Wild Tendy (IceCats Book 2) Read online

Callie snaps her mouth shut, but Aviva points at me. “Yes, what he said.”

  “I hate you two,” she mutters, and I reject that.

  “That’s untrue. You love us. You want to hang with us and make cake and watch TV and all the other things we do. Stop acting like this, and be the joy we all love.”

  She doesn’t have a response to that, but there is peace.

  I glance over at Aviva to see if I said too much, but she looks content as we ride out toward the restaurant by my mom’s hotel. She was going to stay with me, but there is hardly room for everyone. When Callie and Aviva stayed over a week ago, it was tight. I didn’t realize how much crap a teenage girl needs to get ready. She basically wears a leotard and high ponytail every day, but she had more shit in my bathroom than I could fathom.

  But I loved every second of it. I’d almost begged Aviva never to leave. My house was full and happy, and we had the time of our lives. We cooked, we made a cake, and then we watched movies until we all fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up because I was hot, it was from Aviva and Callie leaning on me as they slept. I felt so damn loved, so damn complete, and I’ve never felt like that in my life outside of my mother’s love.

  I love these girls, and I want my family to love them.

  I want my mom to know that I have found what I needed. That she doesn’t have to watch over me and protect me. That I actually do it myself and for others.

  I think I might have grown up.

  Didn’t take as long as I thought it would.

  “So, we’re sitting right behind you at the game?”

  I nod as I turn downtown. “Yeah, I bought the tickets off one of our shareholders. We’re playing the Caps, so it should be a great game.”

  “The Caps?”

  “Washington Capitals,” Callie says, annoyed, from the back.

  Aviva shrugs. “And we have to wear those oversized shirts?”

  “Jerseys, and they’re meant to be big.”

  “They’re like dresses.”

  I flash her a toothy grin. “I mean, you don’t have to wear anything under it.”

  She chuckles lightly as Callie groans. “Gross.”

  “Hush, you,” I throw back at her, and I swear she mumbles something along the lines of me being an asshole. I’m not sure, so I let it go. “I think you guys will have a blast. I think Amelia is going to go to show you the ropes and buy you all the bad food.”

  Aviva’s brow perks. “Bad food?”

  “Oh yeah. Stadium food is life. Get the pretzel, right? With the cheese. And then get a thing of popcorn. Dip the pretzel in the cheese and then dip it in popcorn. Boom. It’s like a tree of popcorn. I mean, basically a party in your mouth.”

  When I look over to see her excitement, I find that she isn’t as enthusiastic as I am. “That sounds absolutely disgusting.”

  “Well, that’s rude,” I tease, and she laughs.

  “Actually, I think it sounds amazing,” Callie says, and I glance back at her.

  “Thank you. That’s why you’re my favorite.”

  That makes them both laugh, which was my end game. When we arrive at Surf House, my mom’s favorite place to eat when she’s in town, I do valet since we’re kind of late. I didn’t realize how slow I was driving until we got here. After making sure everything is set, I take Aviva’s hand and head inside with Callie beside me. The loud sounds of the place, the clashing and clanking of plates, smacks me right in the face when we enter. I go straight to the hostess and tell her my name.

  “Of course, Mr. Merryweather. This way.”

  “We are so cool,” Callie gushes as we head toward the back where there are private dining rooms. “Yes, Mr. Merryweather. This way, Mr. Merryweather. Would you like high tea?” she says in the worst British accent I’ve ever heard. Aviva smiles and laughs along with her, but I gotta get to the back. When the hostess opens the door, a feeling of relief washes over me. I step in, not saying anything to my mom before ushering Aviva and Callie inside. I shut the door behind them before the hostess can and press my hand to the cool wood. I take a deep breath in, letting it out through my nose as Aviva’s hand comes to my back.

  “You okay?”

  I nod, breathing in once more. “It’s just so damn loud in this place.”

  “But it’s my favorite,” Mom says, and I turn just as she approaches me. She takes my face in her hands, kissing me loudly on the cheek. “Ah, my Nicolas. I’ve missed you so much. Thank you for coming. I know it’s hard.”

  I wave her off. “It’s fine. I just wish they had a back way in.”

  She pats my face, kissing me again. “I agree.” She studies me critically. “You look skinny.”

  I make a face. “I seriously eat, like, nine subs a day. Carbs galore.”

  Callie snorts. “For real. I’ve never seen someone eat so many subs.”

  My mom drops her hands and looks over at Callie. She points to her. “Callie?”

  “Yes. Hi. It’s great to meet you.”

  “It’s so wonderful to meet you. I’m Myra.” Mom smiles widely. “I have heard so much about you. Nicolas talks constantly about you and how talented you are.”

  Callie beams at me. “He’s a good guy. We like him.”

  I smirk as Mom turns to Aviva. She’s standing beside me, not her usual self due to the nerves. She holds out her hand, and my mom takes it. “It’s nice to meet you. Nico speaks of you all the time. You’ve raised an amazing guy.”

  “He is my favorite. It’s great to finally meet you, Aviva,” Mom says before letting go of Aviva’s hand. “I’ve never heard him talk so much about two people in my life. You guys have a nice little thing going for you.”

  We all move to sit down. As Callie falls into her seat, she nods. “We’re basically a family.”

  My heart warms as I sit down beside Aviva. Before I can agree, Aviva adds, “They’re close. Two little troublemakers, these two are.”

  Does she not think we’re family? I feel like we’re family. I look around the table to see that we’re missing some people. “Where are Mimi and Papa?”

  “So, they were supposed to come,” Mom says before sitting across from me, beside Callie. “Plane tickets were bought, but then Papa had some tournament he got called in to do, and you know Mimi doesn’t travel without him.”

  I grin. “He’s still reffing?”

  She nods. “Yes, at seventy-one, on skates.”

  “That’s cool.” Callie glances over at me. “That’s gonna be you.”

  I laugh along with everyone as the waitress comes in. After ordering drinks and an appetizer, my mom meets Aviva’s gaze. Aviva seems to tense up, but I can’t get over how gorgeous she looks. She put her hair in a high bun with her bangs covering her forehead. She’s wearing a flowy, flowery dress that hugs that ass of hers in all the ways I like. She has those stupid rubber boobs in, and I almost want to throw them away. I hate that she depends on those to feel like a woman. She’s gorgeous no matter what.

  “So, you own your own business?”

  I slip my hand into Aviva’s as she goes on and on about her sub shop. I love listening to her talk about it. She’s full of so much pride and loves telling the story of how her mom opened it. “She was obsessed with the 90s since touring with all the artists and all. We used to talk about how we would open a shop with funny sub names. It was fun and still is. I won’t change a thing, I love it.”

  Mom smiles as she nods. “When did you lose her?”

  “Nine years ago.”

  “I’m sure that’s not easy.”

  Aviva presses her lips together and shakes her head. “No, but I’ve got Callie, and she keeps me on my toes.”

  Callie scoffs. “I’m a joy and a delight.”

  I snort at that. “A pain in the ass and snarky like your sister, is more like it.”

  “Hey!” Aviva laughs, and Callie nods.

  “I do get it all from her.”

  Mom laughs as she leans back in her chair. “Sounds like these two ke