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My shoulders hunch, but I still drag myself up.
“You don’t have to speak to her now,” Mom says. “You can let her cool off for a bit.”
“It’s okay,” I sign and go to find Maya in the sitting room close to the entrance, arms crossed as she studies some of the crowns we made for class as children.
For some reason, Mom chose to display them above the fireplace like some sort of decoration. Maya’s were always more sophisticated than mine, but the teacher praised my crazy patterns. They’re different, she said. Art is about being different, not neat.
“They look so ugly now,” Maya says, still turned away from me. “I don’t know why Mom is being sentimental all of a sudden.”
I won’t step in front of her so she can see me talk. She’s the one who asked me here, so she has to face me. If she ignores me like Nikolai…
Maya turns around, her cheeks red and her eyes glittery. She looks out of sorts, which is so unlike her public image.
“I still love the crowns. They remind me of the times we had fun together,” she says, then sighs. “I’m sorry. I was being irrational and overprotective. I guess it’s hard for me to let you go and I was a bitch about it. I just don’t want to lose you.”
All the anger washes away as easily as it settled there. I simply can’t stay mad at her for long.
“You won’t,” I sign. “We’re twins for life.”
“Does that mean you forgive me?”
“Only if you don’t interfere in my life so negatively again.”
“I won’t. I will try to accept the psycho Landon, I guess.”
“That’s all I need from you, Maya. You’re my best friend and it hurts when you don’t talk to me.”
“I’m sorry.” She hugs me so tight, I can barely breathe. “I’m so sorry, Mia.”
I pat her shoulder to tell her it’s okay. Actually, the thought of never speaking to her again makes me sick, so I’m glad all’s well now.
We hear a commotion at the front door and we head there together.
My steps come to a halt when I see the last person I expected on our front porch.
His face is a map of bruises and one of his eyes is purple, but he still smiles at my parents as he says, “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hunter and Mrs. Sokolov. My name is Landon King and I’m Mia’s boyfriend. May I come in?”
36
KYLE
Having lived my life amongst wolves, I recognize one when I see it.
And this Landon, who claims to be my baby girl’s boyfriend, is undeniably one. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the leader of the pack.
His face is fucked up with a rainbow of colors, but he’s wearing a spotless dress shirt, pressed black trousers, and premium Italian shoes.
Despite the disadvantage of his bruises and the bandage that peeks from the cuff of his shirt and slithers to the back of his hand, he smiles like a respectable gentleman.
Or more like someone who was either taught or learned the specific ways to act like the perfect socially-accepted man.
He stares behind me and my wife and his grin widens as he mouths, “Surprise.”
Mia, who’s accompanied by a frowning Maya, walks carefully toward him, eyes bemused but cheeks tinted in red.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the first time I’ve ever seen my youngest daughter blush.
“What are you doing here?” she signs.
