Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 102708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“I know what he’s doing, but it doesn’t give him the right to throw it in my face every chance he gets!”
“Why do you think he does that to begin with?”
“Oh, now this is all my fault?”
“Maybe before you start firing off at the mouth next time, look in the mirror first. It’ll show you why.”
He watched me with an inquisitive stare for a moment before he moved to grab the bag of peas out of the freezer to place on his lip, hissing upon contact.
“You need to rinse that cut with salt water to remove the bacteria.”
“You go from my lecturer to my doctor in a split second.”
“Yeah, don’t forget, nurse.” Reluctantly, I made my way to the sink and grabbed a clean cup.
Reaching for the salt next, Kraven beat me to it. He was hovering above me for a second, and the instant I realized how close he was, I backed away.
If my response hurt him, he didn’t show it one bit. He was back to being the boy with his guard up. Instead of beating a dead horse, I left and went into Julius’s room. Knowing there was no getting through to him anymore. He devoured what I was starving for.
I didn’t regret it.
Julius didn’t deserve any of it.
Starting with me…
JULIUS
By the time I walked back into the house, it was well past three in the morning the following night. The amount of Red Bull I drank to stay awake needed to be studied, though I managed to work and make a shit ton more money. I wasn’t ready to go back to that house and face all those demons that were adding up by the minute.
I quickly stepped inside, locking the door behind me. Isla wasn’t on the couch or on the back porch, but I did find small G.I. Joe figurines on the steps. I hesitated for a moment, like I always did when I unexpectedly found something out here.
In one quick swoop, I kicked the figurines off the porch and watched them scatter all over the ground. I searched the street to see if I could see anyone, but there was nothing but dead-silent air all around me.
When no one was there, I spun, making my way back inside, stopping dead in my tracks as soon as I saw Isla standing behind me.
“How long have you been there?” I asked, expecting an actual answer this time.
“Long enough, but that’s not the first time I’ve seen you do that.”
“What else have you seen, Isla? Or better yet, what else have you and Kraven talked about?”
In three strides, she was sitting on the porch step, patting next to her. I drew a steady breath to get my emotions in check, then joined her.
Once I was sitting, she openly shared, “I don’t know how to answer any of your questions without implicating your brother, and I don’t want to come between the two of you more than I already have.”
“How do you expect me to feel?”
She bowed her head. “I understand.”
“Do you?”
She glanced at me with sincerity. “I swear I do. I didn’t speak to Kraven first on purpose, I promise. I’d never hurt you like that.”
“Then what happened?”
She shrugged.
“So now you’re protecting him?”
“I just saw you beat his face in. Can you blame me?”
“Trust me,” I reassured. “This isn’t the first time Kraven has been punched in the face.”
“It is by you.”
Considering her remark, I changed the subject. “Since you’re avoiding my question, is it safe to assume Kraven’s in trouble again?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re just a wealth of information,” I snapped. “What can you tell me?”
Without pause, she leaned her head on my shoulder. “That I’m so sorry.”
The sudden quiet comforted me, and I took shelter in that. My shoulders slumped, my chest loosened, and I leaned my head against hers. I accepted her apology, still uneasy with what Kraven did now.
Getting back to us, I asked, “Were you at least going to talk to me soon, or was the silent treatment going to continue with only me? If I hadn’t walked in on you two, were you going to approach me? Were you going to tell me the truth and just start talking to me? What was the plan here?”
“Julius…” she lured, holding my arm, placing it in her lap. “You know it’s not like that between us.”
“No,” I countered. “I don’t. This is the first time we’re having a discussion. I don’t know anything about you. At this point, Kraven knows more than I do.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.”
“Why?”
“Because I care about you.”
“I care about you, too,” she exclaimed, turning to face me. “You’re the only reason I’m okay right now, and I’ve never been okay, Julius. You mean more to me than anyone ever has. I have absolutely no idea where I’d be if it weren’t for you and your kindness. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me and everything you continue to do.” She grabbed my face, staring deep into my eyes.