Both Ruby and Harley have practice, so unless I want to risk hanging around for a bus, my only option is to walk.
Shifting my bag up higher on my shoulder, I set off.
Every car that passes has me on edge, but almost an hour after I set off, I drag my tired legs up our street.
“Hey, good day at school?” Mom asks as I push through the front door.
I do a double take when I find that she’s actually showered and dressed today.
“Uh… yeah… it was… fine.” A lump crawls its way up my throat at my lie.
As I stand before her, all I want is for her to be a normal mom and for her to pull me in for a hug and tell me that everything’s going to be okay.
But that’s not my reality.
“You been somewhere nice?” I ask, dropping my bag to the bottom step and heading for the kitchen to find some food.
“We went to the store for some supplies.”
Thankfully, I’ve got my back to her so she doesn’t see me roll my eyes at her need for supplies. They sure aren’t the same kind as other parents make an effort to go out for.
“Does that mean we have food in the house?”
“Don’t be so cheeky, young lady.”
“Cheeky?” I ask, astonished. I spin to her and take in her irritated expression. “Oh my God, you’re serious, aren’t you? Unbelievable,” I mutter to myself. “Well seeing as you believe your words, how about you parent your own children when they turn up from their after-school club tonight.”
“Why? What are you doing?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go out and get drunk like every other kid at school gets to do while I’m babysitting your offspring.”
Grabbing a bag of chips and a couple of cans of soda that are sitting on the counter, I storm past her and up the stairs.
I don’t usually say anything to her about the disaster that our family is but I’ve just about had my fill today.
I slam my bedroom door so hard that it makes the entire house shake before flipping the lock I installed after Zayn’s first visit.
I didn’t do it in the hope he’d come back, but as Austin interrupted us that day, I realized just how little privacy I get in this place and I stopped off at the hardware store and picked it up.
I throw the doors open to my balcony and kick my shoes off before launching myself on my bed and shoving my head into my pillow.
Today can go suck it.
18
Zayn
I stare at the unread messages with dread sitting heavy in my stomach.
He wouldn’t have done anything, would he?
I tap my finger on the side, trying to decide if I’m just making a bigger deal out of this than necessary.
Poppy has clearly handled this to a point for a while now. This hasn’t suddenly just started. But that doesn’t do anything to settle the trepidation swirling around within me like a tornado.
I could send her another message, but if she refuses to read that one too, I’m in no better position, other than starting to look a little desperate. That’s not really a look I crave, like, ever.
“Fuck it,” I mutter to myself, shoving my feet in my sneakers and slipping from my room.
It’s late, the sun has already long set and the winter wind whips around me when I step from the house.
I’ve spent all day working in the hope I could get everything done and emailed in so I can spend the rest of my impromptu days off doing something a little more fun. Although that’s unlikely with all my friends and teammates spending their days in class.
I push my key into the ignition and turn the engine, my truck rumbles to life and I set off.
Mom’s not here, she’s out at some dinner with some colleagues and Harley has locked herself in her bedroom, probably fighting with some more math homework that she refuses to let me help with.
I’m at Poppy’s house before I know it. The lights are on and unlike last time, I see her family all sitting around the table in the dining room like they’re… normal.
It’s an odd sight after everything I discovered here last night. Only, when I walk around the side of the house, I find that Poppy isn’t with them.
Not wanting to interrupt, especially if she’s not home, I walk around to the backyard and look up at her bedroom.
The lights are out but the curtains blow in the wind where the doors are open.
Spotting a ladder that’s resting against the wall, I move it a little closer to her balcony and without a second thought, I climb.
My heart’s in my chest as I throw my leg over the railing and step onto the balcony. This probably wasn’t my wisest move, but I guess it’s a little late now.
The room is cold and silent as I step inside. The light from the moon allows me to see the lump in the bed and as I get closer, I find that she’s sleeping.
The sight of her in one piece settles something inside me.
As gently as possible, I sit down beside her. Unable to keep my hands to myself, I reach out and run my knuckles down her cheek.
Her eyelids flutter at my touch. She blinks a couple of times before she realizes she has company. She gasps, and fearing a scream is about to rip from her throat, I gently press my hand over her mouth, not wanting to alert her parents.
“It’s okay. It’s just me.”
Her eyes focus after a beat and she relaxes, although she looks anything but pleased to see me.
“How did you get in here?” she whispers, looking to her locked door.
“I climbed. You should probably move that ladder in the yard, anyone could let themselves in here while you sleep.” I drop my lips to her ear. “It might not end as pleasurably as my visit.”
“You shouldn’t be here.” Her voice is all deep and rough from sleep and it makes my cock swell.
“But I am,” I say, leaning forward and brushing my lips against hers.
“You need to leave,” she breathes, although there’s no strength behind it.
“What would be the fun in that when I could stay here and get you off instead?”
“I’m mad at you,” she breathes, her eyes boring into mine.
“When aren’t you?” Running my hand over her shoulder, I wrap my fingers around the back of her neck, my thumb stroking over the soft skin over her pulse point. It thunders beneath my touch, giving away how she really feels about my visit. “Stop fighting what you want, Pops.”
“I told you not to get involved,” she whispers. “Now you’ve been suspended because of it.”
“It doesn’t matter. It was worth it.”
“Risking your future?”
“Jeez, you sound like my mom.”
“Yeah, because I ca—” She abruptly cuts herself off.
“What was that?” I ask, my tone lighter than a few moments ago.
“Nothing.”
“No, no. You were going to say something.” My grip on her tightens a little.
“I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“I’m pretty sure you were about to admit that you care about me.”
She huffs, making me laugh. “You’re my best friend’s brother. Of course I want you to do well.”
“Oh, is that why. Not because of this.” Closing the small amount of space between us, I crush my lips to hers in a bruising kiss.