spot for me so I always got what I wanted. Maybe it was because we were born the same way. Though she was intersex like me, mom was actually the one who taught me to love and accept myself.

"What did you want?" She asked.

I eyed the food and my mouth watered. "To meet some of the models." I went to grab a piece of meat but Ryan swatted my hand away.

"Give it to her, Ryan." Ma ordered.

I stuck my tongue out at him as I grabbed the barbequed chicken leg.

"You need to stop sleeping around." She said to me. "Find someone you can love, believe me when I say there's no better feeling."

I nodded as I ate my chicken. I did believe in love. It was hard not to when I grew up with parents that always kissed each other goodbye and acted like teenagers in love. Years of marriage and when you walked in through the door, there's always a chance you would see them cuddled up on the couch. I had no problem with love but I also had no problem with having some fun until it happened. Kailee popped into my mind as I thought about it but I didn't let it linger for long.

"Your boss is coming over with his family." Uncle Luke said.

My mouth fell open, the chicken leg held before my mouth. "What, why?" I turned to Ma.

She sighed. "You know his wife and your mom is on the school board together. They're friends, she was doing a nice thing."

"At my expense." I exclaimed. "I already deal with him at work." I groaned.

***

The door bell rang and I was told to get it. I begrudgingly walked to the door. Without looking up, I opened the door.

"Come in, we're in the back."

"Matthews, are you behaving?" Captain spoke.

"Nope." I looked at him but what caught my attention was who stood behind him.

Kailee stood there, along with his wife and Edward. My eyes darted between all the faces repeatedly. I could see it now. She didn't look like him but she had a resemblance to his wife. Thank goodness for that. She had a lighter skin tone and while her eyes were amber, Zoe had chocolate brown eyes.
But it was obvious they were mother and daughter.

For an unknown reason, I laughed out. It made sense why she thought I was immature. Her father definitely did not like me. Although I was in fact a bit immature, I also knew how to handle serious situations. Well, sometimes.