Jezebel Loves Candy

Maura drove the three of them to a locally-owned diner called Grapevine for lunch. “It’s on me,” she said, giving the boys a wink. Duncan frowned, but didn’t complain. It was rare for Maura to dole out her own money for other people. She had to be up to something. Scott, famished from a morning of practice, was too distracted by the prospect of free food to even consider the fact that their older sister had something up her sleeve. Duncan didn’t like thinking that Maura was one to have ulterior motives, because they were never bad, per se. They were just, well, invasive. Maura ordered a large black coffee, and brushed off Duncan’s “weren’t you just complaining about the heat?” “Hush, baby bro,” she said before ordering the rest of her meal. “Extra bacon on that last burger, if you can,” she added, smiling at the waiter, whose face reddened deeply before walking away. “Ugh, gross,” Scott grumbled as he played with his fork. “What?” she asked. Her grin was brimming with dangerous intentions. “You were flirting with that guy.” “Get used to it, Scotty,” said Maura. “I buy lunch and you get pointers about the birds and the bees. It’s a little bonus I like to throw in every now and then.” Scott gave her a horrified look. Maura laughed. She was sitting across the booth from her silenced siblings, who were unsure of how to steer away from the awkward conversation. Unfortunately, Maura was in control of the wheel and its direction. “So Dun-Dun,” she began sweetly, “has your sex life reheated after last night?” “Run while you can,” Duncan murmured to Scott. “I’ll text you when the food gets here.” Scott didn’t need further encouragement as he practically leapt out of the booth and toward the washrooms. “He’s so funny, that kid,” Maura mused happily. She took a sip of the complementary water, the ice cubes rattling inside the glass.