“Be careful,” Dad warns me. “There used to be a caretaker on the estate, but I think the old man passed on a few years ago, and I’m not sure if another was appointed. Try not to get arrested for trespassing or anything,” he jokes, but I see the worry on his face.
“Oh, don't worry, Dad, I haven't been arrested in years,” I reply brightly, hiding a smile. Nana and Poppy snort, but Dad’s eyes bulge out of his head.
“You’ve beenarrested?”
"Yeah, our senior year of high school, we were at a party that got raided by the police, and Maxine’s asshole boyfriend at the time left without us, so we ended up being arrested,” I tell him, a little sheepish at the admission because we’d been drunk as skunks, very loud, and had woken the whole house once we got home. Maxine's grandparents and Nana and Poppy had unfortunately been to visit that day. The disapproving looks that I had received from the senior Bostons are forever etched in my memory, but Nana and Poppy had just been amused, and luckily so were Chuck and Melinda. “But all charges were dropped once Chuck arrived.”
Kai laughs beside me, the rumbling sound reminding my body how close he is to me. “Well, Dad, looks like you’re zero for eight on the children getting arrested front.”
My eyes widen as I turn to look at him. “Allof you have been arrested?”
He nods his head, no shame on his face. “Yep, for a variety of things over the years.”
I look around the table, and amazingly enough, all the siblings are wearing the same sheepish look that I must be. Well, what do you know? Wedohave something in common.
The table returns to quiet conversation, and as I finish up my meal, Kai leans into me, whispering in my ear. “I had no idea they were going to do that, Harlow. I swear, I would have told you if I had.” His words are rushed, like he wants to tell me before I stop him.
I turn to see his golden brown eyes imploring me to believe him, and the butterflies in my stomach twitch, but I hold firm. Instead of answering, I stand up, pulling away from him.
“Thank you for dinner. I’m going to head to bed and check my emails and things and then read for a little while. It’s been a long day.” I look at Dad, Nana, and Poppy when I say, “Hope to see you in the morning.” They smile and wish me goodnight while the rest of the table is silent.
Before I can leave the room, Kai calls out to me, “Sleep well, Harlow.” But I don’t turn or acknowledge him, I just keep walking. His whispered words confirm what Shane and Alex had thought, but I’m still not ready to play nice, and he’ll just have to deal with the brunt of my emotions.
They tried so hard to break me, but they need to realize, I was broken a long time ago, and it’s going to take a lot more than that for me to shatter.
When I get to my room after grabbing my things, the door is cracked open. Seriously? They couldn’t just let it go. Popping my head through the cracked door, I scan the room, but it looks like nothing is out of place. In fact, Princess is firmly ensconced in her place on the bed with her eyes open. As I step in and close the door behind me, a loud purring sound reaches my ears, bringing a smile to my lips.
Putting down my things, I rummage around in my backpack, looking for the thing I bought on the way home today. Once I’ve got the pack of cat treats out and a couple in my hand, I head over to the bed and climb up next to Princess.
She butts her head against my hand in thank you, gobbling down each of the treats that issonot a bribe. This is exactly why I became a vet. That unconditional love and affection from an animal with no expectations. Unlike humans who always have some kind of goal in mind.
Smiling again, I quickly put away my things and shower before checking my emails.
There’s one that starts my heart racing. I have an interview with the MacGinty Sanctuary, a privately run zoo, for their intern position. It’s near San Diego, so not horribly far away. Carefully putting my computer down, I jump off the bed and do a little happy dance. When that’s worked out of my system, I hop back on the bed and send an affirmative response. It’s in three days time, which works well with my plans. I just hope the director doesn't require the horses that day.
Putting the laptop away, I snuggle down in the bed, the cat lulling me to sleep with her soft purrs.At least things are starting to look up.
* * *
KAI
I’d thought we were doing okay when we’d all had a laugh about Dad’s children all being arrested, but Harlow’s green eyes were cold and distant when she turned to me after I’d whispered in her ear. The hurt that I saw punched me in the gut. This time, Jacinta has gone too fucking far. And I’m not going to stand around and just let her issues get in the way of me having a life.
I just have to find a way to get through to Harlow, to convince her I had no idea about Jacinta’s final plan. I get that I fucked up because I should’ve tried to stop it in the first place, but I have no idea how to fix that part now aside from convincing her to give me a chance.
My mind totally not prepared to tackle that challenge right now, my gaze goes to my brother, the pathetic one moaning and groaning about his ass on the couch.
This is all his fucking fault. Something happened between him and Harlow when they had the tattoos done after their bet. The glare she gave him when it all happened, not to mention the middle finger as she drove past in his car today tells me everything I need to know. Now I just need to hope that whatever shit he pulled isn’t added to the pile of things I need to make up for. Why do my siblings have to be such assholes?
I think my best chance is to separate myself from them. I love them, but if they’re always hanging in the background or just a few seats down the table, Harlow will never stop being reminded of what they did to her. An idea pops into my head, the thought so perfect that I barely manage to stop the smile that wants to spread across my face. If I don’t keep it hidden, they’ll start getting into my business like they always do.
I really want to invite Harlow to come to Hawaii with me when I go on the weekend. Especially since I know she's never been allowed to go anywhere, that her bitch of a mother stopped her from going on vacations with the Bostons. I want to spoil her like she deserves, and this kind of trip will do both that and help us get to know one another.
I just need to come up with a way to approach her without her immediately going on the defensive. Maybe I’ll ask Nana if she has any suggestions.
Chapter Six
Oliver
