Do It For Me

 

That night a knock sounded at her door. Kelly’s head was buried in a mystery novel and she glared at the interruption. Had Clayton returned to beg for her forgiveness? She scratched the hair beneath her weave and plodded to the door, her expression sour.

“Kel!” Bianca’s bright blue eyes and wide smile greeted her as soon as she pulled the door open. Without waiting to be invited, the young lady barged in, her gaze scanning the apartment.

“I’m sorry about that,” Benjamin said, jerking his chin toward his sister. “She’s already taken to you and I’m afraid that means she’s lost all sense of her boundaries.”

“It’s okay,” Kelly said, waving them in. Now that she had kicked Clayton to the curb, she really had no one to stop by and chase the loneliness. “What are you guys doing here?”

“You mentioned you had a light bulb that needed screwing?”

Kelly froze, sure her dirty thoughts were splayed all over her face. She coughed. “S-screwing?”

“Did you put it in already?” Benjamin frowned. “When I got home tonight, I remembered that you’d asked for my help. I’m sorry it took so long for me to get here.”

Kelly glanced over her shoulder at Bianca who was gazing at the picture frames on the mantle. The scenario she’d had in mind was playing out completely different in reality.

“I bought a new light, but I haven’t had a chance to install it yet,” Kelly said. “It’s in my bedroom.”

“Just point me in the right direction and I’ll take care of it.”

Kelly led the way to her bedroom. Okay, Bianca was here—meaning they had an instant romance-killer, but she could still salvage this.

“I’m afraid it’s a little messy,” Kelly said, bending over to pick up a bundle of clothes. She intentionally let the black lace bra on the top of the heap slip to the ground. “Oops.”

Benjamin’s eyes followed the arch of her back as she bent over and picked up the lingerie. Gazing at him, she raised her eyebrows. Instead of reacting in any number of lustful ways, he smiled—obviously amused. Had she been too aggressive?

“Is it the light in the fan?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Kelly set the clothes in the laundry basket and pointed up. “You can stand on the mattress to reach it.” She walked to the bed and sat down, allowing her gaze to turn sultry as she stroked the top of her blanket.

“It’s okay.” He strode out and grabbed a chair. Standing on the furniture, he undid the light bulb. “I’ve got it here. You can go outside.”

Annoyed that he wasn’t taking the bait, Kelly huffed and strolled into the living room. Bianca turned to her, eyes bright. The kid’s sweet spirit was contagious and Kelly’s irritation vanished.

“Is this your mom?” Bianca asked, turning over the photo she clutched.

Kelly drew near to her and brushed her fingers along the brown face that she had known better than her own. “Yeah. It is.”

“She’s beautiful. Does she live in Belize?”

“She died when I was eighteen.”

Bianca gasped. “I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“Can I ask how she passed?”

“Mom was very sick, but she and my grandmother kept it from me. She was going to see her doctor when she collapsed on the street…” It was still hard to think about and Kelly choked up, unable to continue.

“You poor thing,” Bianca cooed and rubbed her back. “Did Belize not have the equipment to treat her sickness?”

“No and my mom and grandmother were saving up to send me to college so they couldn’t afford it even if they wanted to. Mom refused to exchange her health for my future. If I’d known...” she fisted her hands. “But I didn’t find out until a couple of years ago.”

“Kel, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s nothing compared to what you’ve been through—with cancer and your dad.”

“Everyone has struggles. That doesn’t make your heartbreak any more or less painful than mine.”

At that moment, footsteps sounded from the hallway. Bianca and Kelly spun and watched Benjamin’s approach. He eyed her in concern before turning to his sister.

“Did something happen?”

“We were just having a little chat,” Bianca said. She slid over to her brother’s side and gripped his arm.

He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “The light should work fine now, Kel.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“Awesome. Now that that’s done, what should we do tonight?”

“I have to work, Bee.”

Bianca pouted. “Work? Tomorrow’s my last day in Belize before I have to go back home.”

“And that’s why I’ve taken the day off to spend it with you,” Benjamin said.

“Yeah, but Kel won’t be able to take the day off tomorrow. Can you?” Bianca arched an eyebrow.

Kelly threw her arms in the air. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I can’t miss anymore days. I’ve been slacking off already and the project I’m working on is due by the end of the week.”

“See, I won’t get to say goodbye.” Bianca swung her brother’s arm and pushed out her bottom lip. “Let’s do something together tonight.”

“I’m down with that.” Kelly nodded. She truly enjoyed Bianca’s company and would be sad to see the kid go. Though she wouldn’t mind the extra-alone time with Bianca’s big brother…

“It’s already seven o’clock. Belize isn’t like back home where there are a ton of places to go after five. It’s better to stay in.” Benjamin was grasping at straws but Kelly could tell that he was caving.

“Don’t you have an arcade in the city?” Bianca asked her.

“We have one, but it’s got a limited number of games. There’s a bowling alley that might be more fun.”

“Cool!” Bianca jumped up and down. “Let’s go there.”

Benjamin had no more arguments in his arsenal and so, thirty minutes later, the trio found themselves at Queen’s Bowling Alley.

Tacky neon lights adorned the walls and the glow of arcade games bounced over the shiny red-and-white checkered tables and tall standing chairs. The weekday crowd was surprisingly thick. Kelly hadn’t expected to see so many teenagers out on a school night.

“Should we divide into teams?” Bianca asked, stroking her short purple wig. Her eyes scanned the crowd and she stopped on a skinny, dark-skinned boy with an earring in his ear and a sour expression. “He looks like he wouldn’t mind.”

Kelly followed the line of Bianca’s gaze and shook her head. “I wouldn’t do it.”

“I’ll be right back.” She turned on her heels, her purple skirt fluttering around her legs like a flower in bloom.

Kelly looked up at Benjamin. “She’s completely fearless, isn’t she?”

“She was born that way.” Benjamin tucked his hands into his pockets, the move drawing her eyes downward. He noticed her watching and smirked. “How are your bowling skills?”

Slightly distracted by the thoughts roaring through her mind, Kelly absently replied. “How are your losing skills?”

“I don’t lose, Ms. Banner.” He took a step toward her and touched her chin, forcing her gaze up to his eyes. “Not if I can help it.”

“We’re going to have a problem then.” She shifted toward him. “Because I don’t lose either.”

His blue eyes darkened. “I won’t go easy.”

“Go as hard as you like.”

“We’re still talking about bowling here, right?”

“That depends.”

He tilted his head. “On what?”

“On the kind of mood I’m in after I win.”

Their gazes caught and held. Benjamin licked his lips and Kelly watched the slow flicker of his tongue as heat throbbed in her middle. Whoo. She’d started this fire, but in the end, she was the one getting consumed by it.

“I told you,” Benjamin leaned down and spoke in a tone that was only for her, “that expression is very dangerous.”

“Hey, you two! Meet James!” A chirpy voice shattered the moment. Kelly jumped back while Benjamin calmly tucked his thumbs into the back of his jeans and glanced at Bianca.

“Sup.” James gave them a half-hearted wave. “I heard you guys needed an extra-player?”

“I was thinking James and I could pair up,” Bianca said.

“No!” Kelly and Benjamin yelled as one.

“Um… okay?” Bianca’s gaze bounced between the two of them. Her lips tipped up at the corners as if she alone was privy to a special secret.

“Girls against boys.” Kelly strode forward, grabbed a bowling ball and held it up to her face. Peering over the ball’s smooth surface, she glanced at Benjamin. “Winner with the most points gets one wish.”

“One wish?” Bianca scrunched her nose. “Like anything?”

Kelly nodded. “Within reason of course.”

“Whatever,” James said, gracing them with another half-hearted shrug.

“What if I win?” Bianca protested. “I’m leaving tomorrow so I won’t get a wish.”

“I’ll grant your wish, B.” Benjamin ruffled his sister’s hair.

Kelly turned away and smiled. Growing up, she had spent countless hours at the Queen’s Bowling Alley with her friends. At the end of the night, Benjamin would be granting her wishes too.

Every last dirty one.