My heart beats faster at his words, he included me. Butterflies start swarming in my stomach.
Family? I think I like that.
"That's true!" he says excitedly until his face falls, he turns to me his eyes wide and grabs both of my hands. The others begin chuckling at his theatrics and I soon join in. "It is true isn't it, Little Star? You are younger than me, right?"
As soon as we all realise the reason behind his actions the chuckles turn into full belly laughs, mine included. I don't think I've laughed this much for years, if ever.
My laughter is brought to an abrupt halt when pain shoots through my side. I had forgotten about my ribs. The painkillers that Maverick gave me must be wearing off.
I suck in a sharp breath wrapping my arm around my middle and wincing. The guys all stop immediately and glance at me in concern.
"Come on Titch, it's time for more pain meds. I want you to eat first this time. You don't eat enough as it is, and I don't want the meds to give you stomach pain because you haven't eaten anything. It didn't matter so much earlier, I was too worried about you being in pain and one dose will be okay. I’m not giving you another dose without you eating something though so don't argue." Maverick states firmly.
I stare at him for a minute trying to figure out why on earth he thinks I would turn down a meal and then it clicks. I look around at the others and see they all think the same.
"Fucking hell. You guys think I don't eat on purpose?" I shouldn't find this amusing, but my sense of humour is warped.
They all nod.
I sober up quickly realising they are genuinely worried about me and don't know that if I had the means I could and would mostly likely out eat them all. "I couldn't afford groceries this week, I had to buy my mom’s booze with what little money I had. It's a hell of a lot easier to go without food for a couple of days with only small amounts here and there than it is to deal with my mother."
"You haven't . . . And she? . . . For booze? . . . Fuck!" Hunter is so angry he's not even making sense.
I walk over to him feeling confident and lighter than I think I ever have been. I love that he cares about me. I know he's about to blow so I distract him. I stand up on my tip toes placing my hands on his chest. He lowers his head for me, and I gently kiss him on the cheek.
Electricity once again ignites.
"I see what you mean about the electricity.” He grunts at Kai and Kai just grins back at him.
Grabbing Hunters hand, I pull him towards the door. The others trailing behind me chuckling and muttering about how I "handled" Hunter. I turn around and stick my tongue out at them causing Kai and Jax to snort in laughter.
"Wait! You never told me how old you are?" Jax rushes up to my other side and takes the hand not already entwined with Hunter’s. He turns giant puppy dog eyes towards me.
"Not going to work on me Jax." I chuckle. "I'll tell you anyways though, I'm eighteen."
He whoops and high fives Kai behind him before we all make our way up the staircase in search of food. I look towards the front door as we enter the hallway and see that it's already dark.
"Fucking hell, my mother!" I say panicked "I need to get home.”
Chapter Seven
"No." Kai states firmly. His arms crossed tightly over his wide chest. All signs of the playfulness that was there just minutes before wiped clean.
"Excuse me?" I question in a hard voice.
"You aren't going back there. She hurts you."
My blood boils. I know he means well but he doesn't understand. I have no money, no place to stay and I need to finish my education, so I at least have a small prospect of getting an ok job.
"I have to go back." I state firmly.
"Kai, calm down. Look if Sage wants . . ." Maverick starts before he's rudely cut off by Kai.
"No, do you guys not fucking get it?" He glares at them, his jaw clenched, "she hurts her. I couldn't save our mother but over my fucking dead body will Sage be harmed again."
By the end of his speech his breathing is laboured and his fists are clenched so tight that his knuckles have gone white with the pressure of it.
The anger bleeds out of me. It was his mother he couldn't save. Questions swarm inside my mind but I push them all away.
