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My jaw dropped, and I quickly snapped it shut before Sage looked at me. Her face was impossible to read at the moment. Even I couldn’t believe Alex had said that.
“They what?” she asked with a dead stare.
“I’m not going to say it again. I feel horrible for even saying it once. I didn’t want to, but they said it needed to be done,” Alex said, his tone subdued.
She stood there, her body rigid. My heart jerked seeing the defeated look in her eyes. Her dad was the only important person she had left in her life. Everybody in this house knew it. Without another word, she ran back to the room and slammed the door.
“I think you’re going to be back on the couch tonight,” I murmured, shaking my head. “What the hell were you thinking?”
He jumped up and motioned for me to follow him. We went out to the front porch, and Alex made sure the door was closed before he started talking.
“I think I’m going to regret that,” he muttered as he sat down in the lone chair.
“You think?” I replied sarcastically.
“I just wanted to make sure she wasn’t going to run again.” He leaned over and put his head in his hands.
“She’s been here for months and hasn’t done anything,” I said, knowing Alex would flip out if I was honest about the paper and truck key Sage had taken.
“I know. Finding that phone scared me.”
“Did the elders really tell you that?”
He hesitated. “No.”
I breathed a small sigh of relief. The group wouldn’t involve innocents unless they absolutely had to.
“Do you really think she still loves me?” he asked.
“After what you just told her, she needs to calm down. But if you make sure she knows it wasn’t your idea, I think it’ll be okay. You’ve forgiven each other for worse.” I didn’t bat an eye as I lied to my brother’s face. There was no way Sage loved him. Though she had gotten good at the front she put on for Alex. The wine she drank every night probably helped.
“I just want things to go back to how they were. We would have had a great life if the trip up north had never happened,” Alex muttered bitterly.
That definitely would have made my life easier. Then I wouldn’t be fighting with myself about the right way of life. The group and the greater good would still be my main focus. Instead of questioning everything.
“I guess we won’t have to worry about her running now.” There was a hint of remorse, but it was quickly fading.
I didn’t say anything. Alex had told her the one thing that guaranteed she wouldn’t run again. And we all knew it.
“I think I’m going to go to Mom and Dad’s house today. Not sure she’ll really want to see me right now.” He stood up. “You good to keep an eye on her?”
I grimaced. She wouldn’t want to be around either of us today. When I did see her, I was going to get a fucking earful.
“Yeah, that’s fine.” I leaned against the railing. “I’m always here anyway.”
Alex went into my room to get changed before leaving the house. I made some food and settled in for a movie, knowing she wasn’t going to come out anytime soon. I almost wished she’d stay in the room. It wasn’t going to be a fun conversation when I saw her. But she’d show herself eventually. She had to eat, and I’d quickly learned that she couldn’t function on an empty stomach. After a few hours, footsteps padded quietly down the hall.
“He left a while ago, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I called out to her, not having the heart to throw out a sarcastic remark. I knew how badly she was hurting from what Alex had said.
After peeking into the kitchen, she came into the living room. She was wearing a pair of baggy sweatpants and a tank top. Her wild fiery red hair was finally free of the dull brown dye, and it was impossible to ignore her raw beauty.
Except she didn’t fully look like herself. Her usually strong-willed eyes were broken. I’d never seen that look on her before. Ever. Not at the house up north. Or when I found her in Kalamazoo. Or even when we found her in Chicago. She finally understood there was no way out.
“Was he telling the truth?” she asked the second she sat down on the couch next to me.
I knew this was coming. I was caught in the middle again. Between my family and this woman who, for some reason, made me question everything.
“What if I say he wasn’t? You going to leave?” I asked, treading carefully. I didn’t want her thinking her dad was in danger. But I also wasn’t about to call out my brother for lying.
“No. I just want to know.”
“Don’t run and everything will be fine.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Yes it is, Sage. You told me you’re in it for the long haul. Because you love Alex.”
Her eyes gleamed dangerously. “It’s my dad. I need to know the truth.”
