Page 33 of The Persistence of Thornes
I close my front door behind me and lean against it.
Instantly, I’m assaulted by the sound of my brothersyelling at their video game. It’s the antithesis of Caleb’s silent house, but I can’t help but be grateful for it. For the noise and the company. And my heart breaks a little for my neighbor.
CHAPTER 9
CALEB
At five-thirty on the dot, the front door eases open.
“What’s that?” Seda asks, swiveling around in her chair. Her mouth opens in surprise when Halle appears, but when Quinn and Casen step in behind her, that surprise quickly morphs into horror. “Dad!” she whisper-shrieks. “You didn’t tell me they were coming.” She looks down at her dirty shorts and top, eyes bulging, and hops to her feet. “I have to go change.”
Lightning fast, she’s off and runningupstairs to her room.
Frowning, I follow her movements until she disappears, then assess our visitors.
What the fuck just happened?
“Is something wrong?” Halle asks, pulling me out of my confused stupor. “Did I get the time wrong? We can go if?—”
“No, no.” I usher her inside with a wave of my hand. “Come on in. Seda wanted to go change.”
Quinn and Casen look around the house, taking it in with matching expressions of awe.
“This house is sick,” Casen says.
“It’s cool,” Quinn adds, sliding his hands into the pockets of his pants.
The twins are identical, but when I met them the day they moved in, I noted that Quinn has a tiny mole above his lip. I’m impressed that I remembered. If not, there’s no way I’d be able to tell them apart.
“Thanks, guys. Drinks are in the fridge. Take whatever you want.”
“Sweet,” they mutter in unison, rushing toward the refrigerator.
Quinn, naturally, pulls out a bottle of Corona first.
I chuckle and arch a brow at him as I step into the kitchen. “Nice try, kid.”
He sends me a grin and puts it back.
“Quinn!” Halle scolds, her cheeks going pink. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“It was a joke,” he grumbles, grabbing a soda. “Lighten up.”
Halle shoots me an apologetic look, her fingers tangled together in front of her.
I shake my head. “I would’ve done the same thing at their age.”
“They know better.” She glowers at her brothers.
“Relax,” Casen says, popping the tab on a Coke. “We’re not going to turn into Mom. Have some faith in us.”
Quinn taps his sister on the shoulder. “Laugh some.” He pops the tab on a can of Sprite. “Try it with me.Ha, ha, haaa.”
With her lips turned down in a frown, she angles her body toward me. “I’m really sorry about that.”
“Seriously, it’s fine.” I snag the dishrag from the sink and wipe down the counter. “I’m glad they feel comfortable enough to joke.”
My words don’t erase her frown.
