Abel watched his brother walk away from us with a haunted look in his eyes. I didn’t like it and hoped I wasn’t the reason behind it being there in the first place.
I reached out and tentatively touched his arm. He flinched away from me and I quickly dropped my arm.
Ouch.
He must have read the hurt on my face and not liked it because I was immediately in his arms with the side of my face pressed into his chest. He held me tight in his arms. His head tipped down, his lips brushed my ear, and whispered, “He’s been more intense ever since mom and dad died. That wound is still fresh. Ty and the guys are all the family we’ve got left and Addison’s holding on tight to them. Now we have you and I think he’s afraid you’ll disappear on us when we’re not looking. I’m sorry, pretty girl, but he’s going to be over the top where you’re concerned for a while. He’s not going to be able to help himself.”
I wanted to ask about his parents and how they died but didn’t think the timing was right or it wasn’t really my place to ask in the first place. There would be another time and I’d get my chance to ask, but not now.
He kissed me on the forehead and let me go.
“Be careful, okay?” he said. “He’ll go apeshit if something happens to you. And I think Quint would kill us all. He’s got it bad for you and there’s really no telling what he’ll do next. The guy is crazy when it comes to the rest of us. With you though,” he shrugged casually and grinned big at me, “he’s totally batshit.”
Lovely.
“I’m leaving now before you freak me out anymore.”
“Best you know what you’re getting yourself into ahead of time. I’m simply trying to help you out here.”
I thought it was a little late for the warning but didn’t say so. He was teasing me and I knew it. That still didn’t mean everything he said wasn’t scarily true. I feared it was.
The last bell rang, signaling he was late for class.
“Go,” I ordered. “You’re late, don’t get into more trouble by being any later than you already are.”
“You’re one to talk, you’re skipping.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. “Go to class, Abel,” I bossed. “Before Addison comes back and I’m stuck with the both of you.”
I did not want Addison to come back because I feared if he did then I’d never get rid of him. I’d probably end up stuck with the both of them coming home with me.
He held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine.” He said.
Without warning, he moved super fast. He leaned in and brushed my lips with his in a gentle kiss. It lasted all of two seconds then he was gone. But it felt like longer.
I stood there watching him walk away from me with my fingertips pressed to my burning lips.
I didn’t head towards the parking lot until he’d walked out of sight.
>
My lips burned the whole drive home. Such a simple kiss but so very sweet and unexpected.
My life was out of control and I kind of liked it.
Chapter Twenty-seven
The house was silent save for the annoyingly persistent beeping of the alarm. I quickly punched in the code that re-armed it and all was finally blessedly quiet.
I hadn’t realized just how much I had needed some peace and quiet to myself until that moment. I was so used to being on my own most of the time that having spent so much time with the others had exhausted me as well as overwhelmed me.
I’d always been a loner by choice and wasn’t used to spending so much time with others. I liked my own company. And, besides, how would I explain my mother’s behavior if I had had friends and invited them over. I shuddered at the thought. She’d met the twins once and had molested one of them. That was embarrassing enough, I didn’t even want to think about people being around when she got mean or was having sex with whoever she was sleeping with at the time.
I thought about the last conversation I’d had with her on the phone and was glad she was gone. If she never came back I didn’t think I would mind. It made me a horrible daughter to think it, but it was the truth. All my life I’d been hiding the things she’d done to me. I’d been lying for her to cover up her horrid actions. I didn’t know why I covered for her but a small part of me felt like I did it because I thought things could always be worse. The devil you know is always a safer bet than the one you don’t know. At least with my mother I knew what to expect.
I had no idea when my mother and Mr. Cole were coming home. It had been days and there was no improvement in Mr. Cole’s brother’s health. He’d been in a coma since the accident and Mr. Cole along with the rest of the family were beginning to lose hope. So much so Mr. Cole’s children had flown in just the day before to lend moral support to their father and be close to their beloved Uncle in his time of need. I felt horrible, but there was nothing I could do for Mr. Cole or his brother. I was happy he had people with him who genuinely loved him and would take good care of him. Lord knew my mother wouldn’t.
I picked my bag up from the floor where I’d set it when I had punched in the code to the alarm. I walked through the semi dark kitchen, the only light in the room being natural light coming through the windows. I passed through the kitchen, walked the hallway and made my way up the stairs.