I take off my glasses and inspect them under the dim light. Droplets of rain still cling to the lenses, streaking across the glass. I wipe them carefully with the hem of my shirt, making slow, firm circles until there’s nothing but a clean, clear view staring back at me.
Taking a deep breath, I grip the edge of the counter, steadying myself. Then I open the bathroom door and follow the sound of Damian’s voice, stepping lightly down the hallway.
The moment I step into the kitchen, their voices cut off.
Damian and Bridger stand near the counter, shoulders tense, heads slightly tilted toward each other like they’ve been arguing. Bridger’s arms are crossed over his chest, his brow furrowed in frustration, but Damian whole posture radiates anger. Damian always seems to look angry.
I straighten my shoulders, grip the frame of my glasses, and push them further up my nose before speaking. “Now that your mother is home, can we go to my father’s trailer?”
Damian’s reaction is instant. His head drops slightly, his eyes flicking to the floor, and for a second—a brief, nearly imperceptible second—he looks almostdisappointed. Like I just confirmed something he didn’t want to be true. It confuses me, because I came here for a reason. And we’ve wasted enough time. I need to get home.
Bridger glances at Damian, reading something in him that I obviously don’t understand, then nods. “Yeah. I’ll take you.”
The shift is immediate. Damian’s whole body goes rigid. He doesn’t look at me. He doesn’t look at Bridger. But Ifeelthe anger coming off of him. Before he can say anything, before I can even try to figure out what the hell is going on inside his head, Cody and Delilah walk into the kitchen. She’s humming under her breath. Cody walks right behind her, making sure she doesn’t stumble.
Damian’s face smooths into something more controlled. But I don’t miss the way his shoulders remain tense.
Delilah’s humming turns to singing as she moves through the kitchen, opening cabinets, pulling out ingredients like she’s done this a thousand times before.
But then she hesitates.
Her fingers hover over jars of herbs, her brows knitting together in confusion. She pauses mid-reach, glancing aroundlike she’s forgotten what she’s looking for, like the familiar space isn’t clicking into place in her mind.
No one says anything at first.
We all just watch.
Bridger leans against the counter, silent and tight-lipped. Cody shifts uneasily, his gaze flicking from Damian to their mother, like he’s waiting for someone to step in.
Delilah opens a loaf of bread and sets two pieces on the counter. “I’ll make us something,” she says, her voice overly bright. “I used to make sandwiches for all the boys after school.”
She pulls out a bottle of mayonnaise from the refrigerator, then stops, frowning at it. Her hands tremble slightly as she unscrews the lid.
I bite my lip, watching.
She sniffs at the contents and puts it back in the fridge. It’s clear she doesn’t remember what to do.
“Mom—”
“Igot it,” she snaps, grabbing a bottle of apple cider vinegar next. She opens it, her hands moving too fast, andpours.
The liquid sloshes over the bread, soaking into the slices, the sour, acrid scent filling the air instantly.
“Mom,stop.” Damian moves forward, reaching for the bottle, but the second his fingers come close, sheflinches.
“I said I got it!” Her voice is high, panicked, like a cornered animal.
Damian pulls back immediately, his hands up in surrender.
“Hey, Delilah,” I say gently, moving toward the counter, careful not to spook her. “You know what? That looks great, but why don’t I help you? You’ve worked hard all day, and the boys think it’s time that you get taken care of. I know how to make a really great sandwich I think you’ll love.”
She looks at me, blinking rapidly, confusion flickering across her face.
I keep my expression soft.
After a long pause, her fingers loosen around the vinegar bottle. “Will there be chips?”
I nod, eyeing a bag of potato chips on one of the counters. “Of course. I make the best sandwiches.” I gently take the vinegar from her hands. “Want to see?”
