“Don’t eat anything!” I’d snap. “Dinner’s in like ten minutes.”
“I’m hungry now,” he’d grumble back.
“Don’t!” I’d stop whatever I was doing to point at him. “You have to eat my food. I’m not cooking this so you can just throw it out later.”
He’d snicker and roll his eyes, taking a swig of milk from the bottle and licking his lips before giving me the finger and the biggest, cheesiest smile.
I snort and shake my head. Man, I miss him. I’d do anything to know where he is right now. To have him here.
He was always stronger than me. The fighter.
“You’re strong too.” Grandpa’s voice echoes in the back of my mind. “In your own way. You hold on to that, son. You be proud of who you are. I sure am.”
As I stand there listening to him, I can’t help feeling like I’ve finally given him a reason to be. I didn’t run. I stood up to Sloan to save Annie’s life, and I’d do it again. I’d do anything to keep her and Jackson safe.
I finally know how Grandpa must have felt when he stole us away from Florida that day.
Swallowing, I follow the sound of excited chatter into the main living area.
Colors burst to life in my memory as I’m once again transported back in time. Laughter, shouting, tussling on the couches. Racing up that ladder to try and beat whoever was on the stairs. Throwing ropes over the railing and rappelling down from the loft to the floor.
Jackson scrambles up the ladder. “This is awesome!”
His childish excitement reminds me of myself when I first got here. I checked out every nook and cranny. Opened every cupboard and drawer. I just wanted to see every inch of this amazing place.
“It really is.” Annie’s soft voice captures me.
I gaze down at her. “Think it’ll do?”
She laughs and leans against me. “I know it will, especially if you’re here. You and Jackson are all I really need.”
I wrap my arm around her and pull her close, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
“I can see why you loved this place so much.”
“It was home,” I croak, my voice breaking.
She looks up at me, her blue eyes deep with empathy. “I know it’s not the same without the people who used to be here with you. But we’ll make it home again. We’re a family now.”
I love her more in this moment than I ever have.
Spinning her in my arms, I hold her face and pour as much emotion into my gaze as I can.
She smiles and rises up to press her lips against mine.
The kiss is a soft brush that turns into more. I wrap my arms around her and lift her off her feet, reminding myself that we can do this. If we’re together, we can do anything.
Darkness descends as we unload our meager belongings from the car. We finish off the loaf of bread we bought yesterday and store our jar of peanut butter in the pantry. The house is devoid of most things. We’re going to need to work hard to get it fitted out and functioning.
The electricity isn’t even working.
Thankfully, there was a flashlight in Dean’s Bronco, so we used that to navigate the house, brushing our teeth with bottled water and peeing outside until we can figure out how to get the water running. All jobs for the morning.
I settle Jackson in Cooper’s old room. He liked the basketball posters on the walls.
Thankfully, Annie had insisted we stop at Wal-Mart to stock up on basic supplies. Jackson snuggles down into his brand-new sleeping bag, hugging his pillow and dropping to sleep almost instantly.
Hopefully he won’t have any bad dreams tonight. We’ve been in the same room with him the last few nights, so Annie was able to comfort him right away. He looks wiped out right now. Maybe that’ll be enough to get him sleeping through, plus the assurance that we’ll come running if he calls out in the night.
I think he appreciated me saying that to him. He was kind of smiling as he drifted off right in front of me.
It’s weird how driving long-distance can be so exhausting. You’re just sitting there, yet still it seems to drain you.
I watch him for a second, then creep out of the room to check on Annie. She’s sitting on the edge of the bed in my old room.
“Was this one yours?”
I nod, thrown by the sight. As a young teen, the amount of times I’d dreamed of having a girl sitting on my bed… and now there was one. The most beautiful one I’d ever known.
“What did it used to look like? You didn’t have posters on your wall?”
I run a hand through my hair, feeling shy for some reason. The strands flop back down on either side of my eyes, and I tip back on my feet. “Uh… I was into nature. So, I had pictures of wild animals—like eagles, horses, plus African safari type stuff.”
“Really? That’s cool. I like that.”
I smile at her.
Her eyes crinkle at the corners, but the flashlight beam reveals just how tired she is.
“You need sleep.”
“I do.” She nods. “But…” Looking to the floor, she bites her lips together and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “Please don’t leave.” Her voice cracks.
I go still.
Glancing up, I spot the tears glassing her eyes. “I don’t know why, but I can’t… I can’t stand being by myself. Especially when it’s dark. It’s just…” She shakes her head and I understand instantly.
“Every time you close your eyes, you see it.”
“I hated Dean.” She sniffs. “He was horrible to me, and I wanted to get away from him so bad. But they just… shot him. And I can see it over and over in my mind. The trail of blood on the diner floor.” Her words get sucked into a ragged breath.
“Hey.” I walk toward her, sitting down on the bed and running my hand down her back.
She leans into me and lets out a shaky sigh. “And then if that’s not haunting me, I’m feeling my body being thrown across a room. I can feel the heat of that explosion like it’s happening all over again.” Leaning away from me, she grips my shirt, curling her fingers into the fabric and looking up at me. “But when you’re there… when I open my eyes and I can hear you breathin’… I’m okay. I know I’m safe.” Her cheeks tinge red and she dips her head. “So, wherever you’re sleepin’ tonight, let me sleep there too. Please.” She gives me a quivering smile and looks adorably shy.
Cupping the back of her head, I gently kiss her.
We’ve been sleeping in the same motel rooms for the last few nights, but she’s always shared with Jackson. I’ve lain in the other bed, wishing I could trade places with her brother.
And now I can.
“I’ll keep you warm,” I whisper. “I’ll hold you all night if you need me to.”
“I’d like that.”
I kick off my boots and unzip the sleeping bags, turning them into two blankets. Annie lies down, wiggling to the very edge so we can both fit in my single bed.
The springs creak and groan, but the world goes quiet as I drape my arm over Annie’s waist and tuck her in against me.
Her fine hair tickles my chin and I brush it away, nestling onto the pillow with a slow smile.