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She makes me wait it out before finally replying with a “love you” GIF that cracks me up. The fact that she’s complaining about math and Mama is a good sign. No mention of Dad, which is what I always like to see.
Clenching my jaw, I stalk into the kitchen, trying to shake off memories—screams and the dull sound of knuckles hitting flesh followed by those stomach-convulsing whimpers and the soft begging to stop.
I’d hide in the closet with my two sisters, trying to be brave and strong while Mama took those beatings. I wanted to go help her, rescue her, but she made me promise not to. Seeing her son black and blue was more than she could handle. After the first few times I got in the way, she made me swear to hide my sisters and keep them safe. Even though I was the middle child, she looked to me. Treated me like I was the oldest and strongest. It was my job to protect the girls.
And that’s exactly what I did, until I was big enough to make a difference.
Until the night he nearly killed her, and I broke my promise.
I chug down a glass of water and lean against the counter, staring out the window. My lips start to twitch as I notice some flakes dancing past the glass. Snow. It’s only a few flakes, and it won’t turn into a proper snowfall, but just the promise is enough to make me feel better.
Glancing at my watch, I check the time and figure the guys will all be piling in soon enough. The due date for my big assignment is looming, so I bailed on Offside and figured I’d jog home for my cardio today. Yes, I’ve already done practice, but it wasn’t an intense one, and I still had energy to burn.
Ethan was happy to be designated driver, so I’m off duty and like being a free man for the night. Zero responsibility. It’s a nice change.
I’ve got the house pretty much to myself—I can hear Baxter in the shower—so I’ll take the chance to get some reading done and try to nail down my assignment plan before the house is bustling with bodies and noise.
Wandering through to the stairwell, I’m about to climb up to my room when the doorbell rings.
Not thinking twice about answering the door shirtless, I swing it open and am surprised by the audible gasp that greets me.
Big green eyes hooded by a long set of bangs bulge at me before the nervy woman looks at the ground. “Um… uh… Hi.”
“Hey.” I grin, gripping the door and relaxing my pose, hoping to put her at ease.
Her gaze flutters over mine again before running down the length of my body. I figure since she’s perusing, I can do the same thing, so I study her from head to toe. She looks around my age with a long, lean body. Like, really lean. Her leggings leave nothing to the imagination. I can already tell that if she turns away from me, I’ll get a perfect view of a very tight little butt. I swallow and track my eyes back up her body, lingering on her oval face and struck still by those big green eyes. They really are beautiful.
My chest constricts, and I grip the door a little tighter when I think I spot a flash of fear coursing through them. But then she blinks, and it’s gone.
She gives me a polite, closed-mouth smile, then looks to the ground, the porch light above her highlighting the chestnut brown of her long, straight hair.
“Can I help you with something?” I keep my tone light and friendly.
“Maybe.” She rubs her forehead, messing up her bangs with those shaky fingers.
This one’s twitchy.
Oh man, I hope she’s not standing at the door with some surprise pregnancy news. The rate the guys in this house sleep around, it really wouldn’t be that surprising.
I wince, just waiting for her to ask for Asher or Casey—yep, it’s got to be Casey—but instead she murmurs, “I’m looking for Mikayla Hyde. I think she lives here?”
“Oh yeah.” My voice brightens. “She does.”
Her shoulders sink with relief, and that’s when I notice the suitcase at her feet.
“She’s not home right now.”
The girl’s eyes jump back up to mine. And there’s that flash of fear again.
“But you’re welcome to come in and wait for her,” I continue, adding a smile for good measure. “I don’t think she’ll be too much longer. She’s out with?—”
“Ethan,” she finishes for me, then let’s out a soft laugh that almost sounds sad. “Of course she is.”
I frown, wondering who this woman is and why she has a problem with Ethan. Her jacket rustles as she crosses her arms and looks over her shoulder. The snow is picking up just a little. A few light flakes float around her, some landing on the ends of her hair before melting away.
“So… do you want to come in and wait for her?” I step aside, gesturing for her to get her cute little butt inside.
She gives me a cautious look, her dark eyebrows crinkling.
