There’s not a thing she could do that I wouldn’t findbeautiful.
She makes a strangled sound, like something’s about to come up. I grab her hair and ball it up on her head. It’s wet and matted together in places.
“Penn, leave! Here it comes. Oh God.” She groans, clutching the toilet as she lurches forward and vomits.
“It’s okay. Let it out, I’m here.” I rub her back and shoulders with my free hand as she continues to puke. Round after round of red liquid spills from her mouth.
Damn, how much did she drink?
After a minute, she pulls herself up, looking over at me with watery eyes. I swallow, feeling sick myself. Sick because she’s sick. Sick because I’m angry and because I was terrified something would happen to her or my sister. And because I fucking love her, and I want to tell her even if she’s not ready to hear it.
I thumb away the tears running down her face and cup her cheek softly. Her eyes close, and she leans into my palm. “Barbie, I—” But there’s a commotion outside the door, and we jolt.
“Stay here.” I jump up just as Ellie and Pacey bust in.
“Uh, Ryan’s here,” Pacey says, eyes big and scared.
Shit.
“Get Olivia and get to my truck. Do not talk to him, just go. Now!”
They hustle into action, and I head toward the living room, cracking my knuckles, my adrenaline spiking. Travis stands in the threshold of the house, ready and waiting. I wish I could’ve seen the look on that idiot’s face when he saw my truck in his yard.
Welcome home, motherfucker.
“Are you gonna swing first and ask questions later or?” Travis asks, rolling his shoulders.
Before I can answer, the door flies open. Ryan steps in, his face red and his chest heaving as he searches the room,probably for Pacey. When he looks at me, I catch the hint of fear behind his gaze.
“The big brother finally shows,” he says sarcastically.
We’ve met a few times in passing. In the early days of their relationship when I just thought he was a douche not a huge fucking piece of shit.
I step up and throw my arms out wide. “Here I am. Got something you wanna say to me?”
“Just wondering why you all have broken into my house.”
“Didn’t break in. Pacey has a key.” I have no idea if that’s true, but I’m guessing it is by the tick in his jaw.
“How nice. Now, if you could get the hell out before I call the cops, that would be great.”
The girls come stumbling down the hall, Olivia in tow.
“Jesus, what the hell happened to her?” Ryan goes to take a step.
I move in front of him. “Don’t even fucking look at them.”
His eyes narrow on me for a flash before locking on my sister. “Pacey, can you get your guard dogs out of my house, unless you all want to spend the night in jail? Stealing someone’s spare key is still breaking and entering. Last time I checked, you don’t live here anymore.”
“We’re leaving,” Pacey says. “I just came to get my stuff. Where the hell are my records, by the way?”
My jaw clenches. Records? My dad’s vinyl records? That’s what she was after?
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He shrugs, smirking.
“You’re lying,” Pacey says between gritted teeth, dropping Olivia’s arm and coming next to me.
I glance over my shoulder, making sure Ellie’s got my girl, and she does.
