Boomtown by Lani Lynn Vale Read Free Book Online Page B

touches, and portioning it all out onto plates when Ember asked “Do you want to go shoot pool with me tonight?”
      “You know I don’t know how to play pool, and it hasn’t changed since the last time you asked me.” I replied as I brought Janie’s plate to the table and set it in front of her.  I then took away the cell phone that she somehow managed to sneak out of my pocket when I wasn’t paying attention, shoving it back into my back pocket.  I then turned around and poured tea into a sippy cup, and three juice glasses.  I carried my plate and cup to the table and sat down while my mom and Ember got up to get theirs as well. 
      Dinner was not as messy tonight as it normally is because this is one of Janie’s favorites, and she doesn’t waste much of the food.  She was practically licking the plate when she was done.  Poor Chewy was staring at us from his sprawl on the floor with sad eyes; he would have to be happy with regular dog food tonight.
      I piled the empty plates into the sink and started putting away the leftovers and putting the pots on the floor for Chewy to lick clean.   
      “I’ll do the kitchen if you go with me.” Ember said. 
      Damn.  She sure did know what to do to get me to go.  “Clean my room and we have a deal.” I said to her making eye contact.  She made a face and thought about it for a moment.   
      “Fine.  But I get to pick what you wear.” 
      That sounded acceptable since we both had the same taste in clothing, and I said “Yes.  Just let me get Janie in bed then we can start getting ready and go.” 
     I walked to Janie and picked her up and carried her to her and James’ room.  I pulled out her pajamas laid her down on the bed.  I stripped off her dirty clothes and diaper, changed her into a clean one and put her into her pajamas.  I took her into the bathroom and ran a wet wash cloth over her face and brushed her teeth. She liked sucking the watermelon toothpaste off so she was agreeable to this.  Walking back into her room, I grabbed her favorite book that we read every night and began to read to her.
      Dr. Uses was easy and fun to read, so I wasn’t bothered by this.  What I did mind was when she would say “Again, Again” over and over.  If she didn’t get what she wanted then she would throw her tantrum, and the night would go downhill from there.  Finally after the third round, I told her that was it, and laid her into the crib and covered her.  I walked briskly out of her room, shut the door and headed straight to my room; all the while screaming followed me. 
      “That wasn’t too bad today.” Ember observed as I walked in and closed the door.  
      “Nope, not as bad as it normally is.  Wish James could have skyped with her, she does anything he says, no fuss no muss.” I replied. I went to the bed and saw that she had laid out ribbed knit tank with the Harley Davidson logo on the front.  I stripped out of my polo and pulled that one over my head.  She handed me my cowboy boots, so I traded my Adidas for my boots.  She led me into the bathroom and pulled the pony tail out of my hair and French braided it.  
      While giving me my leather banded fossil watch she said “We are going to Deacon’s.” 
      “What?” I shrilly said “why are we going there?” 
      “That is where Max is going to be.  So that is where I want to go.  And I can’t go by myself, because I don’t want to be the only girl there with a bunch of guys.” She replied. 
      “Just because your brother is going to be there, doesn’t mean that is the place we have to go.  How about Shark’s?” I pleaded. 
      “No, I want to go.  And you promised.  Plus I already did the kitchen, you can’t back out now.” She said.
      “Fine. Fucking fine.”  I said, “But don’t expect me to be happy about it.”
     She of course didn’t know why I didn’t want to go there.  Didn’t know that I had picked up a guy in the