#2
“I’ve allowed you more freedom than I typically would.
” The skin around Dad’s lips glows white as he shoots a fiery glare my way.
His furious tone makes even Koda sit still.
“I’ve swallowed my words and given you space, since I know things are tense.
But you’re gonna find your respect, son.
You didn’t speak to your mother this way before Scarlett came along, and I assure you, you won’t speak to her this way after Scarlett leaves again.
Watch your mouth, or I’ll close it for you. ”
“You already know the answers to your questions! You’ve been reading her texts since she got here.
You’ve heard every phone call she’s made.
You’ve intercepted every single fucking communication she’s had.
” I bring my eyes back to my mother and sneer.
“You had her believing tonight’s invitation was a genuine attempt at friendliness. ”
“It was! I swear—”
“But you question her about things she doesn’t need to talk about?
You apologize for your coldness toward her since she arrived, but at least that behavior was real!
At least she knew where she stood. This fake shit?
” I look at my Dad. “You get coffee with her almost every single morning. She’s scared, but at least she figures you’re decent enough.
You’re a connection to me, and the other connection, the one she’d prefer,” I growl toward my mother, “terrifies her. If you wanna hate her, hate her. If you wanna interrogate her, interrogate her. But do it with your full chest. Own what you’re doing, because she deserves to know you’re full of shit. ”
“I was trying to find common ground to discuss,” Mom declares quietly.
“It’s clear she loves her brother very much, just as it’s clear I lack social skills and the art of small talk, so I did my best to center our discussion on this person she loves.
Sure, I ran out of questions, so I asked some I already knew the answers to, but don’t you dare sit there and lecture me, Sebastion.
Don’t criticize my efforts. Not when you’ve read every single text she’s sent, too.
You’ve listened to every phone call. Every morning when she thinks you’re asleep and sneaks out of your room to have coffee with your father, you’ve allowed that lie to continue.
The other morning, when you followed her to the security room with a gun in your hand and a prayer on your lips?
That was just another lie in a string of many.
” She firms her jaw and looks me up and down.
“Don’t talk to me about dishonesty, not when you share a bed and lack the courage to admit you’re just like the rest of us.
You know her every texted thought, Sebastion.
You’ve heard every whispered I miss you and want to come home shared with her brother.
You’ve read every single scornful and scathing comment she’s made about me.
About your father.” She pauses for a beat, all to dig her point in deeper. “About you.”
“How the hell am I supposed to tell her?” I shove up from my chair and slam it back against the table.
“She needs someone to trust! She needs to know I have her back in this hellhole she considers a prison. For her own mental well-being, she needs to feel safe. So how the fuck is admitting that shit helping anyone? Least of all her.”
“I don’t think you should tell her.” Stony and sad, Mom folds her arms and flattens her lips.
“I agree that she needs someone to trust, and my behavior over these last few weeks excludes me from being that person. Telling her achieves nothing but assuaging your own guilt. But don’t look me in the eye and pretend you’re something you’re not.
” She exhales a heady breath, shrinking her chest and swallowing whatever bitter flavor sits on her tongue.
“And for the record, I really was trying tonight. This dinner was supposed to be about celebrating Uncle Bas.” She glances his way and softens in response to his droopy eyes.
Then back to me. “It’s clear to me Scarlett matters to you, baby.
And there is nothing in this world that matters to me more than my family.
Believe it or not, but I don’t want you to tell her about the texts.
I don’t want her to realize the person she clings to is about as trustworthy as the people she openly denigrates.
What started out as a completely reasonable security measure has now stretched into something that’ll send her running, and I’m terrified that even if she’s running from you, you’ll still follow.
Tonight was about welcoming her into my family.
It was about ensuring my family stays together.
I’ll apologize to her myself if my questions felt like an interrogation, but what I will not apologize for is loving my son so much I would do anything, say anything, and dine with anyone, if it means not losing him. ”
“Y’all better shut up already,” Koda chirps, leaning halfway out of his chair in an attempt to look into the hall. “She’s gonna hear you bickering.” Giving up on his efforts, he simply drops to his feet and wanders to the doorway. “Maybe I should be her boyfriend? I didn’t lie to nobody.”
“She’s taking an awfully long time to pee,” Uncle Bas rumbles sleepily. “I think you’ve got yourself a runner, boy.”
Shaking my head, I drag a hand through my hair and groan. Because they’re right. All of them. Monitoring Scarlett’s phone from day one was smart, and technically, we told her that first night about the security software that would scan everyone’s texts.
But telling her now, after painstakingly earning her trust, would be insane.
Morally right… but insane.
I exhale a gusty sigh and squeeze Bas’ shoulder. “Are you good to get back to your room, old man? Need a little help?”
“Eh.” He pats my hand. “I reckon Mav and your dad can handle it. Go talk that pretty girl down from whatever crazy plan she’s concocting before it gets us all wounded.”
“Yeah.” Fuckin’ awesome. I move across the room and fist Koda’s hair, twisting him around and forcing his head back until our eyes meet.
Since he’s the innocent one here, I lower into a crouch and fake a smile.
“You don’t get to be Scarlett’s boyfriend, Booger Brain.
I kinda like her. Like…” I grab his hand and press it to my chest. “Right up in here. I kinda even love her, with the capital L and everything. But don’t tell Mom, because she gets defensive about this stuff and shows her ass because she thinks she’s being replaced or some shit. ”
Behind me, Mom’s breath catches and grief makes her hurt.
Good. For right this minute, while I’m hurting, I’m glad she’s hurting, too.
“But…” I ruffle his hair and straighten my legs. “Since you miss out on being Scarlett’s boyfriend, I say you can have my dessert.”
His eyes flare comically wide. “Double desserts? Really?”
“Triple, actually. Since Scarlett didn’t have hers either. Sit your big butt at the head of the table and eat all three bowls of whatever we were gonna get. I’m pretty sure I can smell apple pie in the oven.”
He bobs his head enthusiastically. “I looooove apple pie!”
“I know you do.” I drag him in and wait for his customary leg hug. But when he’s done, I straighten my spine and drop my chin to my chest.
Time to face the fire.
Here’s hoping she hasn’t assumed the worst already.