Page 13 of Top Shelf
She winces, and I hate it. I hate that Hutch isn’t making her feel welcome. That he’s staring at her like he’d rather she be anywhere else in the world right now.
“What are you doing here, Vanessa?”
“I, uh…” She tucks a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear, her eyes flitting around the room.
I silently beg her to let them linger on me, but they don’t. She moves on like I’m nobody, catching everyone’s gaze before staring back at Hutch. It stings.
“Can we talk privately?”
He sighs, nods once, and mutters, “Excuse us for a moment.”
Then he strides from the room, Auden struggling to catch up to him, and Vanessa follows along, looking unsure with each step. I hold my breath, waiting for her to look back at me, but she doesn’t. I don’t release it until she’s gone, but even then, it feels like a struggle, like she took all the air in the room with her. It’s the same way I felt when I woke up to find the bed beside me was cold.
“That is theevilstepsister, right?” Lawson asks once they’re out of earshot. Or at least I hope she is.
“That’s her,” Lilah confirms. “I’ve seen photos from when Auden went to New York for Christmas.”
“She seems nice,” Quinn remarks.
Sheisnice, I want to scream, but I keep my mouth shut. I remain still, even though I want to follow her so badly. I’m rooted to my spot, which is why I can clearly see Fox staring at me. I don’t like it. Not one damn bit. Especially with that little smirk on his lips like he knows something nobody else does.
My fingers twitch with the urge to flip him off, but I don’t. It’s Fox. He’s the nicest guy I know, and I can’t be an asshole like Keller. I cut my gaze away, straining to hear anything I can from the living room where they went, but it’s pointless. Whatever they’re saying is drowned out by my teammates bickering like a bunch of children.
“Why do you say the dumbest crap ever, Lawsy?”
“Why do you have to be such a…” Lawson looks down at Flora, who isn’t paying them any attention. “…a pecker, Keller?”
Hayes snickers. “Pecker.”
“Why is pecker funny? I like those on my pizza,” Flora says, apparently paying attention after all.
Quinn shoots him a look, then bends down to Flora’s height. “You like peppers, not peckers. And it’s not a funny word. Uncle Adam is just in a goofy mood, is all.”
The kid nods, then goes back to playing with Pickles, who is batting at her softly, all while Lawson, Keller, and Uncle Adam himself try to hold back their laughter.
“Does anyone know why the stepsister is here?” Rory asks.
“Not a clue,” Lilah says. “But I know I’m curious as hell.” She tiptoes closer to the living room to catch a bit of their conversation, but Fox grabs her elbow, stopping her.
“Come on, sugar. Let them have their privacy. Besides, I’m sure Auden will give you the rundown later,” her boyfriend says.
“Always thegood boy,” Keller mutters, and Fox has a physical reaction to the two words.
Nobody misses it, nor the way Lilah’s cheeks redden.
Lawson laughs, then holds his hand up for a high five. “Nice one, Kells.”
In a rare moment of solidarity, Keller reciprocates, leaving Rory staring open-mouthed at the teammates. I’d find the whole thing comical if I didn’t have one eye on the living room, willingVanessato return so I can get a glimpse of her again. Maybe Iwas wrong. Maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe it was just someone who looked eerily like her. Maybe it was?—
Oh, who am I kidding? It was her. I’d know those green eyes anywhere, know that golden hair of hers and that smile from a million miles away. It was her, and I want to know why she acted like she didn’t know me.
“Where are you going?” Fox asks.
It takes me a moment to realize he’s talking to me. I didn’t even know I was moving, but I am. I’m heading right for where Hutch and his sister took off to.
“Bathroom,” I say, catching his gaze.
That same fucking knowing smirk from before. What does he know? Not shit.
