He found a way to make it sound simple, but it’s anything but.
“Both.” I fall back into the chair in the upstairs lounge. I hadn’t been looking to have this conversation exactly, but I needed to say something. I know they see the way I look at her; hell, even I know it, but that’s all it is and might be all it ever is.
“Why?”
Again, with his simple questions, yet still he manages to cut right to the root of the issue.
“I don’t know.” I sag into the chair, feeling defeated and annoyed with myself.
How do I expect him to help me if I can’t even explain what’s bugging me?
This was a stupid idea.
I push to stand, rubbing a hand down my shirt to smooth out any wrinkles I might have just caused, and turn to leave.
“Is it because of Natasha?” Father’s voice is quiet, just loud enough for me to hear him, but it feels as though he shouted.
The weight of them settles on me hard enough that I’m unable to move, my mind whirling as I try to think about it, abouther.
It’s not something I do often. Why would I want to deal with the pain that she inflicted not only on me but on the rest of us?
It’s not fair to Kat or the rest of them, but that is the problem. I knew it even before he brought her up; I just didn’t want to admit it.
I still don’t, but I don’t have to. I know it’s written all over my face; I can tell by the way he’s looking at me.
Damn it.
Natasha is in the past. They all found a way to get past what she did, so why can’t I?
“Um…”
My head snaps up so fast I feel my neck cramp, but I ignore it as I look to find Katherine standing near the stairs. She doesn’t meet my eyes, which is probably for the best right now. Instead, she looks down at her feet, her hand wrapped tight around the banister, her teeth sunk into her bottom lip, and the smallest wrinkle in her brow.
Beautiful.
“What is it, Cherry?” I hear my father rise from the armchair and cross the room to stand at her side. I watch as he tucks a finger under her chin to force her gaze up to meet his.
“Don’t do that. Don’t hide away and act like you don’t have every right to be anywhere in this house and speak your mind. This is your home too.”
He’s right. Kat has every right to be comfortable here.
This conversation wasn't meant for her ears exactly, but that's my fault. I should have paid better attention. I’d gotten pretty good at avoiding her, but in the last week or so, things had changed. Knowing where she is suddenly matters to me, even if not to ensure I avoid her.
“Um, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. I was headed up to tell you both that dinner is just about done.”
“Nobody thought you were eavesdropping,” I quickly assure her before my father can.
Everything about Kat confuses me, but I know for sure I don’t like that look on her face. Even if she never wants me, I want her to be happy here.
Oh…
Maybe I do know what the problem is after all.
She looks up then, and her green eyes shine as her lips turn up in just a hint of a smile that feels like it’s just for me, and my heart races, beating double time, as my throat becomes thick.
“I was just going to suggest we write something up. I know she went after your name and money, but those things don’t matter to me,” she says in a rush before looking up at my father, and, damn it, if she doesn’t look at him like he hung the moon.
She looks at each of them like that, and as much as it scares the hell out of me, I still wish I could have that with her.
