Chapter 10 #5
“You be a good girl for Lee and Casey, alright? You do what they say.” She gave her a little kiss on her nose, and Amelie giggled.
She set her daughter down and headed over to the guys standing at the door, but Vail had moved away, walking right up to Lee and me, standing so close I couldn’t help but wish he’d stop being such a prick already.
“And you listen to Lee,” he said, ruining any moment of weakness I’d felt for him. When I narrowed my eyes, Vail leaned down, his hands clasping my upper arms as he turned me to face him. “I mean it, Casey!” he snapped, giving me a little shake.
“Jeez, Vail! Chill! What the hell do you think I’m gonna do?” I shook him off me and climbed off Lee’s lap.
“It’s been a long time since you lived here, Casey,” Vail said sharply, following me closely.
When I turned away, he snatched my wrist and tugged me into the dark hallway, away from everyone else, and pressed me against the wall with his hips.
“It’s not like when we were kids, darling,” he whispered, his face cold and lifeless.
“The shit that’s happened, that could happen…
it's life and death. And I don’t think you understand that. ”
“Give me some credit, Vail,” I hissed at him, raising my chin a little in a challenge. “I don’t have a death wish. I’m not gonna run out of here or let strangers into the apartment-”
Vail slammed his hand over my head, and I shut up, staring up at him wide-eyed, knowing he could see how much he scared me.
He leaned close, so close that the tips of our noses brushed each other.
“Goddamn it, Casey!” His lower lip trembled ever so slightly, and he licked it, his eyes staring deep into mine in a way that knocked the air from my lungs.
“It’s not the time for your smart-mouth.
I’m fucking serious…” I felt the brush of his rough, calloused fingers as they stroked along my collarbone.
His touch on my skin made my breath catch, and he heard it.
Vail sagged a little, his stony demeanor falling just the tiniest fraction, and he lightly touched his forehead to mine, closing his eyes.
“Why did you come back?” he whispered at last, his voice strained like he was in pain.
I deliberated, trying to remember how to breathe at that moment.
Vail had always rocked my emotions and had always had this weird power over me.
But when I was younger, I took it as a sign of his natural right as leader of our little group.
Now? He seemed like he was battling some inner turmoil.
Something was tormenting him. What, I didn’t know, but the way he whispered those words made it feel like a knife was cutting into my heart.
“Mom…” I breathed.
Vail’s eyes snapped open, and having him see me when I spoke was too much. I stared down at the floor to where his feet stood on either side of mine. “What happened?” he asked gently.
I sucked in a shaky breath between my teeth, memories of my mother now rushing back, haunting me. “She’s gone, Vail.”
His hand at the base of my throat paused, and then ever so slowly, he lowered it, sliding it down until it rested right over my heart.
I tentatively peered up at him and saw the broken look in his eyes when he finally nodded and looked away, his gaze resting at a spot over my head.
He understood precisely what I meant when I said she was gone.
Here, in this place, gone meant just that.
Nevermore. When he met my eyes again, his expression seemed less troubled.
In fact, it had morphed completely, as though that battle in his mind had finally ended, and one side had won.
Hand still pressed to my heart, Vail leaned in, his lips brushing over mine, while his other hand cupped my cheek and murmured, “We’re your family now.
” Without another word to me, he let go, striding away with a new purpose, his posture confident and ready.
“Okay, guys. Let’s get going. I want to be back here no later than three. ”
The others all nodded, having not heard our whispered conversation, and went to follow his orders.
Eli was already gone, and Meredith and Haldon gave Amelie another kiss goodbye before they followed Vail out.
I stepped back into the living room to see Shaw lingering, waiting.
He watched me, his face as cold and expressionless as always, but something in his eyes was burning into my soul.
“Shaw?” I was still trembling from my interaction with Vail, but seeing Shaw looking so conflicted makes me nervous. Was he about to go off the deep end again?
Shaw, however, suddenly stormed toward me, the dark shadows under his eyes giving him an almost gaunt expression.
But I was caught off guard when he embraced me tightly, holding my face in his hands, and crushed his mouth to mine.
Shaw’s lips had always been pouty and full, and when he kissed me, I could feel how soft they were.
They moulded to mine, his hold fierce and intense.
His lips moved against mine, and when the shock wore off after a few seconds, I kissed him back.
It didn’t last long, but when he pulled back, still holding me, he was breathless, and I could see the tiniest fraction of light in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. They were less strained, his cheeks slightly pinked, bringing colour into his face for once.
“Listen to Lee,” he rasped, giving my forehead a soft, goodbye kiss, and turned, stalking out behind the others before closing the door securely behind himself.
Lee, who had been standing off to the side, slid the locks into place, looking the slightest bit miffed, while Amelie giggled. “Ewww… you kissed a boy!”
I quickly turned away before Lee could cast me a judgemental glare and reached into the plastic bag of goodies. “Hey Amelie, do you like bubbles?”