Mundahlia (The Mundahlian Era, #1) (25 page)

I waited in the SUV for the others to finish their “meeting” and sent Rini a text telling her I was busy and that I would talk to her soon. It wasn’t my business to question the girl, I was just the driver. Ray was nosy and chose to be near her. More than likely developing a little crush. The air was chilly, seeping in through the cracked window and floating amongst the vehicle. I wanted to turn the keys—dangling from the ignition, and start the heater—but it would more than likely waste the gas. And then I’d get yelled at, especially because it is pretty pricey per gallon these days. Next to me, a car blasting a heavy bass-filled rap song pulled away. At that moment, the group came out of the diner and waited outside for Martin and Nicolas—just coming around the corner. Vienna spotted me in the SUV, and came around to the passenger side.

“
Brr.
It’s cold outside!” she said, climbing in. “Mind if I sit in here with you?” she was rubbing her hands together for warmth.

“Nah, it’s cool,” I said. “Thanks for the coffee, it was good.” I’d chugged it down a while back and tossed the empty cup in the trashcan by the diner doors. It was a bit too sweet for my taste. It gave it an odd flavor that made my mouth pucker. But, I didn’t want her to feel bad so I just said it was good.

“I’m Vienna,” she greeted with a hand out. “And it’s no problem.” She sounded cheery.

“Jett,” I introduced myself. Her hand was cold when I shook it. Almost icy.

She shifted around in the seat and tossed a few strands of hair over her shoulder. “Does the heater work?” she asked.

“Yeah, but it usually works better when the car is on,” I joked.

She laughed, “Funny!” and gazed out of the window, her smile—gone. Vienna rubbed her hand over her arms, her shaking rocked the SUV.

I sighed. “I guess I could turn it on if you want.”

I turned the keys and heard the vehicle roar to life. The heater blew air colder than the breeze outside. It took a few minutes for it to warm, but once it did, I rolled the windows up to keep the air from escaping.

“Thank you!” she squealed. “You are a
lifesaver!
” Her hand touched my knee. When she didn’t move it, I searched her face for an answer, but she was staring out of the window at the group as though she didn’t realize that she was touching me. I didn’t want to be rude and move it forcibly, so I just shifted my knee away and watched it drop.

Finally, the group said goodbye and broke up. Ray trudged around to the driver’s window. He tapped on the window. “Get out, I’m driving,” He said, muffled behind the glass.

“What?”
I
was the driver.

“I said, ‘get the
fuck
out’, I’m driving.” I saw his eyes gear toward Vienna.
Oh, he wants to sit next to her. I get it.

“Fine.” I stepped down from the vehicle and entered the back seat. Ray hopped in and adjusted the seat forward.

Martin opened the back seat door and paused when he found me sitting at the other end. “I thought you were driving?” He asked with a blank stare.

“No, Ray is—apparently.”

“Oh, Martin!” Vienna exclaimed. “You look cold! Here, why don’t you sit up front so you can be closer to the vents. I’ll go to the back with Jett, I don’t mind.”

Before she even finished the sentence, Vienna was already sliding in next to me. Martin stood outside, watching through the window for a while. He shook it off and sat in the empty passenger seat. Even though he didn’t show it, I could feel Ray tense up as he looked into the rearview mirror at me—shaking his head at me.

On the road, Vienna thought it would be
cute
to ask the three of us questions to get to know us better. Most of them were geared toward me.

“Your eyes are very pretty,” she smiled. “So brown.”

“Thank you, yours too.” I smiled in return. “So blue.”

“Sorry, it’s just that when I’m nervous I say the most random things.”

“It’s cool. There’s nothing to be nervous about though, we are the nicest clan you will ever meet.” I said.

She stated, “I know, you all are
so
sweet to take me in on a whim. I hope it’s not a bother.”

Martin lifted his eyes from a magazine he’d been reading and said, “Sweetheart, tonight you’ll be staying with Nicolas and his children at their home. Just until we get things settled over at our cabin. You know, clear a room.”

“Oh,” she said, a little disappointed. “Really?”

“
Mhm
. We’re going to drop you off and pick you up in the morning, all right?”

“Oh,” She said again, equally disappointed like the first time. “I guess that’s fine.” She turned to me and raised her lips into a smile. “
So
, what do you do for fun here?”

“Well, the lake by our house is nice. It’s too cold for a swim this week, but it looks amazing. I’ll show you tomorrow.”

“Yeah? I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.
Ugh!
You’re
so
sweet Jett, it’s unbelievable!” she said it as though she were verbally pinching my cheeks as she spoke.

“Have you heard from Rini?” Martin broke in. “I’m sure she’s tried to get a hold of you by now.”

For some reason, I didn’t want to hear it. I’d began to feel weird. That breakfast taco must’ve been rancid. “No, I haven’t. She and Del must be having a good time.” I wanted to keep talking to Vienna to get to know her better. I lied to Martin, telling him I didn’t hear from Rini when I did. He nodded his head and returned his gaze to the magazine—a thought set heavy on his mind as he started biting his nails.

I checked my phone again. New Text Message.

Rini (2:06pm):
Busy? What are you all up to that makes you so busy???

I flipped the keypad open and sent the same message I’d sent earlier.

You (2:07pm):
I’m busy, I’ll talk to you later.

Message Sent!
I slid the phone back in my pocket and turned to Vienna.

“Who’s Rini?” she asked almost defensively.

Martin answered for me, “His girlfriend, dear.”

“Girlfriend?” she questioned, sounding surprised. It was almost a snort.

“Yeah,” I said, a little less enthusiastic than I should of for some reason.

“Huh. I wouldn’t of expected a hot guy like you to be tied down to a girl already,” she said. My cheeks blushed. “What’s she like?”

Buzzzzzzz.
My phone went off—of course, it’s the loudest vibrate ever.

Rini (2:08pm):
?;l come on, please talk to me! I’m bored. I want to see you.

I typed again.

You(2:09pm):
Busy, Rini. I’ll see you soon.

Message Sent!
“Uh, she’s nice. You’ll like her. She’s very down-to-earth,” I said. “You can meet her tomorrow.”

“Aww, I’m sure we’ll get along just fi—”

Buzzzzz.

Rini (2:09pm):
Come on! How’s the new girl…is she a bitch? :P Del doesn’t like her, so something has to be wrong with her.

You(2:10pm):
Rini, stop it! I said I’m busy. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.

Vienna looked upset. She hid it with another smile as she said, “Like I was
trying
to say—I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”

Rini

23

I stayed looking at his text for a few minutes. I was sitting on a bench as Del shopped for clothes around a store we had driven to. I didn’t really know how to take it. The way it was written could be interpreted in different ways. There was the
“Rini-I’m-busy-getting-important-information-from-Nicolas-and-I-need-to-give-it-my-full-attention-but-I-promise-I’ll-talk-to-you-later”
way. And then there was the
“Ugh!-I-don’t-want-to-talk-to-you-right-now-so-I’ll-just-pretend-I’m-busy-so-I-don’t-have-to-talk-to-you”
way. I really wish he would have written more so I could get a clearer picture. I shrugged it away and went to find Del.

I found her scouring the clearance section. Her cart was already full of clothes of different styles. I tried to pick out the ones that were for each family member. The novelty T-shirts must be for Max. The
dad
looking clothes for Martin and Mark. Everything sleeveless—Ray. A small set of little outfits for Kaylee. A blouse and more tanks for Del. And the last of the pile—Jett’s. A big pile of whatever.

“When’s Jett’s birthday?” I asked, leaning on the cart. As his girlfriend, I felt I should know these things.

“March nineteenth,” Del said not even looking away from the rack. “As the only female in the clan, I have to remember these things. Why do you ask?”

“That’s this week!” I said. “He was born in the same week as me?”

“Looks that way. Wait, what?”

“My birthday is tomorrow—the fifteenth, and his is on Saturday. I need to get him a gift! What does Jett like?” I asked her.

“Well, happy pre-birthday, Rini. Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I sort of forgot about it. Finding out the family secret sorta blindsided me and threw off my mind for a while.”

Del laughed, then continued to tell me of something Jett might like, “I’m not
too
sure, but there was this time where he was going through this leather jacket, bad-boy phase.” Del laughed at a sprung up memory, “He even tried to grow facial hair. You should have seen him, he looked ridiculous.”

I laughed at the image of him with a mustache or goatee. “And then?”

“He and Ray got into a fight and Ray ended up tearing it. He was so pissed off. It was his favorite jacket and he hates people touching his things. It kinda looked like that one over
there
,” Del pointed to a single black leather jacket hanging on a rack a few feet away from us. It was the last one left.

“Hmm,” I said, suddenly interested. “What’s his size.”

“Why?” Del looked up from the racks and saw me inspecting the jacket. “Oh Rini, don’t spend your money! Get him something from the heart, like a kiss.”

“Just tell me the size!” I persisted. I’d already just about drowned him in kisses already.

“Just because I know everyone’s sizes because I do all the shopping, doesn’t mean I’m going t give it to you,” Del said.

“Please! Besides it’s probably not the right size anyway,” I said, hoping to lighten up the situation.

“Fine. He’s got a wide chest and large arms, so he wears extra-large.”

I lifted the white tag attached to the inside. “Well, how about that!” I smiled.

“I’ll pay for it,” Del offered.

“No way! I have money. I’ve saved up some loot for a while. Trust me, I can pay for it.”

“Rini, seriously give me the jacket!”

“No.” I took a few steps backwards toward the cashier. “Please, let me get it. You keep shopping for other clothes.”

“Rini!” Del stammered, stomping her foot to the ground. Her purse fell to the floor. Del bent to retrieve it, but by the time she looked up, I was already handing the jacket to the cashier. I saw a
your-crazy
look flash on Del’s face. I stuck my tongue at her playfully.

“Oh and could I get it in a gift box too?” I told the cashier.

“It’s a little bit extra.” The older woman said.

“That’s perfectly fine.”

After I paid the cashier and walked back over to Del—gift in hand, I opened my wallet to shove the receipt into. Del snatched it from my hands and read the price.

“Tas loca!”
she scoffed. “You’re crazy!”

“Yup.”

At the cabin, Del and I exited the truck. The SUV was there and my heart fluttered. We lugged the three bags full of clothes for the entire family up the porch and into the cabin. I left the gift in the truck deciding to get it later.

Inside, Mark was in the kitchen shuffling with a pot. Max was sitting on the couch playing with his computer. In the armchair beside him, Martin was reading a book, legs crossed and glasses on. Ray was watching TV—as usual. Baby Kaylee was playing with a few of her small toys on a blanket on the floor. Del had told me she was learning to crawl and form a complete sentence. Right now, she was only picking up a stuffed seahorse and cooing as she felt it in her hands.

“Where’s Jett?” I asked Martin.

“He went out for a walk a few minutes ago. He needed some air, I suppose. He sure likes his walks, I tell you.”

“I’m going to go find him,” I told him, heading for the front door.

“Be careful, Rini,” he said. “Don’t go too far in. If you don’t find him from the edge of the forest come back inside.”

“Okay.”

“I mean it, Rini. If you go too far, I’ll be the one to have to drag you back myself, and I am one who isn’t too fond of getting dirty.”

“I promise.”