Page 80 of Love is Strange
Sure, I’ll miss my dad, but I can’t stay here forever. I need to get out there and spread my wings. I think the hardest part will be if Casey and I go to separate colleges. I can’t imagine being without her constant bubbly chatter and will miss her crazy ass so much, especially at the start.
“Em? Wakey, wakey. You were off in your own world, again. What’s up, babe?” Casey asks, waving her hand in front of my face.
I blink in surprise before smiling at her and sighing. “Just thinking about the future. Hoping we get into the same college.”
She laughs and then looks suddenly wistful. “We better get into the same college. I’ll miss you too much if we go to separate ones.”
Casey’s phone chimes, and she pulls it out of her pocket to check it. Her face lights up when she sees the message on the screen
She squeals, “Ash is coming home for the weekend!”
My face must betray some of my emotions because she frowns. “You’ll still come over tomorrow night, won’t you? Please don’t worry, Em. I’ll make sure he behaves.”
I plaster a smile on my face and manage to keep my voice even. “Sure, I’m not going to let Ash keep me from spending time with my bestie.”
I can’t help the knot of dread that forms in my stomach at the thought of seeing him again, though. His rejection still stings, and I don’t really want him to know I’m still reeling from it. The next day passes quickly, too quickly. Soon enough I’m heading over to Casey’s for the night, and my stomach is trying to leave the building.
I steel myself before I knock on the door. I couldn't come straight over to Casey’s, because I had to see my dad first and spend a little time with him. To my absolute horror, Ash answers the door, and staring up at him, I freeze. He seems even taller than when I last saw him, but I must be imagining things. Ash always did tower over my five foot, two inches with his six foot frame. I can’t breathe, and the color of his eyes seems to darken as he looks me over. He appears… hungry.
Casey’s voice breaks through our silent standoff, “Em, I’m upstairs!”
“Coming!” I call back, and I see Ash smirk.
I blush and squeeze past him, my body brushing against his because the asshole doesn’t move to allow me through. I let out a shiver at the contact and then dash up the stairs like the hounds of hell are chasing me. I feel Ash’s eyes on my back the whole way, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his stare.
I shut Casey’s door behind me, and throwing myself down next to her on the bed, I cover my eyes with my hands and groan.
“What’s up with you?” Casey laughs, smiling at me.
“Hello to you, too!” I reply, grinning back at her and then sighing. “It’s nothing just your brother, again.”
She huffs, “I’ll kick his ass if he keeps messing with you.”
I burst out laughing. The thought of her doing that for me is enough to cheer me up. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle him if he keeps on.”
Casey raises an eyebrow at me and looks skeptical, but she doesn’t say anything else just gives me a hug and smiles knowingly. I don’t bring him up again, and neither does she. We spend the evening chatting about anything and everything. She's just telling me about this guy in our class who she thinks is cute when we are interrupted by Casey’s mom, Shelly, poking her head around the door.
“Hi, sweetie. I‘m home now. Oh, hi there, Ember. Are you staying tonight?” she asks, sounding happy but tired.
I nod. “Yes, Shelly. It’s good to see you.”
She smiles at us both and then leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
“She looks tired, Case. Is she still working a lot?” I ask, and Casey looks sad.
“Yeah, she's trying to get this promotion at work, so she won’t have to do as many hours and can be home more. Now Ash is back at college, it’s even quieter around here than it was before,” Casey says, smiling once again.
My mind begins to wander when she brings Ash up. I know he’s her brother, so she's going to talk about him at times, but I just wish I could forget that night. It haunts my fantasies and still feeds my resentment toward him for leaving me the way he did. What hurts the most is that he didn’t give me any explanation as to why he left me so abruptly, like I was a cheap slut, after spilling his release all over my skin.
Chapter Six
ASH
When I sawEmber standing on the doorstep, I couldn’t move from the spot. She was right there in front of me, and I ached to grab her and show her just how much I’d missed her. She was smiling when I opened the door until she saw me standing there. I wasn’t about to let her in without her speaking to me, but I didn’t expect her to squeeze past me like she did.
My skin still burns from where she brushed up against me. I very nearly grabbed and pinned her to the wall right there by the door. I managed to hold back, though, because not only is my sister in the house but also, as I have to keep reminding myself, she's only seventeen and not old enough for all I want to do to her. I want to do everything to her.
Mom actually succeeded in getting home this evening, which was a pleasant surprise and made this impromptu trip even more worthwhile. I barely saw her when I was back for the summer break. She looks exhausted and overworked but content. I hug her tightly, breathing in her familiar smell: the smell of home.
