My eyes flitter back and forth, trying to digest what he’s saying. The last time these boys left me, one less came back.
“For what? For how long? Is Easton going?” The questions tumble out of me at a rapid pace. It feels like my heart is beating a million miles a second and I have to crank down the window to let some fresh—albeit humid—air in.
“Business.” He can read the horror on my face. “Not like that. At least, it shouldn’t be. I don’t know for sure though.”
My ears ringing with panic and I dig my fingers into the seat below me.
“I’ll only be gone a few days. Easton is coming, I think Rose is, too.”
“What? She hasn’t said anything.” My forehead wrinkles in confusion. She hasn’t said a word about any of this.
He shrugs. “She might not know. But he’s going to ask her, I’m assuming she’ll say yes.”
She will say yes. I think Rose’s panic about them leaving is about as bad as mine. No way in hell will she let him go anywhere without her. At least for a while.
“Want to come?” He springs out of nowhere.
I blink at him. Then blink some more.
“What?” I utter out.
“To Cali? Want to come?”
“I-ah, I can’t.” I point to my belly. “I’m pregnant, remember?”
“You can fly until third trimester. You’re good.” He surprises me, again and again.
I burst out a laugh. “What? How the fuck do you know that?”
He looks out the window, back of his head facing me.Is he… is he embarrassed?
“I looked it up.” He mumbles.
“You… looked it up?”
He whips his head towards me, irritation plain as day in his eyes. “Yes, I looked it up. Shut the fuck up about it.”
I sink back in my seat.Whatever.
“I probably shouldn’t. I have to get everything situated with the adoption and…” I choke on nothing. “Yeah…” I trail off.
He slams his hand into the steering wheel. The horn honks when he does it again. I sink so heavily into the seat beneath me I can only hope it absorbs me. I hate when he gets like this. He would never hurt me—intentionally—but when he has outbursts like this, it’s frightening. Purely, fucking frightening.
We finally pull into the park, thankfully, because I want to get away from him. Escape into my house and break down in peace.
He turns the wheel erratically and screeches to a halt in front of my house. I go to open the door when he reaches over and slams his palm on the lock.
“I’m really…fucking… tired of hearing about this fucking adoption. I swear Cara, bring that shit up one more time, I’ll lose my God damned mind.”
I swallow, the manic energy emanating from him is wild. He’s completely untamed and with his lips pulled behind his teeth, he looks like a wild animal.
I’m the fucking prey.
“Now get out of this fucking truck, and I’ll see you soon.” He leans over me, pulling the lock up.
Once he clears my space, I open up the door and slip out as quickly as possible.
My temper and emotions won’t let him get away that easily, though.