I locked up my apartment then headed out of the complex and onto the street. It took a little longer than usual when walking to Justin's house. The snow was so thick that I had to watch my step because I wasn't sure if there was ice under the layers of snow. It was better to be safe than sorry.
By the time I arrived onto Fairview Road, where Justin and his family resided, it had begun to snow again and it did nothing for my heated temper, or my ice-cold limbs.
"You look frozen," Justin's laughing voice called out as I hiked my way up his drive way.
I grunted, "If I wasn't so stiff and cold, I'd stick me finger up at you."
Justin smirked as I neared him. "The death like glare you're currently giving me is a grand replacement."
I couldn't help it, I smiled or r at least I tried to - I was so damn numb I couldn't tell if my lips moved or not.
"You look like you're constipated," Justin mused as I stepped into his hallway.
I groaned as Justin closed his front door, and the heat of his house surrounded me.
"Me face is frozen, you dick!" I said through my chattering teeth.
Justin laughed as he ushered me into his living room where it was even warmer. I scurried over to the radiator under the living room window and pressed me arse and thighs against it. I sighed in delight and stayed put as the heat caused tingles to spread across my skin when I began to thaw out from the cold.
"You sound like you're in a porno."
I kept my eyes closed. "Only you would think that, pervert."
I heard a giggle.
"What's a porno?" a small voice asked.
I opened my eyes and widened them to the point of pain. Dustin, Justin's son, was leaning against the doorframe of the living room with his arms crossed over his chest and a quizzical look on his face.
Justin was looking at Dustin with worried eyes, and after a few moments of silence he said, "Never mind... don't repeat it to your mother though."
Dustin smirked. "Is it something bad?"
Uh-oh, the kid had a blackmail look about him.
Justin awkwardly scratched his neck. "No... Not necessarily. Look little man, just don't tell your ma I said that word, okay?"
Dustin tilted his head to the side as he thought about it, and I smiled. He was the double of Justin with his blond hair and big eyes, but looked like his uncle when he was thinking.
I shook the unwelcomed pleasant thoughts about Darcy away, and focused on the cutie before me.
"What's in it for me?" Dustin asked his father.
I laughed. "He's your kid, there's no doubting that."
Justin grunted at me without looking away from his son. "I'll let you out of helping me wash the dishes for a whole week, how does that sound?"
Dustin considered it for a moment then suggested, "A week without washing the dishes and a week of last night snacks?"
Justin balked. "You're killing me kid, your ma will have me arse if she knows you've had sugary snacks past bedtime."
Dustin stood up straight, a sign to me that he wasn't about to back down.
"That's the deal, Da. Take it or leave it."
I covered my mouth with my hand so I wouldn't laugh.
The kid had Justin by the bollocks.
"Okay, fine, you little shite - but not a word to your ma about the snacks, dishes, or the not bad word I said, okay?"
Dustin grinned from ear to ear. "What word, Da?"
He turned and ran out of the room then.
"Hey, rude kid! Say hello to Neala!"
I heard Dustin's feet as he pattered up the stairs at lightening speed.
"Heya, Auntie Neala. Bye, Auntie Neala."
I laughed, "Hello and goodbye to you too, Dusty!"
I looked to Justin who was grumbling under his breath as he sat on the recliner chair facing me.
"You can't be mad, he isn't doing anything you weren't doing at his age."
Justin snorted. "You weren't alive when I was his age."
I rolled my eyes. "Give it a rest. You've got seven years on me, Wise One, not seventy."
Justin grinned then nodded his head at the living room doorway.
"Can you believe he is turning seven in July?"
I shook my head. "Nope, it's like yesterday he was born."
Justin smiled as he thought about that fond memory. "The kid is too smart for a six year old. I wasn't as advanced as him when I was his age, nor was I that much of a hustler."
I cackled, "He's picked up some new tricks, that's for sure."
Justin scoffed, "All at me own expense."
"Would you have him any other way?" I asked, smiling.
Justin looked at me and smiled. "No."
"That's what I thought," I snickered then said, "I still can't believe you wouldn't give on his name. Justin and Dustin is confusing to me sometimes."
"I wanted him called after me, but his ma wasn't having it so Dustin was a close second."
Justin smiled then stared at me until I squirmed.
"Stop staring at me, you're freaking me out."
Justin simply laughed at me.
I moved away from the radiator now that I had feeling back in most parts of my body. I took off my wellie boots and other winter layers, leaving them by the radiator to dry then I sat across from Justin and rubbed my arms with my hands.
"This winter is horrible."
Justin nodded his head in agreement. "It's going to get even worse, too."
God, I hoped not.
I leaned my head back against the chair. "Where's your baby mama?"
Justin pulled a face at me. "Sarah is working."
I snapped my fingers. "Right, you mentioned that on the phone. How's work going for her?"
Justin shrugged. "It's going as well as can be down the pub. She and Jess have pretty much the same shifts so they have a bit of craic together."
"Good, glad to hear it."
Justin grinned. "Spit it out."
I smiled knowingly, nothing got past Justin.
"Spit what out?"
"Why are you really here, kid? I know it's not to shoot the shit and rag on petty little things so say whatever it is about Darcy that you need to say," Justin said, a warm smile on his face.
Time to get down to business.
I trained my gaze on him. "I'm here to enlist you into me army."