Perfectly Imperfect(29)

I hate escalators. I swear they’re just a step above some sort of barbaric torture device.

What a great way to start this little adventure.

“This way, Will,” Kirby tells me loud enough to be heard over the people swarming around us like bees.

I follow the finger she’s pointing toward the long line of people waiting behind some weird barricade and see the group of bad suit wearing men holding iPads with names displayed on their screens.

“There, on the end,” I hear Alli’s melodious voice exclaim, pointing just like her mother.

How they can see around all these bodies is beyond me. I can’t even say it’s because Kirby is a few inches taller than my five-foot-seven. If Alli can see whatever it is? then I’m just lacking brain function today.

We walk around a few hugging couples and groups of families welcoming home their loved ones. I feel a twinge in my chest knowing I won’t ever have something like that, but really, if having the two most negative people out of my life means I won’t have a crying family to welcome me home, then I consider that a win on my end.

I almost run Kirby over when she abruptly stops walking. I look up and catch her smile at the tall man before her. He’s like a human wall of muscle and intimidation. But, if judging by his all-black clothing, he and I could be good friends.

The man before us, despite being indoors, has dark glasses shielding his eyes.

“Are you from the Men in Black?” Alli asks in awe, her tiny body almost tipping over to look up at this giant man.

His head dips down and a ghost of a smile tickles his lips before he shakes his head. “Nope.”

“You should be. You’re huge! I bet you could kick some serious alien butt.”

“Alli, language,” Kirby scolds.

“Seriously, Mom? I said butt not a-s-s.”

Even with all my nerves, Alli’s sass brings a bubble of laughter up and through my lips, followed by one loud snort. And, as simple as that, all eyes in our little group are on me.

Giant Man in Black looks over briefly and smirks before addressing Kirby. “Mrs. Evans … and family,” he nods toward Rob and Alli before looking back at me, “Ms. Tate, if you’ll follow me. Name’s Cam and we’re to meet Sam back at the house.”

“Right-o, hulk … lead the way,” Kirby jokes.

His lips stay curled in a barely-there smile while we walk through the baggage claim area and make our way to the carousel that holds our flight’s luggage. It doesn’t take long before we have two carts full of bags. Because Rob and Alli are staying for the week, we have a considerable amount of luggage.

“Could you have packed any more, Kirb?” I joke, heaving her fifth suitcase up and onto the cart.

“Hey, you could have waited for hulk to lift that one. I think that’s all shoes.”

“One suitcase, Kirb. That’s all I have with me. All I need. How the heck do you really think you’re going to need eight of these suckers when you’ll be flying back and forth from here to New York? You can just get new stuff when you go home.” I pull my hair tie out and readjust what was a sleek ponytail into a knot on the top of my head. “I’m sweating,” I complain. “I bet I smell. Oh, crap. We’re going to the house first, right?”

“Yes, Ms. Tate. The house is where we’re headed next.”

“Okay, good. I can shower. Then what, Kirby?”

“Calm down, babe.” She laughs. “From what Sam said in our correspondence over the week, today is our day to get settled, but he would be by at some point to make formal introductions.”

“To whom?” I ask stupidly knowing darn well what the answer will be.

Kirby annoyingly just shrugs her shoulders and with a smirk, pulls her sunglasses from her large purse before turning and following Cam’s lead.

So, this is how she’s going to play it.

“Do we have time to stop and grab some fast food real quick?” Kirby inquires, and I cringe.

Fast food is on the long list of foods I avoid at all costs. Covered in oversaturated sodium, usually deep fried, and always bad for me. Hopefully, Kirby wasn’t paying attention during our short flight, and I can pass on food without raising any of her red flags.

Hiding how little I eat is becoming a full-time job. I eat; I don’t think my regimen would be considered an eating disorder, but it’s far from healthy. I skip breakfast, lunch is usually a protein bar or something equally light, and since I’m alone at dinner, I usually just nibble on a salad and carrot sticks. I keep telling myself that after the next ten pounds I lose, I’ll start eating more. But that’s been going on for the last twenty I’ve shed … so I’ll stick to what I know for a little longer while I get down to my goal weight.

“Right this way,” Cam says and points to the two sleek black SUVs right outside the door. “Ms. Evans, if you would, you and your family can go ahead and get settled.” He directs Kirby, Rob, and Alli to the first big black vehicle before guiding me to the one behind it. “Mrs. Evans was nice enough to warn us that she would have a considerable amount of luggage with her, and with this many bags, it’s necessary that we have two. If you’ll follow me, you’ll meet back up with Mrs. Evans when we arrive at your house.”

“Kirb?” I call, twisting my fingers together in my lap.