8
Kit
Seven Days To Go… Change Of Plans
The house is quiet and tense. No one dares say a word, for fear of tipping the balance we all so precariously tiptoe.
I woke before Bobby, so untangled myself from his grabbing limbs and bolted downstairs to catch Iz before anyone else. Bobby’s sleep-in is unusual, since he’s usually always up around five for a run, but I’ll take it for what it is and use his unconscious state to lend Iz whatever moral support she needs before the cavalry descends.
I’ve been downstairs for no more than twenty minutes before he starts stomping around the bedroom. The shower starts a minute later and Izzy’s terrified eyes meet mine from across the table.
“Hey.” I smile as convincingly as I can. “It’s fine. Everything will be fine. Relax and drink your coffee.”
Whether Bobby has an aversion to wasting water, or he just really wants coffee, I’ll never know, but the shower cuts off barely two minutes after it began, and only a handful of minutes after that, he comes stomping downstairs. Stepping into the kitchen silently, he stops and studies us as I smile and pretend the world isn’t on fire, and Iz studies her coffee mug like it's talking to her.
His eyes roam from Iz’s toes to her hair, then he pastes on his own ‘the world isn’t on fire’ smile, drops a kiss on the top of her head and a gentle pat on her shoulder, then he makes his own coffee and flops down in the chair beside me. “Morning, baby.”
He’s ready to explode, his fake smile can’t hide his bunched muscles, but he’s trying. He deserves credit for trying.
I press a kiss to the ball of his shoulder and watch the way that one muscle un-bunches and relaxes. “Morning. Sleep well?”
“Mmhm.” He brings the coffee to his lips and sips on the scalding liquid without a flinch. “Where’s Jack?”
“I’m here.” He walks into the kitchen oblivious to the tense undercurrents in the room. “Morning.” He stops at the coffee pot and pours it straight black, no sugar, no cream, into a super tall mug. My nose scrunches with regret; I think I broke my little brother with the coffee addiction. He’s sixteen and may be a little dependent.
Iz clears her throat awkwardly as Jack sits down roughly and bumps her with his knee. “Sorry.”
“S’okay. Um, Kit?” Her eyes come up to mine. “Do you have plans for today? This morning?”
“Nope, I’m free.” I smile with false excitement.Nothing to see here. Nothing to call the other guys about.Please God, don’t let Bobby call the other guys in. “I left the day open to work on flowers and stuff…”
“Cool, ah, is Tink working?”
“Nope. She left her day open for the same reasons.”
“Okay…” She drops her gaze to her bowl of soggy Cheerios and avoids Bobby’s piercing stare. “Do you think… Could you and Tink come with me today? I want to go shopping for… stuff.” More lies. Does it actually count if the lie is so obvious?
“Uh-huh. I’m not going into the gym today, so we have time. When do you wanna go?”
“In, like, an hour. We can get in and out, then finish your flowers. Can you text Case?”
“Yeah, that’s cool.” I scrape my chair along the floor as I push it back and stand. Brushing my fingers along Bobby’s tense shoulders as I pass, I pick up my phone from the counter and open the message app.
Me:Heads up. Iz and I will be there soon. We’re “going shopping.”
I hit send and wait for her fast response. I know she’s watching her phone like a hawk today.
Tink:Awesome. I need new lingerie. I’ll be ready for the drive by.
I smirk and toss my phone down, and as I move back past Bobby, I imagine Iz and I screeching into Tink’s driveway so she can jump in through the window, then taking off again before the guys catch up.
Dramatic, sure, but that’s what this feels like.
I sit back in my seat and take Bobby’s shaking hand in mine beneath the table. His chocolate eyes watch me closely, and the hurt in them hurts my heart.I’m so sorry. I’m trying to make it better.I squeeze his hand and move my chair closer so I can throw my leg over his. There are secrets everywhere, but they don’t have to get between us.
I pick up my spoon and shovel the iron-rich cereal into my mouth. I have a feeling I’ll need the boost, and I can’t see today being any easier than yesterday.
In fact, I have a feeling it’ll be way worse.