Page 112 of Remiss
“Cool. Another context clue that Diesel isn’t your brother.”
“Well, he is.”
“Stop confusing the man. You’re fucking him up.”
“I am not. He’s already fucked up anyway.”
“No, he’s sad about those motherfuckers. His mom and dad. He doesn’t mean to be fucked up.”
“It’s a choice. He blames Momma and me for what his mom did.”
“Her name’s Theresa and he don’t only blame you and Mom.Andhis dad did it to him, too.”
“You should tell him that.”
Axel looked her up and down. “I stand on business, Reb. If a motherfucker got to be told something, I tell them. He knows, but he’s still sad. And he doesn’t believe we won’t leave him.”
“We’re here and he’s there. We’ve left him.”
“That’s that motherfucker’s fault. He didn’t protect Mom. We’re going back anyway, so we didn’t leave him. We took a break from Dad.”
“True.”
“Now, back to what I was saying.”
“Which was? You’ve said a lot.”
“The age thing. And the death thing. You’re not eighteen and Dad will kill him. If Diesel wants ten girlfriends, that’s his business. You can only get mad at him ifyou’rehis girlfriend atthe same time and since you aren’t–and can’t be right now–you need to talk to him.”
“You really want to talk to him again, don’t you?”
“Did I say that?”
“Call him,” Rebel ordered.
“Yay!” Snatching his phone from the bed, he pressed a number and the speakerphone icon.
“What, Ax?”
Diesel’s voice floated through the line, washing over Rebel’s senses in a smooth, deep melody that tightened the pit of her belly.
“I thought I told you to go to fucking sleep.”
“I’m not calling for me, Diesel,” Axel lied. He grinned at her. “Say hi.”
Rebel couldn’t find her voice. Her pulse pounded in her ears and she stared at the phone.
“I’m hanging up, Ax. Don’t call me before 8AM.”
“No, wait! Say something, Reb.”
“Rebel’s with you?” Diesel croaked.
“I am,” Rebel said quietly.
“I miss you so fucking much, sweetheart.”
Rebel bit down on her lip and opened her mouth to respond, tell him how much she missed him, but then the memory of Torie rose in her head. Not a particular moment, justher. Smirking. Insulting Rebel. Flirting with Daddy. HurtingMomma.
