Blake takes up my hand and kisses each and every one of my fingertips. Blake and I have started a fire. I don’t see how we can possibly put it out.
I lean into his ear and whisper, “Let me stay the night.”
Four vibratory thumps rattle through me, and Blake turns sharply to look at the door. I don’t need my ears to tell me what’s going on, so I throw on my sweater and tuck my bra under his couch. Blake tosses on his T-shirt and heads over to see who’s there. He peers through the peephole before opening it wide.
Bryson stands there wild-eyed and pale.
Shit! I jump up and force a smile as I speed to the door.
Everything okay?I sign, even though the only thing I’d like to do with my hands right now is knock a vase over my brother’s head.
I heard you hurt yourself.He signs aggressively as if he’s about to hurt someone himself—namely Blake.What the hell happened?
Wait—how did you know I got hurt? How did you know where to find me?
I glance at Blake, embarrassed that he has to witness the exchange.
Bryson’s ears burn a bright red the way they do when he’s about to blow a gasket. Little does he know, I am, too.
That tutor of yours came into the bar. He mentioned it to Cole while he was getting a drink. I know what you’re thinking, but he wasn’t tattling. This is important, Annie. You need to tell us when things like this happen.
Look at me!I want to scream. I want to claw at my skin and pull my hair out because obviously my brothers are insane.I am fine! Why are you trying so hard to ruin my life?
I’m not ruining your life, Annie.He reels me toward him until I’m standing out in the freezing night air.You’re doing that just fine on your own.Say goodnight. I’ll drive you back to school.
Blake steps outside with us, cradling both my phone and sling in his hand. “Text me.” He nods before wrapping his arms around me. He rubs my shoulders, soft and smooth, his fingers strumming up and down my back like the keys on a piano before letting go.
Bryson leads me to the truck and helps me get inside.
I watch in the rearview mirror as Blake shrinks into the distance. He stands in the freezing night air until we’re out of sight.
I don’t look at my brother. I don’t say goodbye when he drops me off in front of my dorm.
I don’t care if I speak to either Bryson or Holt ever again.
Blake
The sun breaksthrough the clouds on this early morning as I wait for Annie outside of Prescott Hall. She left her book bag at my place last night, and I wanted to give it to her myself. After Bryson dragged her out of the carriage house by the hair, I took a nice long shower to relieve the pressure. I could have taken her last night. I’m not sure why this scares me, but it does. Was Annie right? Am I treating her differently because of the fact she can’t hear? I’d stake my life that I’m not. If I didn’t know better, the thing that scares me most is letting someone into my life again so completely, especially so soon after losing Benji. But the truth is there wasn’t a cognitive choice regarding letting Annie into my life. She seeped into my heart that first night at the Black Bear. The moment I laid eyes on her, I was infatuated, and that night at the coffee shop I was all in whether or not I wanted to be. There’s not a second that goes by that she’s not on my mind. And on the other side of the coin is Benji. He’s infiltrated my thoughts since the second he left our apartment that night. Little did I know I’d never get a chance to speak to him again—that the shouting match which took place—those last hateful words, would be all we’d ever exchange again on this planet. It hurts like a rotary blade in the gut. Each second I think of the pain I caused him, that he caused me, twists those serrated blades just a little bit deeper. The heart wrenching lesson is love carefully, at any moment the ones you care about can evaporate like smoke.
Annie walks out of the building and waves. Her smile lights up this whole dreary landscape. She outshines the sun with its meager show of affection and pushes Benji back under the surface for just a little while longer.
“Annie.” I race over and pick her up, kissing her on the lips for all to see. I hope her brothers are taking note. I didn’t approve one bit of the way Bryson manhandled her last night like some fucking caveman. But I wanted to give Annie a chance to say her peace. I know she’s perfectly capable of telling him off. Besides, it hurts a hell of a lot more coming from the one you love. I should know. “Your books.”
I texted this morning and let her know I’d be bringing them by.
“Thank you,” she mouths, trying to take them from me, but I pull them back.
“Let me walk you to class.” I motion to the English building. I feel like an ass for not being able to speak to her the way her brothers do. “Will you teach me to sign?”
She bites down on a smile. Her brows furrow a moment as she reaches for her phone.Only if you want to. I think we communicate just fine. In fact, I love reading your lips.
I hold out my hand and nod toward the phone.My lips are grateful you love reading them, but I would very much like to learn.
She takes back the phone.OK. I’ll teach you one day. If you’re good. ;)
I raise a brow at her humor. I think Annie knows that every last part of me wants to be very, very bad where she’s concerned—at least in the bedroom.
Annie happily leads the way to her next class, holding my hand, twisting my fingers with hers, her chest bubbling with her silent brand of laughter. My fingers, my hand, my entire arm electrifies from her touch. An entire series of pinpricks travel up my body from the excitement of having this gorgeous girl by my side. It’s funny because this is normally when you would engage in small talk about the lousy weather or our upcoming plans for Halloween night this Friday, but instead we’re swallowed in silence, and as long as I’m with Annie, holding her hand, I don’t mind one bit. It feels golden, satiating. Every moment with her feels like enough.
