Free Kicking and Screaming by Jordan Silver Page A

volatile outside of her element, and maybe then she would tell me just what the hell this big secret is that she was holding.
    ***
    MAXIE
     
       What the hell is going on around here anyway, has everyone lost their minds? And where does he get off telling everyone I should come to his home?
    I was ready to read him up one side and down the other, but my idiot sister made the decision for me.
    "Well if she gets to go then I think we should as well." So says governor tacky.
    "That's just tacky Jenny, even for you, he said Maxie, not Maxie and the family pet; and I'm sure you don't want to follow me all the way to Texas, you might come up missing somewhere between here and the Alamo."
    That started an avalanche of words flying over my head, but I noticed he wasn’t forwarding an invitation to anyone else.
    That made the decision all the easier for me. I could tell from the looks on their faces that they were not in the least bit pleased and that just made the idea seem that much better.
    “I guess I should go pack for my trip, I wonder what they wear in Texas.
    Jackson darling do you think jeans and tanks will do it? Or do I need summer dresses? Maybe I’ll pack both. Oh this is just so exciting.”
    I fluttered my lashes and gave my best impression of my nitwit sisters as I ignored my mother who looked like she was about to expire.
    That kind of dampened the excitement a little; that look on her face. I knew that more than anything she wished it was one of her precious darlings that he’d invited.
    It didn’t matter what my dad said after this, she had embarrassed me for the last time.
    “I think you’ll be perfect in whatever you choose to wear love, an if you need more than you pack we can always go shopping.”
    Okay, he was laying it on a little thick with the ‘love’ thing but at least it did the job, if the indrawn breaths were anything to go by.

JACKSON
     
    Dinner was an experience to say the least. There was a sudden frost on one end of the table, while Firefox, her dad, her brother and I kept up a running commentary on any and everything.
    I found out that Jonas was a racecar driver of some renown who travelled the world with his craft.
    I also learned that he was very protective of my girl, and must admit to some jealousy there.
    They shared a very easy relationship between them those two, one that seemed like there was no room for anyone else.
    “Don’t worry about that son, those two have been thick as thieves since they were kids.
    The kids use to bully him when he was younger because of his dad. He only has one arm you see, and the other kids thought it was fun to pick on him in the schoolyard.
    Well one day, imp overheard them and when they surrounded him like they usually did, she ran into the melee and started throwing her fist.
    Then she dragged him home to me to patch him up. She asked him why he never fought back and he told her that his dad had told him not to.
    She called his dad some choice words and told him that was the dumbest thing she’d ever heard. They’ve been best buds ever since.”
    That made it a little easier to take, but I wonder what made him think that I needed that reassurance?
     
     

Chapter 20
     
    MAXIE
     
    I guess I'll be going to Texas, if only to spite my mother and her whelps. Janet seems excited by the idea at least, and that's a good thing. After all, it's all about her and Michael's happiness right now. I wish the rest of my family would remember that.
    After dinner, I rode back to the house with him, not like I had a choice. He pretty much took my arm and led me to his ride.
    I would’ve decked him one, but he did the sweetest thing when Petra slithered her way in between us, as he was about to open the door for me.
    “Sorry Ms. Pierson, but Maxie and I would prefer to be alone.” Hell hath no fury doesn’t begin to describe it. I thought the idiot was going to combust right there on the sidewalk, not to mention her face was red as a sunburnt baby’s