I bite the inside of my cheek so hard that copper fills my mouth.
I love Maggie, I do, but she doesn’t get it. She never will.
“Just drop it,” I tell her, my temper starting to show.
“All right, how about we go get some food? There’s a hibachi place here that just opened. I know you will love their poke bowls, Maggie, while Aspen and I eat way too much rice and noodles. How does that sound?” Rain says.
“I could eat,” Maggie says softly.
“Yeah, me too,” I admit.
I watch as they set down the items they were interested in.
“You guys can try those on first if you want,” I tell them.
“No, we will come back. I’m sure after some carbs you’ll be more in the shopping spirit,” Rain says with a raised brow.
Sighing, I follow them out of the store. They wait for me to catch up and link their arms with mine, holding me hostage between the two of them.
While they chat, I can’t help but scan the mall, looking for someone who plans on hurting me. Hurting us.
We have two shadows. It will be fine.
Earlier, when we left, I thought my brother was being overprotective when he sent two guys with us. Now I’m thankful. It gives me a little bit of reassurance that everything is fine.
Or would be if shit went south.
Someone would get Rain and Maggie out of harm’s way if my past came back to bite me in the ass.
We head into the restaurant. Instinctively, I go to the back corner and sit down, facing the door so no one can come up behind me.
“Okay, I have stayed quiet long enough. Is therapy working, or do we need to find you someone else? Maybe try a different method?” Rain asks.
“Rain…” Maggie scolds.
“No, I’m not going to let her continue to take her bad attitude out on us. Don’t get me wrong, I know you went through some shit. I know there is a lot that you haven’t told us, but that doesn’t mean you get to treat us like shit. We are all going through shit and should be leaning on each other, not taking it out on one another,” Rain says.
Guilt hits me in the stomach.
I haven’t even thought to ask Rain how she’s doing with her situation.
Her dad has cancer, and she’s his primary caretaker.
“How’s your dad doing?” I ask.
“As good as to be expected. It’s still hard,” she says as she tears off a corner of her napkin.
“We’re here for you, you know that,” Maggie says.
“I’ll be fine. I’m more worried about Aspen,” Rain says, shaking her head.
“I’m dealing. Or I’m trying to. I just need more time.”
“Don’t we all. I’m still trying to accept my role in everything,” Maggie says.
I roll my eyes. “The only thing you did wrong was fall in love with my brother.”
“Which isn’t wrong,” Rain tacks on.
