Page 135 of Into These Eyes
She lets out a huff. “So many things. But mainly … we finally have some answers.”
We sit in silence for a long while, sipping on our wine, contemplating.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come home for you when he passed,” she eventually says.
“I didn’t expect you to. And I didn’t want you to.”
“Well, I’m still sorry. I kinda lied to you. Truth is, I didn’t know how to deal with your grief over him. Because I felt nothing. And that made me feel like a truly shitty sister. So, instead of coming home after graduation, I hid down there with a bunch of mates … pretty much just to avoid you.”
I give her forearm an affectionate squeeze. “You arenota shitty sister, Ank. You’re entitled to feel however you want.”
Sighing heavily, she looks at me. “I just know, deep down, he never cared about me. And I know that because I had the perfect comparison. He loved the shit out of you.” She takes a few deep breaths. “Is it wrong that this news is a relief? I’m sorry, but he was a fucking prick. What he did to Mum … At least I don’t have to feel bad for not liking him anymore.”
“Good,” I say, and mean it. “You shouldn’t have to go through life with that burden. Needless to say, I have my own issues to work through. Mainly the fact that he lied to us, and let an innocent man go to prison in his place.”
“Ugh, fuck,” Anika groans, slumping over the counter and burying her face in the crook of her elbow. “And I told him to fuck off.”
I give her back a comforting rub. “Good news is, he’ll be the one trying to put you at ease about that. He’s kind of … amazing.”
Her head snaps up, her gaze pinning me. “What’s going on there, Jamie?”
“Well, once I knew he was innocent, I told him I’d get his conviction overturned. It was a bit iffy until Dad’s video turned up. At least that’s one thing our father did right in the end. I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to pull it off. The thought of not being able to give him his life back … well, it’ll happen now.”
She nods thoughtfully as she takes another sip of wine. “Okay, I get that. But why’s helivinghere?”
I’ve learnt my lesson. Withholding the truth hurts just as much as outright lying. “Someone threatened me.”
“What?”
“It was just an anonymous note, telling me to back off,” I say offhandedly, not wanting to draw attention to my suspicion that it’s related to clearing Gavin’s name. I know she’ll only worry, and I’m not backing off, no matter what anyone says. Besides, as Pete pointed out, I have no proof it’s anything to do with that. “It freaked me out a little, and … well, Gavin was living in a horrible caravan, and he’s big and strong, and I was alone in the house, and it just made sense,” I blurt. “For both of us. He makes me feel safe. And there’s been no more threats since.”
“Fuck, Jamie. And you didn’t tell me?”
“What could you have done except worry? And you were so close to finishing Session Two at the academy. I wasn’t going to let anything distract you from that.”
She rolls her eyes and gives me an exaggerated sigh. “So typical of you.”
I grin and we both take another drink.
“So, he went from bodyguard to boyfriend?” she asks. “Not that I blame you. He’s hot as fuck.”
I choke on my wine. With great pleasure, Anika thumps my back until I stop. After a moment, I manage to get out, “I … I don’t know.”
“You don’t know if he’s hot, or if he’s your boyfriend?”
“Of course I know he’s hot.”
Anika scoffs. “He’s sleeping in your bed, right?”
Heat crawls up my face. I suppose if I’d had relationships throughout my time raising Anika, I wouldn’t feel so awkward discussing this with her. But this is new territory. “No, he’s in the spare room. I … tonight’s the first time we’ve … started getting closer.”
“And I interrupted?”
“Yes, you absolutely did.” I turn in my chair, take her hand in mine and look into her amused eyes. “When he comes back …when he comeshome, I want you to treat him with the respect he deserves. As a man who’s spent almost half his life in a cell because of our father. As a man who I think really cares about me. As the awesome fucking guy he is.” To my surprise, I feel tears sliding down my cheeks.
Anika shifts in her seat, looks around me, then behind her, as if searching for something.
“What?” I ask, confused.
