I did the right thing. I did. I did.
And it wasn’t until I saw his truck leave at dawn when I realized how gravely wrong I was.
My hand reaches for Emett’s hockey stick before I exit the room, because God knows I won’t go down easy if it’s Aaron.
He hasn’t shown his face since the attack, but I have no doubts that he will.
Slowly, my feet pad toward the front door. I peek through the peephole and do a double-take, frowning before unlocking all the bolts and swinging it open.
“Oh, goodie! You’re all ready to go too!” she says, gesturing to the hockey stick I’m holding as a weapon.
“Electra!” I squeal. “What in the world are you doing here at four fifty?”
“It’s not four fifty…” She digs her phone out of her pocket and puckers her lips, shooting me an apologetic look. “Oops! I guess it is.”
I sigh, rubbing my sleepy, tired face. “Come in, it’s freezing outside.” She shivers in response and follows me but stops dead when she finally registers my face with its deep purple hues.
“Rory! What’s with your face? Is that a bruise?”
I wave her off. “It’s nothing.”
“It is not nothing!” Electra screeches. “Who did that to you? Was it Joey?”
“Electra, I haven’t seen Emett’s sperm donor in five years.”
“Oh. Then what the hell happened?”
I let out a humorless huff. “Life. Life fucking happened,” I whisper, feeling that gaping hole inside me opening up slowly. “Please, let’s talk about something else.”
“Do you promise to tell me if you need help?” She searches my eyes, and I give her nod we both know I don’t mean.
“What are you doing up this early?”
“I didn’t go to sleep yet.”
I blink, my eyebrows arching. “Well, that explains it,” I tell her, flicking the kettle on. “And why didn’t you?”
“Because Exton is a fucking moron! He bought me a plane ticket! Can you imagine that?” Electra nearly shouts, and I shush her. “Sorry,” she whispers, wincing again.
“Ith all right, Auntie Electra.” Sleepy Emett stumbles into the kitchen, his dark hair standing on all ends, pajamas askrew, but at least he didn’t forget to put his slippers on. “Let all that bad energy out,” he adds on a yawn, planting himself on a stool next to her and pats Electra’s arm.
She shoots me a look, her lips rolled tight to stop the laugh. The same one I’m holding in as well. “Emett, why aren’t you in bed? And where did you learn stuff like that?”
“Nana,” he states, as if that explains it all and it truly does.
“Hey, kid, I’m sorry I woke you up. But I’ll make it up to you!”
“How?” Emett perks up.
“We’re going to an Outlaws game today!”
Emett and I blink a few times in stupor, but while he comes out of it, jumps out of his chair and starts shouting excitedly, I fall into a haze. My hand barely catching onto the counter to keep my legs up as my heart starts rocking my whole body from the inside out.
What does she mean we’re going to an Outlaws game? Severin is there. It’s his team.
A lick of longing mixed with warmth, and something so deeply rooted I can’t even explain washes over me as those golden eyes flash in front of my eyes, bringing the memories of the other day to life.
And then I remember he’s not mine.
