Page 17 of Fright Night
Dad’s mouth fuses into a flat line, which is basically his equivalent of blowing up. No doubt, he wishes it was four years ago when was younger, and hitting me was his preferred method of conflict resolution. He eyes where my fingers play with Oakley’s hair—much to the reddening of her cheeks.
I meet his stare with my own quirked brow, basically begging for him to say shit.
You won’t get me away from her this time.
“Knox,” he grates between teeth so clenched, I wouldn’t be surprised if he broke them. “You’re here.”
Whyis his silent question.
“Mhm, observant. Figured I’d stop by for this li’l family breakfast.” I reach over to pop a grape from Oakley’s plate into my mouth. “That’s what this is, right? Assume you forgot to invite me.”
Right on time, the waitress from earlier silently approaches the table to rest the colourful holiday sickening special in front of me. Without taking my eyes off Dad, I slide the large mug in front of Oakley.
“For you,” I murmur.
Jill’s lips pinch, because the sugar-filled caffeine drink is clearly more shocking than my presence. “Don’t drink that, honey. It’s not good for you. You’ve already been…eating.” She scans Oakley’s body judgmentally.
“Drink it.” I twist my head towards Oakley, meeting her challenge with my own. “You look fantastic. Sexy as hell, and the orange whipped cream concoction in that mug is calling your name. Don’t lie.”
A faint smile graces her face, making me feel like a winner in a game I was never going to lose. “I was eyeing these earlier,” she utters toward her mom, her shoulders caving inwards as she lifts the mug to her lipstick-coated mouth.
Much to our parents’ horror, she sips the drink.
“Atta girl,” I whisper beneath my breath, unable to stop myself from reaching over to grip her knee beneath the table. A movement that doesn’t go unnoticed by our parents, not that I give two fucks. It’s obvious Jill wants to say something but doesn’t know what.
This why I’m so angry about Oakley’s lie. Not only for making me lose years with her, butthis. She found some sense of a backbone since she’s clearly not starving herself anymore, but they still have too much hold over her and I won’t be dealing with it for much longer.
“She’s your sister, Knox.” Dad glares.
“Stepsister and barely that.” We didn’t grow up together. She moved in at seventeen, the same age as me. Then for a while, we ignored one another.
“Why are you here?” Dad slams his fist down onto the table hard enough, the metal cutlery bounces.
Ah, finally, getting to the goods.
“Answered that already.”
“I meant in town.”
“Also answered that already.”
Jill coughs, wiping her mouth with her cloth napkin, though she hasn’t touched her food in a while. “How was…uh…”
“Community service?” I finish loudly, calling attention from a couple tables around us. “Dandy. Fun. Hard work gave me purpose and all that bullshit. How do you think it was?”
“It was punishment for a crime,” Dad mutters, like I need the reminder of what I’ve been hearing parroted at me for years.Though the officer in charge of me was a decent guy who never made life worse. “You deserved nothing less.”
“Including getting kicked out of the family? Although, getting kicked out wasn’t as bad as learning that Oakley isn’t opening her business like she wanted to.”
“Jesus fuck,” Oakley whispers, clutching that fancy drink a bit harder. I tap the edge, silently demanding she sip her stress out.
Dad’s face flushes red. “She’s working alongside me, in the event department.”
“Ah, yes, because when I proved to be a colossal fuck-up, you justhaveto have someone eventually fill your shoes. You gave her that job in a placeyourun to keep her close. To train her to go into politics like you did, all to have at least one kid follow in your footsteps. Am I wrong?”
My hand tightens on her knee, telling her I’m the only one at this table who gives a shit about her.
“She’s doing fantastic with the Halloween event,” Jill chimes, like it makes any difference.
