“Okay,” she mouths.
“Yeah?”
She grins before wrapping her hand in my T-shirt and yanking me down so she can kiss me.
“Definitely yes.”
We pull apart when the front door slams open and a tearful Katy walks in.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know where else to go.”
“What the fuck happened?” I growl as Sorrow hurries over to her and wraps her arms around her. Katy doesn’t answer,too busy crying on Sorrow’s shoulder. I give them a minute and finish making the food, adding a plate for Katy.
Once Katy has calmed down, Sorrow leads her over to the table and urges her to sit. I place the food in front of her, but she just stares at it, unseeing.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
She lifts her head and looks at me. “Mom and Dad heard about what went down at the diner with you two. The whole town is talking about it.”
“Shit, I should have given you a heads up. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care about that, Banner. I’m happy for you both. I care that they think they can forbid me from seeing you or having a relationship with you anymore. They threatened to cut off all financial support. Not just for college, which I’m fine with because I don’t even want to attend, but also for food, clothes, and textbooks. I’m happy to get a part-time job and buy them myself, but I don’t trust them not to have me blackballed so that nobody will hire me.”
“Are you serious? What the fuck is wrong with them?” Sorrow looks like she’s two seconds from blowing, but I glare at her. “Oh no, you don’t. You’re not going anywhere. They don’t get to throw their weight around and call the shots, not when it comes to you two. You walk out to try and spare us, and I’ll spank you so hard you won’t be able to sit down for a week. You’re not leaving me.”
Sorrow swallows, but my sister bangs her head against the table. “My poor traumatized ears.”
I roll my eyes at her. “And you, Katy cat, are moving in here. They fuck with you, they fuck with me.”
“Really?”
“Really. I’m a little pissed you even felt you needed to ask.”
“You’re the best, Jake,” she whispers.
I walk over to her and kiss the crown of her head. “Fuck them. They either come to their senses or they’ll lose us both.”
“Honestly, at this point, Banner, I’m not even sure they care.”
“Put them out of your head and eat this. Then, why don’t you do something with Sorrow for the day? Maybe go for a drive down by the lake or a swim. Something away from all the bullshit.”
“Actually, that sounds pretty good. What do you think, Sorrow?” Katy asks.
Sorrow gives her a thumbs up. Good, they could both do with a break.
“Well, while you ladies have fun, spare a thought for me, stuck in the office.”
“Ah, but you have the best view.”
“What view? The parking lot?”
“I was talking about the view inside the building.” She waggles her brows, making me gag and Sorrow laugh.
An hour later, after the food is gone and the dishes are done, I’m grabbing my things to head into work when there’s a knock at the door. Katy and Sorrow, who are both on the sofa, look over at me with a frown before they get to their feet.
“Stay here. I’ll get it. If it’s my parents, the last thing I want is either of them near you.”
I head for the door and yank it open to find two cops on my doorstep. One I don’t recognize, the other is Detective Smith.
