“FUCK YOU!” I shout, ramming my shoe into the bin again, and it knocks over and rolls on the ground.
I’m not done.
Another hard kick sends rubbish flying everywhere and I bend down to pick up the bin, hauling it down the path.
Breathing hard, I lock eyes with my sister, who takes another long sip of her drink while she watches me calmly as if it’s common practice to see her brother beat the shit out of random objects.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I grumble, and she gives me a look that says,“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“What did the bin ever do to you?” she asks as she rests her forearms on the car roof.
A reluctant smile tugs at my lips, and she matches it before she pops a shoulder. “Told you the evil queen bee wasn’t worth it.”
Glancing down the length of the road at the passing vehicles, I work my jaw… It’s not like I can tell her that my outrage isn’t about Amy. Right now, I kind of wish a girl was behind this outburst.
It sure would be easier. At least I could talk about it.
I drop my head back with a heavy sigh and dig my fingers into my eyeballs.
The sad truth is, Amy could never drag these raw emotions out of me, and that’s fucking terrifying. I don’t recognize myself anymore. Honestly, I never knew I had all this rage inside me.
Warm arms wrap around me, and I drop my hands, holding them out by my side. “What are you doing?”
“I’m hugging you.” She peers up at me, chin on my chest. “Is that so weird?”
“A little, yeah.” My chest burns, but it feels good too. Like she’s putting a plaster over the gaping wound on my chest, oneof those my mum would give me as a kid with dinosaurs or zoo animals. It’ll never hold, but I’ll take it for now.
She laughs softly and buries her cheek in my chest. “I don’t know why you’re so angry, Zach. I’m here if you want to talk.”
I hug her back, the tension easing a little in my shoulders. “I’ll never live it down if any of my teammates drive past and see this.”
“Eh, screw them.”
Chuckling, I untangle myself. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
Thanks to my sister, I feel slightly calmer when I slide in behind the steering wheel.
I reach over to ruffle her hair, but she sees it coming and bats me off.
“Stop that, you big oaf,” she laughs, and I smile again as we rejoin the traffic.
CHAPTER TEN
Although my sister calmed me down earlier, it was only temporary, and by the time Arkin arrives home—far later than expected—I’m pacing my room and pulling on my hair so hard that my scalp prickles.
I don’t want to admit that I’ve been worried about him, but now that he’s home, I can’t stop wondering where he’s been all this time.
Yes, it’s a long walk home, but it isn’tthatlong.
The moment the door opens and shuts downstairs, I freeze mid step. Mum’s voice drifts up from downstairs; she’s probably trying to convince Arkin to take a plate of food.
His heavy steps sound on the stairs, and my heart climbs up my throat. My eyes lock on the handle, like it’s a venomous snake that might strike at any second. The floorboards creak outside my room, and then the door swings open.
I fist my hands at my sides as he steps in and drops his bag with a thud. He doesn’t even look at me, just tries to brush past, but I’m already raging on the inside. He’s delusional if he thinks I’ll let this go.
I block his path, refusing to let him slip by. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
We stare at each other. Arkin tries to round me, but I shove him back. “You don’t get to come back here and pretend nothing happened. You hear me, punk?”
