Page 78 of All I Have Left

“Hey, Frankie.” I push pleasantries into my voice for Mom’s sake. “Where are you going this weekend?” I try my best to sound enthusiastic, but I’m not. There’s never a moment’s rest around my sisters. I’d forgotten that while I was away. Or at least, enjoyed it.

“Not just me, all of us!” she corrects. “We’re spending the weekend at Josh’s parents’ house on the lake before he goes back to Arizona. We’re gonna celebrate the Fourth of July early.”

I arch an eyebrow at her. “But why the lake house?”

“Evie needs to get away. The lake house is perfect. We leave this afternoon.”

Evie’s eyes meet mine and I can’t decipher her expression. I glance back at Frankie. “You know Ethan and I have to work today.”

Frankie nods. “I know. I work until four. Kelly will be with Evie today. We’ll leave when you guys get off work.”

“I can’t,” Evie says, nervously darting her eyes around the room. With the sunlight streaming in, I can still see the faintest yellowing to her cheek. “I have to go before the judge on Friday.”

“Oh, honey, Hicks called. He said you don’t have to be present. It’s a technicality I guess. Given the abuse has been noted before, the judge just needs to sign off on it. They’ll serve him Friday afternoon and you’ll be out of town.”

Evie’s eyes flick to mine, wide with shock or relief. Not sure which one it is because she looks away just as quickly.

Though I’m relieved, my irritation flares and I hang on the words “abuse has been noted before.” Had she told someone about it and they did nothing? I mean, fuck, really? And nobody did anything?

With a donut in hand, Evie takes a seat besides Frankie, her forehead wrinkled in confusion or annoyance. “Your scrubs really are bright.”

“I know. They’re my backup ones. Ethan ripped my other pair.”

Evie holds her hand up, cinnamon and sugar on her lips. “I don’t need details.”

I wait until Frankie leaves for work and Kelly disappears before I ask Evie what she thinks. “Are you sure you want to go? We can always stay here.” I stare at her sugar-coated lips. “Although, we will have our own room. And be completely alone. With a lock….” I let my voice trail off as I place a kiss on her neck.

She twists to face me. “And what does being alone classify? Sex?”

I run my fingers through my hair nervously. “I don’t know.”

What the fuck is wrong with me? I want to.

She misreads my nerves for rejection. “Never mind.” Her cheeks flush as she tries to get up from the table. She thinks I don’t want her because of Shane.

I take her hand and refuse to let her leave. “You know that I want you, right?”

“Yes, but you’re scared,” she mumbles.

I draw her closer and onto my lap. “I want to, really fucking bad, but I want you to be sure that you’re ready,” I whisper against her lips. “You have to be 100 percent positive that’s what you want.”

“I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure of anything.” She begins kissing me again, more passionately, like she’s showing me how sure she is. I let myself enjoy it and deepen the kiss. She tastes like raspberries and sugar.

That’s until Ethan comes in through the back door. “Hey, asshole, it’s time for work. I’ve been waiting outside for you.” He notices Evie straddling me. “Knock that off.”

It’s probably a good thing I have to work.

With a laugh, Evie peels herself off me, taking a box of donuts from the counter with her into the other room. “Have a great day at work, boys.”

Ethan reaches for a donut. “Didn’t know these were here. Nice.” When I don’t move from the table, he watches me and nods to the door. “Youcoming?”

Groaning, I hit my head against the table. I don’t know how I’m going to spend the entire day away from her, but I think it might be good for both of us.

Once we’re in Ethan’s truck, he slides it into gear, a donut hanging from his lips. He catches it before it breaks apart in his hands.

“Had Evie ever told you that Shane was hitting her?”

His eyes snap to mine, his glare instant. “What the fuck do you think? How can you even ask me that?”

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