Page 76 of Of Poison & Pumpkins
“I’m Orion Pozinne. Her brother. And I have ten thousand for her bail.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Rynn
After Hudson releases me, the first person I see is Elias, with his crooked smile and a hopeful look in his eyes. I run across the station like an imbecile and crash into his arms like I’ve been desperate for human contact for a century, even though it’s only been a few days that I’ve been locked up. Elias is the only one I’d want holding me. As I bury my face in his chest, I let a few tears drop, surprised I have more left.
“You got me out,” I whisper into his shirt. “I’m sorry I ever made the cursed paint. I’m sorry to have dragged you into all this.”
He only squeezes tighter, resting his chin atop my head. The solid warmth of his frame cocoons me in the best of ways. I could live here, in his hug, for eternity. Against all my wishes, he steps back and wipes my cheeks dry, then plants a kiss on my forehead.
“I made a bet with Zee for how long it’d take you to break out on your own. You cost me five bucks.”
I can’t help but laugh. “What was the wager?”
“I assumed you’d be home yesterday, knitting away in our bed.” Elias shrugs.
“Our bed, hmm?” I rise on my tiptoes to kiss him, but someone clears their throat behind Elias.
“Oh, right,” Elias says, stepping aside to reveal the last person I ever expected to see. “Surprise! It was actually your brother who paid your bail!”
I stare. Orion stands with his thumbs in his pockets and a sheepish look on his face. “Uh, hey, Rynn. What’s up?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Let’s go outside.”
After signing my release paperwork, I’m finally free.
Outside, the sun kisses the rooftops of the buildings, saying goodbye for the evening. I’ve barely had a concept of time without windows and immediately inhale the fresh air and absorb the purple sky. I’ll never be so stupid as to risk my freedom again.
We mosey to the same fountain Brooke contaminated, which has been cleaned, the water clear and sparkling once more. Apparently, they reset the fountain, since they collected all the coins at the bottom. Dusk sweeps around the corner of a building as we sit at the fountain. Both shops are in view: Purple Palooza and Peculiar Pumpkins, their signs glowing in the soft golden light.
“So, did you bail out Brooke, too?” I ask my older brother.
Orion shakes his head. “Not only do I not have enough money, but after hearing what she’s charged with, she needs to stay in there.”
“How did you know I was here?” My knee must’ve been jiggling, because Elias puts his hand on my leg to help calm me down.
“Mom and Dad called. They’d be here too, but they’re in Greece.”
A thousand questions whirl through my mind. Since when do they travel? How often do they talk to Orion? Where has my brother lived recently? I hope I have time to ask them all, but for now I settle on one question.
“How did Mom and Dad find out?”
He nods towards Elias. “You seem to have a good guy here. I’m glad you’ve found a supportive partner. To be honest, Rynn, it’s about time you let someone in, because you sure haven’t let me within a thousand mile radius. Do you know I have twenty unanswered calls to you logged on my phone?”
I gulp, feeling an oncoming lecture that I deserve. Isolation can help a girl prioritize what matters in life. I’ve been running from my fears instead of facing them. Before he can use his elder brother voice on me, I speak up.
“I know, I’m sorry, Orion. I should’ve answered your calls. Should’ve come home to visit and checked in on you.”
He stares at my shop. “Yeah. It sucked to learn about all this through social media,” Orion says, gesturing to my shop. “You’ve created something incredible, Rynn, and I’d want you to feel safe in sharing that with us, or at least me.” His jaw ticks. “Whatever I did in the past to make you run, I’m sorry. I know we weren’t best friends, but when you turned eighteen, you just … poof. Vanished.”
“If I could do it over, I’d make changes. I thought you all hated me.”
At this, Orion finally meets my eye. The hazel color I have memorized stares back. “I was jealous when we found out you were a Fuzer, but then I was in awe. You inspired me. I guess I could’ve shown that better.”
“I had no idea.”
