“Oh,” she said with surprise. “That’s…well…No matter. We will do our best to keep as much length as we can. Maybe…maybe we can put in some layers to disguise the shorter pieces.”
She didn’t sound very confident and I swallowed past the lump in my throat as I brought the ice to my ice.
“Just get it over with, please,” I whispered.
I focused on counting in multiples of three as the sound of snipping filled the empty kitchen, trying to keep my breathing steady.
You’re okay. You’re okay. It’s just hair. It’ll grow back.
I startled at the hand that had clamped down around mine and I blinked away the memory, eyes bouncing around the restaurant while I tried to calm down my racing heart. I hadn’t thought about that day, about waking up with a scream as Natasha held up a large chunk of my hair, more chunks covering my pillow and sheets. About Theo arriving to dole out her punishment. About sitting in the warm kitchen while Mrs. Nortuck cut ten inches off my hair as she attempted to salvage the butchering Natasha had given my once long hair.
“Emory?” Enoch called with concern, and I swung my gaze back to him.
“Hmm?” I blinked, taking in his furrowed brow and the way he was leaning over the table to hold onto my hand.
“You okay? You spaced out for a second there.”
I blinked again, looking down at his hand before nodding. I pulled my hand back, dropping both into my lap as I clutched my hands into tight fists.
“Yes. Forgive me for spacing out. That was inconsiderate of me.”
Enoch slowly sat back in his seat, keeping his eyes on me with a skeptical look. “No need to be sorry.”
I nearly threw up the burrito, right there all over the sticky table.Sorry. Fucking pisshead dick weasels. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them. Three fucking years and I still can’t say it. Fuck. I hate them.I mentally flipped off the image of Elder Sam’s wrinkled face and grimaced.
I grabbed my water and forced myself to swallow it back.
It was fucking awkward now, and I desperately wanted to rewind two minutes and not have had a flashback.
“Um, should we head out?” I asked after I looked down and found his plate empty.
Enoch cleared his throat and reached for my plate, “Sounds good.”
???
We were only supposed to be dropping off the trailer and then Enoch was going to drop me off at home, but I had to pee. So, while he unhooked the trailer he had rented and filled with all the necessities to renovate the guest bathroom, I went inside to use his en-suite bathroom. It was dark and quiet in the house, and I assumed Jae wasn’t home and relaxed as I climbed the stairs to the main level. I instinctively flicked the lights on as I went, my mind conjuring up figures lurking in the shadows of the rooms as I passed through them.
I finally made it to his bedroom, and I couldn’t help but stand still and breathe in his scent. After taking care of business in his bathroom, I scanned the clean space, my eyes catching on his cologne on the counter. It would have been weird if I sprayed my clothing with it, but the urge was there. I shook my head at myself and switched off the lights as I made my way back into the house.
“What were you doing in Nox’s room?”
I nearly screamed, my hand flying to my chest as I tried to soothe the pounding organ threatening to give out.
“Fuck, Jae. You scared me. I didn’t know you were home.”
He narrowed his eyes, moving closer to me from where he was stopped at the top of the stairs.
“What are you doing up here alone?” he asked, his stare hard.
I sighed and rolled my eyes, “I had to pee.”
He didn’t look convinced and flicked his gaze back down the stairs. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing here with Nox, but whatever it is, it needs to stop. Now.”
I blinked, not surprised he still hated my guts, but no less hurt by his words.
“You think I’m going to hurt him?” I asked softly, my arms wrapping around myself.
“I don’t think, Iknowyou will hurt him.Again. You need to leave before that happens. Don’t screw up his life any more than you already have.”
