Sister Mother

Chapter 17

Leo

On my way to Addie's house, I stopped to buy condoms. That wasn't my reason for showing up, but last time I was here, I was empty-handed, a mistake I didn't want to make again.

That doesn't make me too much of an asshole, right?

My hands were sweating as I drove up onto the driveway that I'd shoveled not long ago. I pulled my keys out of the ignition and drummed my fingers on my thigh.

What am I going to say?

"Hey Adds, I broke our promise. I got tired of waiting. Mags told me about the custody case. I have no idea how to help you, but I'm here for you. With condoms, and my penis. Also, I've been texting your sister for updates in return for her quizzing me on you. I got a ninety on her last test."

She's either going to love me, or hate me.

I walked over to the front door and rang the doorbell. The door opened and I saw a girl with dark hair, gray eyes, a yellow shirt and sweatpants. She had a white cast on her right arm.

"Hey, you must be Beatrice. I'm Leo. It's nice to finally meet you."

The kid raised her eyebrows. "You're Leo?"

I nodded.

"I was picturing something different." She scratched her elbow, right where her cast ended. "I thought you'd have a better face."

Ouch. And yes, this is definitely Addie's sister. "Um--"

"Addie's getting ready to leave so she can talk to a lawyer about my case. She said she'd call you when things are better, not when they're worse." Beatrice leaned against the doorframe, holding her bad arm with her good one.

"I um, I got impatient. I'm here to help you guys out and uh--" How was it that Beatrice had phrased it? "-to make Addie stupid happy. Is that okay?"

Beatrice pursed her lips and scratched her arm. She turned to look inside the house. "Gabe! There's a package you need to sign for!"

"I'm a little busy," a guy's voice yelled. "Have Addie sign for it!"

"Addie can't!"

"I can, if it's more drugs!" Addie's sharp voice yelled.

Warmth spread through my chest, and my heart thumped so vigorously that I could swear Beatrice could hear its beats.

Her voice. She's close. She can't be more than several feet away from me. How do I do that thing called speaking again?

"No! I need Gabe! It's not drugs! It's something else!"

"What?" asked both Addie and Gabe.

"I don't know! Gabe, you said you're stepping up! Just come out here!" Beatrice yelled.

A few moments later, a guy around Addie's height with the same thick dark hair as Beatrice stepped out. He looked at Beatrice. "If she's ready to leave before I am, she won't let me come. What do you want me to sign for?"

"Leo," Beatrice said, pointing at me.

Gabe raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest. He was about half my height, but I started sweating again. He didn't look threatening, but his gray eyes weren't friendly like Beatrice's. "What are you doing here?"

That's it? No hi, hello, thanks for the occasional meal or nice to meet you? Geesh, none of the McKenna's are easy to win over.

"I uh—" I cleared my throat. "I heard what you guys are going through. I'm here to see Addie and help out."