Page 152 of Payoff Pitch
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t bullshit a bullshitter. Youknow what, Tanner? I’ve got a new word of the day for you. It’s called acuntability. Taking accountability for being a cunt.” She holds up her hand before I can respond. “I’m done with this conversation. You got something to say to my sister, say it to her. Don’t treat her with kid gloves right now though. That’s not what she wants or needs.”
“I’m trying to help her.”
“Then treat her like a normal person. That’s what she needs. She hates all the pussyfooting around her.”
I nod. Maybe she’s right. I need to normalize things for her.
Cheetah looks her up and down. “You need to get out of this house for a few hours. Want to go out for dinner?”
She turns to me in question, and I nod. “You should go. I’ve got her. Fallon’s here too.”
She sighs. “Okay. I guess I could use a night out. Where do you want to go?”
He fiddles on his phone. “I just googled the best place to eat out and look what came up.”
He holds up his phone to a picture of Kamryn.
She giggles. “Good one, kitten.”
He twists his lips. “Hmm. Since it’s your first night out in a while, I’ll take you for fondue, the worst food on the planet.”
“Bite your tongue. Fondue is the best food in the world.” She quickly pecks his lips. “Thank you. We can even get the dessert to go. I’ll let you eat the chocolate off me.”
“Deal.”
“I need to shower. I won’t take too long.”
Cheetah offers, “I need to shower too. We should save water and shower together. You can do my back, and I’ll do your front.”
She gives him her mischievous smile. “I like it in the front and back. Can you accommodate that request?”
“I believe I can.”
She grabs his hand, and they head toward her bathroom. They have a bizarre relationship.
I make my way to the kitchen. Fallon appears a few minutes later, sleepily rubbing her eyes. I nod at her. “Hey. Kamryn said Bailey had a rough day.”
She plops down in the chair by the kitchen island and yawns. “She did. Physical and emotional ups and downs are normal. Unfortunately, she had a down day on both fronts. As crazy as she can be, Kamryn is very good with her. She makes her laugh and keeps things in perspective. She doesn’t let Bailey get away with a pity party. I know you two butt heads, but she’s been there for Bailey every single second and always knows what she needs.”
As I scoop ice cream into a bowl, I say, “She’s…well-intended. She’s just a lot to take. And why the fuck doesn’t she sleep? She sits in here all night on her laptop.”
I place the bowl of rum raisin ice cream in front of Fallon with a spoon, knowing she needs her afternoon sweet fix.
She smiles. “Thank you.”
I nod.
She places a big spoonful of the ice cream into her mouth and mumbles, “I didn’t realize that Kam is up all night. I’m usually zonked out after Harper goes to bed. What about you? Are you sleeping?”
“Not really. I’ve tried to get some alone time with Bailey, but she’s been shutting me out. I don’t want to push her right now.”
“You need to tell her about the fact that you’re willing to give her what she needs. I think she’s emotionally distancing herself from you because she assumes you have no future.”
“Until I know for sure, I won’t say anything.”
Harper walks in the front door, ending this conversation. Since the accident, the Windsors or Knightsdrive her home every day so we have one less thing to worry about. “Is Bails in her room?”
I open my arms in invitation. She rolls her eyes, gives me a short hug, and robotically says, “Hello, Dad.”