Chapter 21 Lost Your Mind?
He wasn't used to it. Frowned slightly. Started typing.
X: [Why not?]
SadSweetie: [Because I already finished.]
Hayes froze.
X: [Oh.]
He didn't like it. So his tone went cold.
Every time he replied with just "yeah" or "oh," Luna would spend forever coaxing him.
So Hayes had gotten used to playing hard to get with Luna.
Hayes put the phone down. Pulled out a math competition workbook. There was a national competition in December, seniors only. He wanted to bring home a trophy for the school.
After finishing a problem, Hayes opened his phone, smug. The smile on his lips froze.
Luna had. Not. Replied. At. All.
-
Luna saw the "oh" and closed the chat.
Opened a game. Played happily.
She and Leo lived on the second floor. Their parents had the floor above.
Charles had showered. He stood at the window, smoked slowly. He thought about his daughter. Her head down. Crying. He bit the filter. Let out a long sigh. Crushed the cigarette out. Dropped it in the ashtray.
He turned and left.
He was sleeping in the study now.
Separate from the master bedroom by a walk-in closet.
He stood outside the bedroom door. A few seconds. Who knows what he was thinking. The hallway light behind him. His face in shadow.
A few more seconds passed. Charles made up his mind. Pushed the door open.
Past the folding screen, he saw her. Kneeling on a cushion. Eyes closed. Praying to a Buddha statue.
Stella didn't seem to hear him. Eyes closed. Devout.
Charles's throat bobbed. "Do your knees still hurt?"
Stella opened her eyes. When she was young, those eyes could talk. Bright. Wet. Alive. Now they were dead. Ash.
"No."
She stood. The dress that used to fit hung loose on her now.
She looked at Charles. "You need something?"
Charles's gaze swept over her thin shoulders. A dull ache in his chest. "We lost Little Treasure. But we still have two children."
Stella stopped breathing.
Her eyes went red. "You don't get to say that name!"
Charles seemed to want to say more. Swallowed it. "I know. I didn't come to beg or explain. I know you're hurting. But don't forget. Luna and Leo are still growing up."
He turned and left.
Stella watched his back in silence. The door clicked shut. She turned back to the Buddha's compassionate face. A tear slid down.
Her sins were heavy. Anyone close to her would suffer.
-
Early the next morning.
Leo was up early. He was almost done eating when Luna came downstairs.
She usually couldn't be bothered with her hair. It was smooth enough that leaving it down looked good. But today she'd put it up in a messy bun. A crystal clip on the side. Humming. She pulled out the chair next to Leo, cheerful.
"Helen, can I have a hot milk?" Her voice was bright. Bubbly. Full of energy.
"Coming right up!" Helen answered fast.
Leo had a breakfast sausage clamped in his teeth. His narrow eyes went wide. Stared at Luna.
Luna hummed. Picked up a golden slice of toast. Spread Helen's homemade blueberry jam on it. Bit in. "So good. Helen, this blueberry jam is so good."
Helen brought a hot milk, beaming. Set it beside Luna. "If you like it, I'll make more."
"Yes!" Luna said, bright.
She tested the milk. Warm enough. Took a sip.
She finally noticed Leo's stare. Turned her head slowly. They locked eyes. "What?"
Leo bit the sausage in half. Tossed the rest onto his plate. "Did you... take crazy pills today?"
"Nope." Luna bit into her toast. Grinning. "You're the one on crazy pills."
Leo was more weirded out.
He told her she was crazy. She didn't get mad. She smiled.
He rubbed his brow. "Then why are you so happy? Did the breakup mess with your head?"
"Ha." Luna scoffed. "What breakup? My eyes are finally fixed."
Leo was quiet for a few seconds. "Okay. Now I believe you're over him."
Luna sipped her milk. "It's past 'not liking him' now. It's evolved. If he has bad luck, I'm happy."
"Oh. So you're this happy because he's about to have bad luck?"
"Pretty much." Luna finished her toast, drained her milk, and rushed Leo out the door.
-
Rory's right eye had been twitching since she woke up.
The room was stuffy. She yanked the curtains open, pushed the window up. Street vendors' calls mixed with fresh air flooded in.
She checked her phone.
Hayes had replied after she fell asleep.
Hayes: [Sorry! My mom dragged me to an event tonight. Just got home.]
Hayes: [Don't worry. Luna was just throwing a tantrum. She won't actually ask you for the 900k.]
The corner of Rory's mouth lifted.
She knew it. Hayes wouldn't ignore her.
The anxiety drained out like the tide.
She sent back a sweet "Okay."
A weight off her chest. Rory changed into her school uniform. Sat at her desk, pulled her hair into a high ponytail in the mirror.
She wasn't satisfied. Tugged loose strands out to frame her face. Westbrook didn't ban makeup. She pulled a tube of pink lipstick from her jewelry box. Bought last week at the drugstore.
Twisted off the cap. Dabbed it on her lips.
Checked the mirror one last time. Satisfied. Left the room.
The tiny living room smelled of fried dough. Penny carried a plate of soup dumplings she'd made that morning. Set them on the folding table.
She heard footsteps. Smiled. "Rory's up! Come eat."
"Coming!" When Rory smiled, her eyes curved into crescents.
She sat next to Jax.
The second she sat down, Jax finished his porridge. Grabbed a tissue. Wiped his mouth. "Mom, I'm heading out."
Rory blinked. "You're not walking with me?"
Jax stopped.
Backpack on. Tall. He looked back at Rory.