She moved quick as lighting, and I had only a second to duck before my shoe flew over my head and crashed into the wall. I jumped into action and pushed her against the one behind her. There was a thud from her back hitting the hall, and if anyone had happened to be passing my room, it would certainly have raised some eyebrows.
“If your father comes back, and we’re caught, it’s on you.”
“Princess, if he can’t hear you when you’re screaming my name, he definitely won’t hear that.”
“My, my, how confident we are.”
I bit into the side of her chin and then licked the abused skin. “Shall I demonstrate?”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Despite her protest, I could hear the interest she tried to hide. “Very much.” I lifted my shirt she was wearing and pulled her nipple into my mouth. My hand came up to tease the other, and when it hardened under my thumb, I quickly shifted to soothe it with my tongue.
“Too bad.” She moaned. “I’m sore, and you’re late.”
My head lifted up. “For what?”
She rolled her eyes. “You told Barbie you’d have brunch with her and her parents, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. I remember.”
I’d completely fucking forgotten.
“I’ll go so you can concentrate on getting clothes on rather than taking mine off.”
“Fuck, baby. Haven’t you heard of canceling plans at the last minute?”
“I have, but we both know why you can’t.”
I lowered my head and started kissing down her neck. “Come with me.”
Even as I said it, I contemplated ripping my shirt from her body and locking us both in this room. I was two seconds from taking her against this wall. As if hearing my thoughts, she pushed me away and made for the door.
“And here I thought you were smart for a male. I’ll see you later.” She opened the door and stepped into the hallway. I could see that mutt of hers excitedly running around her feet just before the door closed.
“Fuck.”
Checking the time, I cursed again before throwing on a black polo, jeans, and sneakers.
I grabbed my keys, wallet, and phone from my nightstand and sent Bee a text that I was on my way. The moment I opened my door, however, I stopped short at my dad standing there with his fist raised as if he’d been about to knock.
“We need to talk,” he said.
I knew it wasn’t a request, but that didn’t stop me from saying, “Raincheck? I was just about to meet Barbette and her parents.”
“Reschedule.”
He didn’t leave me much choice when he pushed inside my room and slammed the door.
ETA to Prom… 33 Days
I didn’t see or hear from Ever after I left his room yesterday, and I was beginning to wonder if he had actually been upset. I’d gone to his room that night, but he wasn’t there, and I assumed he was still out with the Montgomerys. Soon after, I fell asleep and slept until morning. I checked my phone and didn’t see any of his cheeky little texts he would send whenever we slept apart.
Deciding to make him sweat if he was mad, I took the time to walk Jay D, shower, and dress in my school uniform. And then I went down to the kitchen with my backpack, keys, and helmet in tow and found Jamie as usual already there stuffing his face. He looked up from his plate with surprised eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just impressed you’re still here and not over at Aunt Evelyn’s by now.”
“Why would I be over there?” It wasn’t like Ever’s mom and I were the best of friends. Her first impression of me was spoiled by the fact that my mom was technically having an affair with her husband.
“Because that’s where Ever is.”
“Why would Ever go visit his mom right before school?”
Jamie frowned and set down his fork, still full of steaming scrambled eggs. My heart dropped. If there was one thing Jamie liked more than sex, it was food. “Because he’s living there now.” He paused, waiting for my reaction, but I was still confused, and it obviously showed because Jamie then added, “Unc kicked him out yesterday.”
Jamie went back to shoving food in his mouth as if he’d just told me it was going to rain today. I lost the little appetite I had and fled the kitchen. I needed answers, and I wasn’t waiting around to get them.
Upstairs, I bypassed my room and headed straight for the master suite. On the rare occasions Thomas was still home at this time, he would be in his office, but since Rosalyn refused to leave their bedroom, he had set up a temporary work station in there.
I reached their door and stood there staring at the wood. I could just ask Ever, but I knew if he hadn’t told me himself by now, then he was in one hell of a pissy mood and wouldn’t tell me what I wanted to know until he was good and ready. The second reason was that I was hoping to catch even a glimpse of her.
I hadn’t laid eyes on Rosalyn in weeks.
The last time I tried, she’d gone into a rage, so I had stayed away.
Steeling myself for whatever may come, I knocked. Softly. I could already feel myself capitulating and was seconds from walking away, but then I knew it was too late when I heard someone moving around.
The door cracked open, and the first thing I noticed was that it was utterly dark inside the room.
I sighed, knowing what that meant.
Rosalyn was relapsing.
Whenever she did, she became afraid of even the smallest bit of light. She believed it was a beacon for people who wanted to hurt her. Other days, she feared the dark. Around and around it went. And then there were days she wouldn’t eat because she was sure the food was poisoned.
The second thing I noticed was the bags under Thomas’s eyes and the weariness within them.
“Good morning, Four.”
“Morning. Wh—” The words ‘why did you send Ever away’ were there, but I couldn’t allow myself to utter them. Did I have the right to be angry with him when he had been so good to Rosalyn and me? “I don’t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to know how she was doing.”
Clearing his throat, he looked behind him before stepping into the hall and shutting the door. It was a clear sign that I wouldn’t be seeing her anytime soon.
“I’m afraid I haven’t been completely honest with you,” he said after taking a deep breath.
“Okay…”
“Your mother hasn’t taken her medication in weeks and refuses to see her doctor.”
He waited, bracing, it seemed, for my shock and anger, but none came. By now, I was numb to Rosalyn’s ups and downs, and I didn’t know whether to be thankful for that or not.
“Let me see her. I can get her to take her pills. It won’t cure her paranoia, but if she’s lucid enough, she will agree to get some help. I know it.” I wondered for a moment if that was hope I heard in my voice.
No, it couldn’t be. I knew better.
Thomas rubbed his forehead, looking deep in thought. “I don’t want to put this all on you. Especially since I did this.”
I shook my head. “It wasn’t your fault. This was going to happen eventually, whether your wife came back or not.”