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“We’re tired. We’ve been up for hours, so we’ll probably stay home today to sleep instead,” Rae said, her tone proving that she didn’t trust Nick.
“Not a good idea,” he said, shaking his head. “You won’t sleep. You’ll just worry about your brother. And there’s nothing you can do for him. I’ve got my lawyer on his case. He’ll figure this out. You two will just fall behind in your classes and that’s not good. Get dressed, pack up your school bags, and we’ll go for pancakes.”
Bea’s hands left me completely. “Can we go to the Pancake House?” she asked, falling for exactly what Nick wanted.
I looked down at her and smoothed out her hair.
“Evie, I’m seriously tired. I’m not going to school,” Rae said, sounding more than ticked off now. She frowned at me with an angry look on her face.
“So, you go to school tired. Lots of kids there will be. Many adults show up to work tired, too. You get through the day, keep up with your classes and go to bed early tonight. Now go get ready,” he said, ordering her around. “Time’s running out.” He twisted his wrist and pointed to his watch.
That was all the encouragement Bea needed. She rushed off to the house like a bee was chasing her. Rae was slightly less excited. “Evie,” she said to me in a quiet voice, her eyes open wide. She was clearly annoyed.
“Go, honey, Nick’s right. There’s nothing to do. This will hardly be the first time you’ve gone to school tired.” I smiled at her and kissed her cheek. “I missed you, kid,” I said, letting my arms engulf her and hug her tight.
She let out a long huff, but she hugged me back.
Hard.
When she finally let go, she gazed over at Nick, then back to me. I could tell she wasn’t buying that he was my boyfriend. And she wouldn’t have to.
But for now, this was the easiest way to explain his overbearing presence.
After Rae shut the door behind her, I spun toward Nick. “What was that all about?”
“I’m taking you girls out for breakfast,” he said, grabbing my hand in his.
“You know what I mean,” I whisper-shouted at him, trying to get my hand out of his.
He briefly gazed down at me and said, “Go get ready for breakfast, Evie,” he said my nickname with a particular emphasis.
Then his lips touched mine before I knew what he was doing.
Then, he pulled me toward the house and told me I had ten minutes to get ready.
It took me twenty.
3
Nick
It was worse than I’d thought.
Their house was small and crowded.
But all the houses in this area were.
Old, but not old enough to blow over in the wind.
But damn close.
Thinking of Eve living in a place like this gave me a gut ache like I hadn’t had in a long time.
She deserved so much better than this shithole.
So did her sisters.
Her friend tagged along for breakfast—at my insistence. She’d had a wary look on her face, and I could tell she didn’t particularly care for me.
