Page 52 of Of Poison & Pumpkins
Hurt flashes across his eyes for only a second, until he covers it and shrugs. “Yeah, I know. I already have a place.”
“You’re sure? And it’s not in your car?”
He chuckles and rubs a hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah, Shannon texted me.”
Shannon? The waitress from Raven Slam? I keep my face neutral. “Alexandra’s ex?”
“Yeah, she gave me her number when we were there, in case we couldn’t find Alexandra.”
I quickly sweep past him so he can’t see my expression and prep the store for a temporary closing.
“Sunflower, what are you thinking? Why the stomping around like a mad woman?”
“I’m not stomping!” I say, while purposefully lightening my steps. “I’m walking with power!”
“Okay, then. Are you walking with power because you’re jealous?” he asks with amusement in his voice, trailing me as I lock the front door, turn off the lights, and check the thermostat.
“No, what would I have to be jealous about? You can sleep wherever you want to sleep.”
Suddenly, his hands are on my waist and I’m looking up into dark brown eyes. “I’ll tell her no,” he says calmly, a smirk threatening to break free. “If it means that much to you, I’ll sleep in my car, no problem.”
I want to push his chest away, to scream a thousand curses, then wrap my legs around his frame and climb him like a ladder. Instead, I grab a fistful of his t-shirt and wrench him closer.
I gulp, and force myself to say what I truly want. “You’ll sleep at my house,” I tell him, realizing I’m probably giving him whiplash for all my back and forth. It’s not like I owe him anything or give a clear answer. Nevertheless, I’m feeling a little guilty.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“On the couch. And you’ll do your own dishes.”
“Of course, and I’ll even put the seat down when I piss.” He laughs. “Don’t huff at me.”
I try to back away, but he holds me close. “I don’t huff.”
“You are the huffing queen.” His head falls back, and he laughs up to the ceiling. “You did it again, you big huffer.”
The bell of the front door dings, so I jerk out of his grasp. I thought I’d locked the door, but when I see who entered, a whole new set of problems smacks me in the face.
“Brooke!?” My little sister stands before me.
Elias stumbles back.
“What are you doing here?” I can’t take my eyes off Brooke’s waist, where an older, gray-haired, tall man has his hand wrapped around my sister.
“Dad?” Elias shakes his head in confusion.
“Hey, Eli. Surprise! You have a new stepmom! Meet Brooke Pozinne, well, I guess Brooke Thoren now!”
My little sister wiggles her ring finger, plastered with a giant diamond. “We’re married!”
I need to get far away from here. Now.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Elias
At my uncle’s farm, thousands of pumpkins in all colors and sizes, bob over our heads. As my mind reels about the situation I avoided last night, a bunch of random metaphors come to mind like how I hate my father more than kids hate broccoli.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I whisper to Rynn who still has bags shadowing her eyes from the lack of sleep last night.
