Page 159 of Chaos Kills

And it’s not for her.

It’s for Bay.

Though, the little annoyance has been supervising me since I got back from Home Depot with a truck full of wood and a bunch of bags. She’s been non-stop with the questions, and this is why I don’t associate with people—especially kids.

I think they’re worse.

Averting my eyes and going back to work, I begin hammering away at the oak planks, securing them to the tree and each other. Looking at Mae makes me feel weird, anyway. And the way she observes me like a bug is something that makes it easy to ignore her.

“You’re gonna fall.”

I hit the nail I’m working on harder, attempting to drone out her talking. It’d be frowned upon to throw tape around hermouth for a few moments of peace, and Bay would more than likely get upset. “I’m gonna tell Bay that you won’t let me help.”

I scoff because she’d need to get her sister out of her room first, and not even a higher power could make that happen right now. And, as much as I wish Mae would go do something else, I’d rather she not disturb her sister.

Levi told me what Bay did for my brother. How she strode into a dangerous place and pulled Reeve out of there. I don’t want her anywhere near De Leon, but I know how much she cares for Reeve.

Not that I still would’ve allowed it if I had known. If I had been paying more attention.

Since coming out of the dark shadows, I’ve tried to give her some space. I observed how irritated she would get when Torin would show up unexpectedly, and I don’t wish to catch that kind of heat, so I backed off a little bit.

Now, I’m starting to see it was a mistake.

“Can I come up?”

“No.” That word from my mouth is immediate because she’d fall, and I don’t want another problem or concern added on when this little girl could go away and play with a doll or something.

“You can hold my hand.”

It doesn’t make the idea any more appealing in my eyes, so I ignore her again.

Or try to.

“I can help.”

Fishing out another nail from the pocket of my jeans, I continue my task to keep my brain busy and to be within earshot of Bay’s voice. She’s safe in South Shore, and she needs to remain in South Shore.

Period.

“I can drill.”

I don’t have one as I keep battering away with my hammer.

“Do you know what you’re doing?”

No.

I’ve never made a treehouse before, but it’s not like I’m going to let Bay’s sisters go in it when it’s not safe.

“Do you want some lemonade?” I sigh. “I have some.”

I readjust my stance, leaning against the thick limb of the tree that’s being used to hold me up and test out the board by shaking it with all my strength. It doesn’t move.

“You’re gonna fall.”

Well then, I guess it wouldn’t be the best place for her to be standing, but I’m not going to plunge downward anyway.

I’m fine.

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