Page 99 of Awaiting the Storm
I take off racing toward him. His eyes are wide as I slip past him and sprint into the bathroom and slam the door.
I pull down my panties and fall to the toilet.
Oh, sweet relief.
I spend an impolite amount of time hiding in the bathroom. If there had been a window, I would have climbed out of it and walked all the way home. Finally, I manage to calm myself down enough to walk back out and face them. The freak-out sobered me considerably.
Caison is standing in the middle of the living room, barefoot, in jeans and a black T-shirt, when I emerge. His eyes widen the moment he sees me—like he doesn’t know whether to be annoyed or happy.
Probably both.
“Matty,” he says slowly, like saying my name helps confirm I’m real. “What are you—”
“I didn’t come here on purpose,” I snap, cutting him off. “I was kidnapped.”
That earns me a slow blink.
“Your sisters?” he guesses.
“Yes.”
His mother nods. “Made quite a ruckus out in the driveway. They sound like a good time.”
“They’re menaces,” I say.
“Can’t believe you let them bully you,” he says, one brow rising.
“I was outnumbered, and they fed me shots.”
“Ah.”
He’s smiling now. That infuriating half smirk that looks way too good on him.
“Well, the guys shooting pool fed us the shots, but you know what I mean.”
His eyes narrow at that as they do a slow perusal of me from head to toe. Taking in the short, skintight dress and heels.
I cross my arms and try to look composed, even though I’m swaying slightly and feel very much like I might burst into tears at any moment.
His mother sets her hand lightly on his shoulder. “I’m Marcia, Case’s mother. It’s nice to meet you, Matty, but I think we’d be better served with a proper introduction later. I’m going to head back to the main house. Let you two talk.”
Caison’s eyes flick to her as she grabs a wool-lined jacket and pulls it on. “Mom, it’s late and cold. You don’t need to go.”
She smiles at him indulgently. “Priscilla has that room with that big ol’ bed waiting for me.”
“I’ll take you,” he says. He turns back to me. “You don’t go anywhere.” It’s a command. One that has my spine going straight. “I mean it.”
I nod curtly, cheeks blazing.
“Oh, no. I’ve already got a ride,” Marcia says as she wraps a scarf around her neck and tugs on a pair of gloves.
His head snaps to her just as the rumble of an engine rolls up outside. “I texted Holland.” She walks over and gives him a peck on the cheek, then slides her eyes to me. “You two play nice and have a good night.”
And with that, she walks out. Caison stands motionless, his eyes fixed on the door as it closes behind her.
His hands are planted on his hips, and I watch his back as it rises and falls with each deep breath he takes.
One beat. Two beats …
