29. Kai #2
Really, I should be heading home and doing some homework, hitting the weight room for a bit and watching film, but I think being here with her sounds a lot better. “I’d love to.”
By the time we finish making and eating dinner, Holden is home, and we’re all sitting around the table as Daisy tells us all about another girl in her class.
“She tried trading me a meat stick for two Oreos, but what she didn’t know is that I already ate the frosting out of the Oreos.” She grins. “It was a good trade.”
We all laugh before Wren stands, starting to gather the plates. “All right, girls, time to shower and get ready for bed. Justin, please finish your homework.”
Justin groans, leaning back in his chair. “Why don’t you ever boss Holden around?”
“Because I do my homework and chores without being told, so she doesn’t have to?” Holden says, already on his feet, helping Wren gather the dishes and take them to the kitchen.
“So unfair,” Justin mumbles, going to grab his backpack before plopping back down in his seat.
Picking up my plate, I take it to the sink, coming up behind Wren.
I cover her body with mine, sending her a grin when she narrows her eyes at me.
“Sorry. Couldn’t reach the sink.” I drop a chaste kiss to her cheek and hear a gagging sound from behind me.
“Why don’t you go help the girls upstairs, and I’ll handle this? ”
“You sure?” She dries her hands off on a towel, moving to the side and allowing me full access to the sink.
“Of course.” I look to Holden. “We can handle a few dishes again, right?”
He snorts. “Right.”
Wren shakes her head, but heads upstairs with the twins without saying another word.
Holden and I work in silence for a couple minutes before he speaks. “So. You’ve been around more again.”
I nod. “Yup.”
“Are things serious now or what?”
“Direct, huh?” I spend a few extra seconds washing the plate in my hands before handing it to him to dry and put away. “I don’t really know how to answer that. It’s up to her. Right now, I just want to make things a little easier for her, ya know?”
“I get that, and don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it, too. I just don’t want to see her hurt again.”
His words hit, because that’s the last thing I want, so I tell him as much. “I don’t want that either. I want her to be happy.”
We work in silence again, neither of us seeming to have anything to add. Once the last dish is put away, he turns and leans against the counter, arms crossed over his chest.
“It might not be my place, but I never understood what happened. One day, you were coming around all the time; the next, we didn’t hear anything about you, and you even started skipping family holidays for the most part.”
He levels me with a look. “Don’t think I didn’t notice. We all did. I’m happy you’re around, cuz you’re all right and all that, but if you disappear again, Wren isn’t the only one that’ll be upset.”
He has a point, one that I’ve mulled over a lot over the last few days.
“I get that. I really do. I’m not trying to complicate things by being here, and I surely don’t want to add extra stress to anyone if things don’t shake out the way I hope they do.
But I will be leaving again. Not permanently, but I won’t be around as much when I move to Seattle. ”
Holden stares at me before shaking his head. “Like I said, not really my business, but I’ll bust your balls if you hurt my sister.”
Justin chimes in, apparently eavesdropping on our conversation. “Ditto to that.”
“Two against one? Come on now.” I gently clap Holden on the shoulder. “Really, though; I plan on sticking around for as long as your sister lets me.”
He seems to like that answer, which is great because that’s the best I can give him right now. “Wanna play some Xbox?”
“Is your homework done?”
He rolls his eyes. “Don’t start that shit, Mercer.”
I laugh, and we head to the living room, fitting in a game before Wren makes it back downstairs.
“All right, girls are in bed. Justin, you need to shower,” she says, coming to stand in front of me. “And I hate to break whatever this is up, but I know for a fact that someone has a test this week that he needs to study for.”
I look at Holden and shrug. “I don’t have midterms yet, so that must be you.”
He sighs. “It is. I have an algebra test tomorrow, but I don’t need to study more.”
Wren crosses her arms. “If you want an A, you probably do.”
He rolls his eyes but sets his controller down before saying a quick goodbye and heading upstairs.
“And you,” she says, tugging on my hoodie, “need to get home and get some sleep. You have an early workout tomorrow and a big game coming up.”
I stand, stretching, and catch her eyes drop to my stomach that’s exposed. “That I do, but I can always make exceptions if you want me to stay a little longer.”
I try to step into her more, but she pushes me away and starts walking toward the door. “Nice try, bud.”
Chuckling, I follow her to the door, grabbing my keys from where I laid them on the counter earlier. We walk to my car before she turns to me, finally wrapping her arms around me and laying her head on my chest.
I kiss her head, breathing in the smell of her strawberry shampoo. I could stay here all night, but she’s right; I do need to get back to my place.
“Text me when you get home,” she says, pulling back enough to look up at me.
“So bossy,” I tease, leaning down to kiss her.
“Took that one from you.”
I kiss her once more because she can take anything from me that she wants. Besides my heart, anyway.
She stole that years ago.