Page 48 of Possess

So this was Zeke’s younger sister. Allyson smiled at her exuberant greeting, yet a ball of nervousness swelled in her belly.

“What are you doing here, Josie?”

“I—” She broke off when her gaze met Allyson’s. “Oh I’m sorry. You have company.” Her gaze swept over Allyson from head to toe, then back to stare at Zeke. “It’s about time.”

Zeke shifted from one foot to the other with a pained expression. Allyson couldn’t hold back a grin. “I’m Allyson.” She held out her hand.

“Josie.” They shook hands. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“Right.” Zeke drew his hand through his short black hair.

“I really need your help.” Josie flipped off her sunglasses and stared up at her brother. Allyson almost laughed at the pleading look in her eyes. Is that what baby sisters did?

“What have you done this time?” Zeke stepped back, and Josie stepped inside, where she removed her shoes without prompting.

“It wasn’t my fault.” Josie glanced at Allyson. “It really wasn’t, but Mom and Dad aren’t happy.”

Zeke sighed.

“Maybe I should go?” This was something between family members. It wasn’t her place to be here. She was sure she had no clue how to deal with Josie or her problems.

“No.” Zeke pinned Allyson with his gaze. “Josie, go into the family room. We’ll be there in a minute.”

“Thanks, brother.” Josie didn’t seem bothered by her brother barking orders at her and took off in the direction of the family room. She must be used to her brother doing that.

“Zeke, we can do this another night.” Allyson didn’t want to get in the middle of a family issue.

“It shouldn’t take me long to sort this out.”

“Your sister needs you.” Allyson slipped her foot back into the one shoe she’d slipped off. “Take care of her. We have time.” She went up on her toes and brushed a kiss over his lips. “Call me tomorrow, and we’ll set up another night.”

“Tomorrow night. Same time, same place,” Zeke said, clearly unhappy she was leaving.

“I can do that.” She opened the door and left before Zeke could say more. Her stomach was already doing summersaults. Until she met Dani, she’d never been close enough to anyone when she was younger to be able to go to them when her family life went crazy.

Josie had parked on the other side of the driveway, so Allyson backed out easily. She’d grab some food on the way home. A tremor went through her body. This wasn’t good. If she was uncomfortable with his sister, how would it be with the rest of his family? How could she have a true relationship with Zeke? Her gut clenched. It would take time, she reminded herself. Building blocks. It would get easier. At least she hoped it would. But the feelings of inadequacy plagued her.

* * * *

“Okay, spill,” Zeke said to his sister when he walked into the family room. He couldn’t be mad at Josie. He was aware that sometimes their parents put too much pressure on her.

“Allyson sounded nice. Why didn’t she stay? Did I frighten her away?”

“She is nice, and she didn’t stay because she felt this was a family issue, and she isn’t family.” Yet. Whoa, where did that thought come from? It was much too early to be thinking that way.

Zeke sat in his favorite chair and stared at his sister. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Josie waved her hand in the air. “I will. Let’s have lunch together this week and invite Allyson. I’d like to get to know her better.”

Zeke barely prevented himself from rolling his eyes. “You’re already going to report back to Mom about her, so let’s not compound the injury.” It was going to be bad enough without an additional lunch. His parents would be on the phone wanting to meet Allyson the second his sister told them. This was why he hadn’t dated very much. “Now tell me what brought you out here.”

“I’m kind of flunking out of organic chemistry.”

Zeke sat back in his chair. “Kind of?”

“Well, maybe actually.”

“Flunking?” This wasn’t like his sister at all. “What’s going on, Josie?”

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