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“And the problem with that is?”
My elbow rests on my knee as I lean in waiting to hear the answer as well. Eli’s sister is hardly ever around.
I don’t know the exact reason she got sent away because Eli doesn’t like bringing it up and I never cared enough to push. Mostly she’s only home on breaks or holidays. Her appearance is rare and if I didn’t know him better, I’d have thought—like most people assume—that he’s an only child.
That doesn’t stop them from video chatting or texting all the time though. Even from states away, he’s watching out.
“The problem,” Eli clarifies, unamused by Finn’s antics. “Is thatwe’regraduatingthisyear.”
“So?”
“So, that means she’ll be graduating from her school and coming back here for high school.”
“That’s awesome, man,” Finn says, being supportive. “You’ll all be back together under one roof.”
“Uh.” That one word coming off like a duh. “Did you forget that we’ll also be graduating? Going off to college?”
Finn’s forehead creases. “What’s wrong with that?”
“If I’m not around, I won’t be able to protect her from whores like you. It was one thing at an all-girls school, but next year will be different. I know the types that run this place.”
“Come on, don’t be so controlling. Let her live.” Finn glowers, bottom lip jutting out as he fakes his offense at the less-than-subtle comment. He knows how he is and fully embraces it.
I snort, Finn’s comment is rich coming from him.
Anyone with eyes has known the girl has had a crush on him for years.
He’s never once reciprocated it but that hasn’t stopped those eyelashes of hers from fluttering with the speed of a hummingbird’s wings in his direction at parties or events.
“I’m her brother,” Eli states, outraged.
“She’ll be alright.”
Eli tips his chin. “What about you guys? Are your family’s coming?” he asks, quick to shift the topic.
The question is open to anyone but we both know it isn’t directed at me. They both know my father would never make the time. Even if he did have it, he’d find something to fill it with, so he’d have the excuse.
A normal person would take it personally, but I shed that like a newborn does to a mother’s womb pretty early on.
“Don’t call Abram that,” Finn demands, showing his teeth. “He’s not my family or my dad anymore.”
“Isn’t he?” Eli asks as his hands grip the bench beneath his thighs. “Up until recently you never would have thought otherwise.”
“Just because someone provides a house and food doesn’t make them instantly a father.”
Don’t I understand that one.
“What does then?” Eli says, pushing forward in his spot. “Was it the fact that he gave you everything? Supported you. Hell, he let you play out this season uninterrupted, unlike Silas did with Cole. What hasn’t he done?”
“He never told me the truth,” Finn yells, face full of menace, which Eli meets unblinking.
“Do you even know if he knew that for himself?” he demands, defending Abram for some reason.
The air is so thick between those two it’s like trying to breathe underwater.
“You think Abram would’ve treated you any different had he known?” Eli throws back, unafraid. “You think you would have turned out better if you what? Grew up as Cole had? We all know how Silas treats women,” he mocks. “What if it’d been Rory and not Cole’s mom?”
Not once have I wanted to interject but at the mention of my mother and how things ended with her my skin crawls. Reigniting, it’s like an inferno across my skin in the form of chilled goose bumps.
