AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I care. We care.”
She needed to end this torture now. He just didn’t get it. The man was thickheaded and so oblivious to her desire for him. He was a blind fool.
“You don’t get it, L.T. You never have, and you never will.”
He released her hand as she took another step away.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“You figure it out. You’re a God damn Marine. It’s all right there in front of you. If you don’t get it, if you don’t feel it, then there’s nothing to talk about.” She headed back inside leaving him standing there. She wanted to growl in anger he’d gotten her so aggravated.
As she opened the door and stepped inside, she smacked right into Axel’s chest. He grabbed a hold of her and sidestepped them to the wall, blocking anyone’s view of them.
“I was wondering where you went. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine.”
“You know we’re here for you if you need anything. I’m sure it’s going to be tough coming back here after all this time.”
She couldn’t believe this. Axel, too? They all still thought of her as a sister.
“Axel, as I just informed the lieutenant outside, I don’t need your assistance with anything. Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a party going on, and your little sister would like to have some fun. That’s what us teenage girls do, ya know.” She snapped at him and stormed away. God help me not to punch one of them in the gut and tell them how I really feel. It would be a complete embarrassment.
* * * *
L.T. walked inside to see Mariah storming away from Axel. It seemed that even Axel had somehow pissed her off.
“What the hell did you say to her out there?” Axel asked him, sounding accusatory.
“I don’t know what the hell just happened out there. What did you say to her?” he asked Axel.
“I asked her if she needed anything and told her that we were here for her.”
“Yeah, well, that seems to be the thing to piss her off. I’ve never seen her so angry. She said something about me not getting it and seeing what was right in front of me.” Axel shook his head.
“I think she hates us.”
L.T. looked at Axel.
“She doesn’t hate us. We’ll get to the bottom of this tomorrow.”
“I think she’s just like most women. She’s got something on her mind and she won’t come out and say it. We’re supposed to figure the shit out and be mind readers,” Axel added.
“I need a beer,” L.T. said and started walking toward the bar.
“You ain’t kidding.”
Chapter 5
Mariah sat at the kitchen table with Uncle Jeb. They’d just finished lunch and Mariah was planning on heading into town. Her uncle was all bruised and battered and his arm was in a cast.
“So, are going to tell me the truth about what happened to you, or are you going to continue to lie to your only blood relative?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest and staring at him. The kitchen still smelled of bacon from their BLT sandwiches on toast.
He looked out toward the window, avoiding eye contact with her as usual.
“I told you what happened.”
“And you expect me to believe that some thug thought you were someone else when he roughed you up? Do I look stupid to you?” He raised his eyebrow at her.
