Page 24 of A Lesson in Obedience
“Getting into her dreams in the hopes of saving me from dad.”
I dropped my head, sighing. “I’ve saved you from dad’s wrathmore times than you know.” I looked up seeing a confused look on his face. I didn’t want to get into that right now, so I shooed him away. “Go get your girlfriend and we’ll reconvene.”
He jogged towards the door but stopped just before turning the knob and pulling it open. I sent a thought to him.
Please watch yourself and watch your mind, especially where dad is concerned.
River looked at me, one corner of his mouth tugging upwards before he left.
8
Riley
Beau rested his head on my lap while I stretched my legs out on the floor, leaning my back against the front of Corrin’s couch. An awkward silence had settled over everyone when we’d all sat down to eat this morning, but I didn’t know what to say to ease anyone’s mind, so I just kept quiet.
Jax purred on Corrin’s lap while she sat cross-legged in her dad’s recliner. His eyes were trained on Beau just in case my familiar decided to do anything spontaneous. I looked over at Corrin, who was watching me with a tiny smile on her face.
Beau rolled over, showing me his belly.Can we go home to River?Beau had taken to River quickly and it was nice that he thought River was a sense of comfortability.
Before I could think up an answer, the front door opened revealing Mateo and Jade. Corrin squealed, jumping out of her chair. Jax screeched and scurried across the floor, jumping all the way to the back of the chair and holding on for dear life.
“Venaqui, mi hermosos bebe.” Jade bent down and stretchedout her arms for Beau to run into. She smushed his face and rubbed along his body, making his tail wag. Her thick, spiraled curls were tied up in a loose bun and she wore a strapless top that showed off the large shoulder to shoulder tattoo that decorated her light brown skin. A moon sat on one shoulder blade and stars cascaded towards the other. A wolf was delicately drawn, its nose turned up so that one of the stars was perched on its snout.
Jax hissed over at us. Mateo kissed Corrin on the cheek and nodded to her cat. “Hola, Jax. I see you are still as pleasant as ever.” Their hair was combed back, away from their face, but tiny curls peeked out and around the sides.
I stood there watching them and the easy way they all interacted. If my life hadn’t imploded, I would easily be full of energy and a glowing personality. Currently, I really didn’t know how to do much of anything except overthink and attempt to reevaluate something I didn’t even understand in the first place.
Ike came from outside, the sound of the back door slamming startling me out of my own head, bringing me back into the present.
“Hey,estámos aquí para apoyarte, but I’m personally here to play with the cutestperroever.” Jade squeezed my arm, patting the side of her thigh so that Beau would trot along after her.
“Support me how? There isn’t much you can do. I’m pretty fucked.” I didn’t mean to sound like a downer, but it wasn’t like the words were a lie.
“Well for one, we are here, so that’s something, right?” Ike pointed out, taking Corrin’s spot in the recliner.
Corrin walked over, smacking the side of his head. “Can you please stop being such a grouch?”
“How was that grouchy? That was an honest answer! Don’t forget I told mom and dad that anger management should be a very real possibility for you.” Ike rolled his eyes, poking his sister in her side.
Mateo started to step between them. “Time out, okay? As muchas we all enjoy your bickering, that’s not the priority. Can you please settle down,por un minuto?”
“I think that is an excellent idea.” Corrin’s mom walked in with a tray of snacks. Everything from basic potato chips to candy to corn on the cob that was smothered in what looked like mayo and cheese with bits of chile.
Jade gasped, nearly crawling over to the coffee table to grab the messy corn treat. She started taking full bites without another thought. Her hands were instantly messy and so was the surrounding area around her mouth.
“What is that?” I asked, grabbing the snack by one of the skewers and examining it. It smelled delicious, but I placed it back on the tray knowing my stomach could only handle something as simple as chips.
She giggled. “It’s Mexican street corn. Our Mam? used to make it for us all the time when we lived at home. Nothing rivals hers, but this is a very,veryclose second.” Jade praised.
Corrin’s mom sat on the arm of the couch, letting out a laugh, but then the room settled into that familiar quiet. We each got some food, but once the small amount I’d consumed was gone, all I could do was fidget.
“Like I said last night, you don’t have to say every single thing that happened, but…” Corrin’s mom started, easing herself onto the couch near me.
I looked over at her daughter, who was now seated on the floor between Mateo’s spread legs. She gave a little shrug and a nod of encouragement.
“I can only tell you what I know.” I continued to fidget, twisting my fingers together over and over. This would have been the time I reached for my necklace but instead I found Beau’s head pushing against my hands.
“That’s all I ask, sweetheart.” Corrin’s mom leaned back against the couch, prepared to listen intently.
