Page 6 of Mouse
I couldn’t explain anything at that moment and so I sat there at the edge of everything like a broody, creepy lump.
Ky got everyone’s attention a little later on and as he stood there looking a little nervous, it hit me. This was the thing that he didn’t tell me about. Of course it was the perfect night for this, he had his sister and his nephew here to share in the joy.
So yeah, Ky proposed to Chris and I felt a little bad that they only had part of my attention. It was a big moment. A happy moment. One that I was sure most of us in the room had been waiting for. And it was no surprise that Chris said yes.
After the excitement settled, I dragged my ass up, slipped quietly around everyone, and grabbed a beer before ducking out the back door.
The sound of the waves crashing almost calmed me. The light breeze almost doused the raging fire inside of me. And the beer did little to chase away the shaky feelings gripping me tightly on the inside.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out half hoping it was Iron telling me to get my ass back to the compound because he needed me for whatever reason. However, I wasn’t that lucky.
Amber’s name flashed across my phone and I instantly pulled up the text.
Let me know when you’re done and I’ll meet you at the compound.
Right under that was a picture of her bare chest and a hint of the lace that was barely holding in the swell of her breasts.
As my lips pressed together, a sigh worked its way out of my nose. I made the screen go dark and then pushed my phone back into my pocket without responding.
She thought I had some club business to take care of tonight. I’d lied to her. Sure there were a million and one ways I could spin this and make it seem like it was club business, but I knew it in my heart that I’d lied to her. I couldn’t tell you why I wanted to come here alone. But there wasn’t a moment when I wanted to take back that lie.
“Hi.” Ingram’s voice came from behind me and my body locked into place.
She didn’t seem to notice as she stepped up right next to me, her eyes scanning the dark surroundings like she could somehow see the waves rolling in through the pitch black night that surrounded us.
I hadn’t seen her in two years. I hadn’t heard her voice in just as long. All I had were a few pictures and a shit load of letters that I kept hidden under my underwear in a drawer.
“Hey,” I finally said and it came out like a strained whisper.
“I’m glad to be back here,” she told me and her eyes closed as she inhaled the salty air through her nose. “I missed this place.”
“Yeah?”
The giggle got trapped in her throat and I wasn’t sure if she was laughing at me or the fact that I had questioned her.
“Yes. I missed it very much. The farm… it smelled differently than here. It wasn’t unpleasant, it was just never right.”
I’m glad you’re home, I wanted to say but it got trapped in my throat.
I hadn’t seen her in two years. And I barely knew her before that. But for some strange fucked up reason, Iknewthis woman. I didn’t understand that. Could you really know someone through two years of letters? Even when I hardly ever responded back to them? Only, I didn’t know her. This wasn’t the same girl that had left here with a newborn and hopes of finding a way to be normal or whatever she thought. This wasn’t the same teenager that showed up to the club pregnant, scared out of her mind, and looking for her brother.
No, I didn’t know this woman beside me. There was no way I could have.
“It’s good to see you, Mr. Mouse,” she said and her tone was both light and heavy at the same time.
Why was she doing this? Why was she trying to remind me of things from back then?
I swallowed thickly.
“Mouse, it’s just Mouse,” I said and my tone didn’t even have a hint of playfulness to it like it did back when I’d said it to her the first time. “I’m sure Ky and Chris are thrilled to have you back.”
“Yes.” The word came out sad and a little frustrated.
“We should get back in there,” I said turning to head back inside.
I didn’t look back but I held the door open until I knew she was right behind me.
As I looked up, my eyes locked onto Ky’s. His eyes narrowed and it was like he was calculating something in his head as his gaze shifted to look at his sister.
