Prologue
MARCUS
Ten Years Old…
Laughter bubbles all around the room as Summer jumps on my bed. Even though she’s making a mess of my cover and pillows, I don’t mind.
“It’s time for bed, guys,” Mom says as she walks into the room.
Summer jumps one more time before she falls flat on her back, spreading her arms and legs wide.
“Can I sleep here tonight?” she asks, as Mom bends to pick her up.
Mom glances at me from over her shoulder. “You have to ask your brother.”
I smooth the bubbles out from the sticker I’ve just added to the side of the model motorbike I’ve been building all day. Jaxson helped me with most of it, but he had to go home before we could add the stickers.
“Can I sleep with you? Pretty please,” Summer begs as she scrambles to her knees.
“Yeah.” I look at the motorbike one last time. Tomorrow we’ll build Jaxson’s.
“Come on. Get in,” Mom says while she pulls the cover back. Mom sounds tired. Since she started working, we haven’t spent as much time with her as we used to.
Summer waits for me to climb in, and once I’ve stretched out, she comes to lie down next to me. I always lie next to the wall so she won’t bump her head against it during the night.
Mom covers us and presses a kiss to my cheek. “You’re turning out to be just like your father.” There’s a soft smile around her mouth which makes my chest fill with pride.
“And me?” Summer asks as Mom kisses her cheek.
“You’re turning out to be the perfect princess.”
That makes Summer smile widely as she turns on her side so she’ll face me.
“Sweet dreams, my babies.”
I roll my eyes at Mom. She says it every night. I’m becoming a man like Dad. I’m not a little baby anymore.
She switches off the light and leaves the door open slightly, so a beam of light shines in from the hallway.
“Can I help you and Jaxson tomorrow?” Summer whispers.
Girls don’t play with motorbikes. But I don’t tell her that.