Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
JESSICA
I’ve barely made it through the front door when Chris comes storming down the stairs, wearing his favorite cargo pants, a black T-shirt, and a furious look.
“Where the fuck have you been?”
He doesn’t usually pay attention to where I’ve been so I’m surprised he cares now.
“Out,” I reply, ready to go upstairs, take a shower, and change before visiting Mom.
I’m still upset with myself for not stopping by yesterday, but there’s no point in dwelling on it now.
What’s done is done and I’m tired of berating myself for still trying to live my life once in a while.
Since Mom got sick I’ve put my life on hold, but the same can’t be said for Chris.
He’s still out every night doing God knows what with fuck knows who and he still hasn’t visited Mom.
So forgive me if I don’t want to listen to what he has to say.
“Answer me,” he growls, blocking my path. It’s annoying that he’s tall like our dad.
“It’s none of your business.”
The second those words leave my mouth I realize it was the wrong thing to say, but it’s too late now. The words are out and I can’t take them back.
Chris opens his mouth to reply, but his gaze catches on my neck instead. He looks like he’s about to kill as he yanks me closer by my arm and flips my hair away from my neck. I can only guess that Kane left behind a nice little branding for all to see.
Asshole. I swear I’m going to kill him the next time I see him.
“You spent the night with him?” His accusatory tone makes my cheeks flame.
I jerk away or at least try to. He’s got a steel grip on my arm and it hurts, but he’s too angry to notice.
“You fucked him?”
“Let me go.”
“Answer the fucking question.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Summer entering the living room, but I don’t look away from Chris as I lean in close and whisper, “Yes. I fucked him.”
There’s no point in denying it, not when I’m wearing the proof on my skin. Besides, why lie? What’s he going to do? Forbid me from leaving the house? Lock me up? Join the fucking line.
“How could you be so fucking stupid?” he asks, dropping me as if he can’t bear to look at me anymore. “Do you think he cares about you? That you’re special? Are you really that naive? Desperate for attention?”
“Enough!” I shout. It sucks that I’m tearing up, but I refuse to stand here and listen to him talk to me like this, not when I can still feel Kane inside me every time I shift.
“You don’t get to dictate my life, Chris. I’m sick of it!”
I move around him. He grips my arm again, digging his fingers into my skin. I avoid looking at him. I can’t. If I do, I’ll start to cry. That’s the last thing I need right now.
“Chris… Don’t…” Summer’s soft, hesitant voice cuts through the tense air between us. He hesitates. I can feel it. Then he snaps, “This doesn’t concern you.”
I remember a time when he was one of my closest friends.
Back then I looked up to him. Late at night, he’d sneak into mine and Summer’s room with a flashlight and his favorite adventure book.
It was tattered and had a broken spine after years of being handled by grubby children’s fingers but that made it even more special.
We’d hide under the quilt and turn the pages until one of us fell asleep, usually Summer because she was the youngest. We already knew the story by heart so we’d make up our own.
I miss those days when we’d go on imaginary adventures to distant lands. I’m not sure exactly when we stopped, but it happened somewhere between our father’s tenth beer on Thanksgiving and Chris’s introduction to his right hook. My brother had to grow up quickly after that to keep us safe.
“Please, Chris,” Summer pleads quietly, standing meekly in the doorway.
Sometimes I wish she weren’t so soft. This world and all the sharks in it will swallow her whole if she doesn’t toughen up, but other times I hope she never loses her gentle nature. It’s a rare gem.
“Go upstairs.” Our brother’s strained voice leaves no room for argument and she heads back upstairs after a final uncertain glance in my direction.
“What are you gonna do?” I ask him as the steps creak beneath Summer’s feet. “Use your fists like Dad?”
It’s a low blow. A really fucking low one.
My brother would never hurt me or our sister.
I know that. But I still can’t stop myself from lashing out.
There’s this ache in my chest that demands relief, and the only time I feel somewhat sane is when I’m with Kane.
Honestly, I like myself when I’m with him.
The same can’t be said for this version of myself right now. She’s not a nice person.
“I’m gonna pretend you didn’t fucking say that.” Chris looks down at me, but I can’t meet his gaze. “Mark my fucking words when I tell you this, little sis. Ravencourt is not an option for you. Got that? Whore yourself out to him again and see what happens.”
There’s something about our fights that brings out the worst in us. Maybe because there’s deep-rooted trust and love there, which can turn ugly sometimes.
I swing before I can stop myself. His reflexes are quicker. He catches my wrist. We lock in a tense standoff, glaring at each other. He looks ready to kill, and I know the same fury is reflected in my own eyes.
I remember a time when he was my refuge, someone I wanted to share my secrets with. Then we grew up. Look at us now. We’re broken.
This home, this family, is held together by playing cards.
A flicker of regret flashes in his eyes before disappearing just as quickly. He drops my hand with a disgusted scoff and stalks off. The door slams shut behind him, making me flinch. Before the silence can settle, his battered car reverses out of the driveway.
Tears finally fall. My bottom lip wobbles as I wipe my cheeks dry. My heart feels bruised, but there’s no time to recover. Mom needs me. I should spend time with her.
Screw Chris and his stupid pride. Maybe one day he’ll set it aside and do the right thing instead of hiding behind cowardice.
The bell above the café door jingles as Summer and I step inside, warm air wrapping around us, heavy with the scent of roasted coffee and cinnamon. We’re already late. Between losing track of time at the hospital and a road collision that turned the drive into a nightmare, it couldn’t be helped.
Rain is settled at a small table near the window, sipping a steaming cup of coffee while typing on her phone. Her purple hair is swept over one shoulder, a bright streak against her dark tank top. Silver hoops catch the light when she tilts her head.
“Sorry, we’re late.” I pull out a chair and sink into it. My coffee waits for me, dark and steaming in a chipped mug. Thank heavens for small mercies. After the drive we just had, I need caffeine.
Rain sets her phone down. “I already ordered for you both.”
“Have I told you that you’re my hero?”
“Not often enough.”
I blow on my coffee, then take a big sip. God, that’s amazing. A soft moan slips out—coffee magic. Nothing compares to this. I swear you could travel across the country and never find coffee like they make here.
Of course, my thoughts drift to Kane. Not that he’s ever far from my mind. I can’t go more than a few minutes without thinking about him, and it doesn’t help that he fucked me so good last night that even the smallest movement still aches. That fat dick of his? Dangerously addictive.
“Now that’s a dirty little smile.” Rain’s slow grin signals trouble as she leans in. “Don’t keep us in suspense. How was it?”
“How was what?” I ask innocently, even though I’m itching to spill everything.
Summer tears her croissant in half, buttery flakes scattering onto her napkin. “She stayed at his place last night.”
Rain gasps. “You slut!” She slides her latte aside and leans her elbows on the table, her large, pale breasts threatening to spill from her tank top, pulled low enough to reveal a hint of red lace.
Rain’s always been the most sexually adventurous one of us, so it feels strange to be the center of attention for once.
I’m not used to it. She’s usually the one sharing stories about her latest hookups.
“He has a huge dick, doesn’t he?” Rain asks. “He looks like he does.”
Summer giggles, hiding behind her blonde curls.
“Come on,” Rain presses, wiggling her brows. “You owe us the truth.”
“Owe you the truth?” I can’t help smiling at the gleam in her eyes.
“Best friend privileges.” Another eyebrow waggle.
A group of guys passing our table tilt their chins and flash flirty smiles. “Rain, baby,” one of them says, grinning. He’s good-looking, with wavy brown hair and a boyish charm that fools no one here. The kind who’d rail you in the back seat of his car if you weren’t careful.
Rain isn’t impressed. Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks does that to you. Instead, she does what she always does when guys try their luck—flips him off.
His friends burst out laughing. He isn’t fazed. If anything, his smile widens.
“That’s not the attitude you had the other week when you bounced on my dick, baby girl.”
Rain pops her pink gum. “We’re still on that? It was months ago.” She rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Call it a brain glitch, Bruno. Not happening again. Your dick ain’t that good.”
His friends jostle him as they drag him away, and he shoots Rain a grin like a puppy with a bone. She must have a magical pussy or something, because he looks like he’d drop to his knees for another taste.
“You slept with him?” I ask, stirring my coffee.
Rain waves a dismissive hand. “It was at that party at Boone’s house, remember? I’d popped a few pills and Bruno was there.”
She shrugs as if it’s no big deal while I sip more of my heavenly latte.
“We hooked up in Boone’s bedroom. That guy doesn’t get laid much, does he? I stared Chewbacca in the eye while giving Bruno the ride of his life. Talk about a head trip.”
I choke on my coffee, and Summer hands me a tissue to wipe up the spill on the table.