Chapter 83
eighty-three
EZRA
“You ready?” I ask Kai. We’ve been sitting in silence the entire drive back to our childhood home.
Kai is sitting in the backseat with Belle and hasn’t stopped scowling out the window.
Jo is in the front with me, and I keep catching her sharing worried glances with Belle.
I get it. Our mom has been awful to Kai since I disappeared, and our dad came with me.
I didn’t know about that until this morning when Kai told me what to expect when we got there.
I’m having a really hard time aligning the woman I remember with who Kai described.
“No,” Kai grumbles. I don’t think I am either. I thought I was until I pull onto the street and our old house comes into view.
“Whose car is that?” Belle asks.
“Shit,” I mutter, pulling into the driveway and parking next to the black sedan.
“Dad’s here.” This is just what I need. I already spent two hours at the police station explaining how I got into that bunker in the first place.
Which would be that I don’t know. They also wanted me to ID Noelle, but I told them I didn’t know who she was and that she was there when I got there.
They didn’t like that answer, but that’s all they were getting, and they knew it.
“What?” Kai barks, sitting straight up in the seat. I watch him in the rearview mirror as he tries to decide if he wants to go inside and confront our parents or flee.
“Let’s go,” Belle says gently, squeezing his hand before getting out. Kai closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before following her.
“Ready to meet the parents?” I try to joke, but it falls flat. Jo smiles before leaning over and kissing me. I still can’t believe it’s something I get to do. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to having her and Maverick.
“Let’s go. If your mom knows how to find Maverick, then this will be worth the therapy bills.”
“Malikai!” I turn at the sound of my dad’s voice, watching him race out of the house and engulf my brother in a fierce hug.
This is the dad I remember. The loving and soft one.
His whole personality switches off when he’s working, and I don’t think he’s stopped working a single moment since he helped me disappear.
Jo steps closer to my side as Belle watches Kai nervously. He hasn’t moved. His whole body is tense and still as a statue. Our dad doesn’t seem to mind that his hug isn’t being returned. When he finally lets go, it’s just to turn and grab me, bringing me flush to my twin’s side.
“Why is this so awkward?” I hear Jo whisper to Belle. Kai must hear her too because he laughs. It must be contagious because before I know it, we’re all laughing on the walkway to my parents’ house.
“I know I have a lot to make up for,” Dad starts, but Kai holds up a hand to stop him.
“I know what you were protecting Ezra from. I forgive you. I’d really like it if you were in our lives.” Kai grabs Belle by the hand and pulls her into his side.
“It’s so lovely to see you again, Bellamy,” Dad says, pulling her into a quick hug. “And you must be Jo. It’s wonderful to meet you.”
“Yes, it is,” Jo says, offering him a handshake when he tries to hug her. I snort. I can’t help it. “I haven’t decided how I feel about meeting you yet.”
“I think we’re going to get along just fine,” Dad says, accepting Jo’s handshake. He eyes our joined hands and raises a brow but doesn’t comment on it.
“Is Mom inside?” Kai asks, shifting from one foot to the other.
“She is. Let’s go have a discussion.” Dad leads the way. Kai and I quickly bump our shoulders together before following him.
“Let’s get this over with,” Kai grumbles.