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Valentine’s Day
Robbie
Finn screws in the last bolt on the kitchen window, and I put away the tools. Needless to say, my Saturday night plans with Ember changed when I got off the phone with Cruz this morning. After he told me about Serena contacting Chloe and Thad, we talked about how to protect Ember.
Cruz didn’t seem to think Serena was a physical threat, but could cause emotional danger. I didn’t want to agree, but when Ember almost broke down crying in my arms, it was apparent that there was scarring that I wasn’t aware of. To me, she’s so strong about that time in her life, but when being faced with the possibility of seeing her mother, she showed a sense of vulnerability.
Everyone decided it was a good idea to put a security system on the townhouse because it was only a matter of time before Serena or Natalie found where she lived.
Instead of dinner at my house, we all came back so Finn could assess the type of system to install. Ember ordered pizza
and watched us while we secured the windows. Cruz and Alex hung around until they decided to go out.
“Would you guys like a drink?” Ember asks, opening the refrigerator.
“Beer,” Finn replies, and I nod in agreement.
She hands us two bottles and hops on the counter, sipping her wine. “I want to tell you both something. Maybe you know, maybe you don’t, but when you look into her, you’ll probably discover it. My mom had a drug problem, a serious one, not like Chloe who likes her marijuana. Mom was hard-core. She liked cocaine the most. The crowd she was in wasn’t a rough and tough crowd- they were somewhat suburbanites. One time, after my dad was gone, I came home and found her passed out. This was unlike anything before, though because she was barely breathing. It scared me to death, but I knew I couldn’t call the paramedics. So I took care of her. I knew she was alive because I held her wrist in my hand and counted her pulse every thirty minutes.
“When she finally started to come around, she was sick, so sick. I cleaned up her vomit for almost two days. At this point, I was terrified and did try to call the paramedics. She begged me not to, so instead, I did whatever to help her. She never did drugs again. I knew the signs to look for, but they weren’t there. So whatever she needs money for, it’s not drugs.”
“That’s fucking whacked.” Finn takes a long drink of his beer.
She doesn’t answer but shrugs her shoulders with no emotion. I walk over and slide my hips between her knees, wrapping one arm around her waist. “She doesn’t deserve you. Then or now.”
Her face softens and she leans into me, resting her head against my chest. “Last night, your sister told me you guys were protective and bossy. I can see what she’s talking about.”
Finn chuckles. “It’s all with good intentions. I’ll be the first to admit, Raven probably has the most protective one of the bunch. But he has reason to be.”
“Why is that?”
“Raven was kidnapped and held in a basement last year by a crazy girl obsessed with Declan. It scared the shit out of all of us, but he took it to another level. His guilt almost drove them apart. Then he made the stupid decision to keep their engagement private to promote Sayge last summer, which caused her to leave him. So now that he’s got her back, he’s beyond protective of her. His devotion borderlines obsession.”
“I had no idea she was kidnapped.”
“We kept it quiet. The woman is in a mental hospital.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think there are any crazy people coming to kidnap me, but thank you both for all you’re doing.” She lifts her face to mine and kisses me quickly. “If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to go take a quick shower. Help yourself to all the beer you want.”
I step back and she jumps off the counter. Instead of leaving, she goes straight to Finn and throws her arms around his shoulders. “Thank you for everything. But mostly, thanks for not judging me. I’m usually very private about my life. Today, you didn’t show pity. You showed support.” He hugs her back and locks eyes with me.
“Ember, you ever need anything, I meant what I said. You’re family.”
She gives him a quick kiss and leaves us standing in the kitchen.
I grab us another beer and sit down, elevating my leg.
“Shit, didn’t want to believe it, but there’s no denying.”
“Denying what?”
“You’ve found it. You’ve got your girl.”
I remain quiet for a minute, drinking the beer and watching his face. “May be a little soon to declare it, but it feels right.”
