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That is a welcoming sound and when we enter the kitchen, Lucien is leading her around the floor as if there is music on.
“Ouch,” Lucien complains when Raven steps on his toes.
“I told you I wasn’t good at this,” she reminds him with an unapologetic laugh.
Jayce and I lean on the wall as we watch them. It's nice to see both of them happy, all things considered. It doesn't change the fact that we are here because her uncle died and we have reason to believe he killed his daughter.
Lucien and Raven stop when they notice us watching them.
“Oh, sorry, dinner is ready,” Raven says, her cheeks reddening at being caught.
“Why are you sorry?” I ask, not mentioning her blush. “I was enjoying seeing you smile. We have been through a lot of shit lately. I’ve missed moments like this.”
Her smile returns as Lucien pulls out paper plates and plastic silverware.
“You got the fine china, huh?” I joke and Lucien raises an eyebrow at me.
“He’s joking,” Raven explains. “Let’s eat and get home. I think I’ve had enough excitement for the day.”
Raven
I’m grateful that Eli found my cousin’s journal, but I have some reservations about opening it. The guys are all standing around me, waiting for me to dive in and I can’t make myself do it.
“Could I do this on my own? Just for the first time?” I squeak out, it’s not that I don’t want them to see what she wrote, but these are my childhood best friend’s words and I want to read over them first.
“Of course, Raven," Lucien starts, “we didn’t mean to stand over you like vultures. You take all the time you need.”
The ride home is quiet but they don’t pry. When we get home, I head straight to the bathroom to shower. I feel like there’s a coat of dust on my clothes and body just from being in that house. Tomorrow is going to be a long day but being clean is the only thing on my mind. That is until Pandora’s journal falls from my pocket as I undress.
Not wanting it to get ruined, I place it on the nightstand by the bed before showering. That’s future Raven’s problem, for now, I need to relax.
Eli joins me, nothing sexual just as a means for support, but I have a feeling he needs the intimate contact just as much as I do. After we are both clean, he just holds me, until the water turns cold.
“I love you,” I say with a shiver, placing a kiss on his lips before we exit the shower.
“I love you, too,” he states as he hands me a towel.
We dress for bed and get all cozy and warm when I finally find the courage to grab the book from the little table. It feels heavy in my hand, ominous, and I’m hesitant all over again to open it.
“Guys, let’s give Raven some space,” Eli speaks up. Jayce and Lucien nod in agreement. Jayce grabs some clothes and heads into the bathroom while Lucien places a kiss on my forehead before exiting.
I place a hand on Eli’s when he starts to move from the bed. “You’re not mad, are you?”
“Why would I be mad?” he asks, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I don’t know,” I confess. The last thing I want is for Eli to feel rejected.
“I’m going to make you some hot chocolate. When it’s ready, I’ll bring it in and if you want me to stay just tell me,” he says.
I smile at him, “That would be perfect.” My smile stays in place as he walks to the door, glancing back one last time. He gives me that panty-melting grin before he disappears and leaves me in silence.
My smile falls away as dread settles in my stomach. I have to open it eventually, I guess it’s now or never.
Dear Diary,
Today was supposed to be the day Daddy took me to town to visit with family and go to the store. I got up and had breakfast on the table for us. He came down when I just finished setting it and I could smell the booze coming from him and knew it wasn’t happening. I feel trapped here but I know he’ll punish me if I complain.
My heart broke. She never should have been locked away like that. He was so good at deflecting worries when we all got together and she always seemed so happy. I suspected he wasn’t a great dad. But I’d only read one passage and I am already worried about what he might have done.
