I fold my arms. “On the way to where?”
“None of your business,” he says in a clipped tone as he sweeps past me.
“It’s my business when you’re grounded.” Abby and I haven’t discussed this, but I know she’ll agree. We can’t just let what happened slide. “And we still need to discuss last night.”
“Last night?” Ori lifts his head from his cell phone. He flicks waves of dark hair out of his eyes, revealing a frown as his gaze dances between me and his brother. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Oli says, giving me the evil eye. His expression softens when he swings his gaze to his little sister. “You ready to go?”
“Eh, yeah.” She grips the strap of her backpack, looking uncertainly between me and Oliver.
Oli challenges me with a look I’m well accustomed to these past six months. He’s itching for a fight, and while I don’t want to give him one, he is not leaving this house today. I eyeball Talia. “Can you drop Amelia on your way to work?”
“Sure.” Talia smiles at her younger sister. “I just need to grab my things.” She lifts one shoulder. “Come wait in my bedroom.”
I shoot our eldest a grateful smile.
“Fuck you.” Oli storms past me, heading toward the hallway.
Ori shuffles nervously on his feet. “I’m going to hang out with the guys at Damon’s place.”
“Okay, son. Just be back for dinner.” We have a firm rule that we eat dinner together every night as a family.
“What the fuck?” Oli roars from the hallway.
“Shit,” Ori whispers.
“Go hang out with your friends. Your mother and I have some things to discuss with your brother.”
He doesn’t need to be told twice. Ori is very laid-back and not a fan of confrontation though I know he tried talking to his brother and Oli clearly told him to butt out. Ori gives Oli a wide berth as they cross paths in the doorway, and I don’t blame him given the ferocious look on Oli’s face.
Oli’s nostrils flare as he shoves his face all up in mine. “What the fuck did you do with my car keys?”
“They’re in the safe, and that’s exactly where they’re staying for the time being.” I pin him with a warning look. “You are grounded. No son of mine is getting arrested without consequences.”
Chapter Three
Drew
“That’s rough, Kai,” I say, handing my brother-in-law an iced coffee. “Let’s talk outside.” I lift one shoulder for him to follow me, walking out of our large kitchen-slash-dining area through the double glass doors and onto our patio.
We take seats on the comfy couch in the shade, overlooking the pool and colorful garden in the background. My wife has become quite a keen gardener. Thena’s interest has been actively encouraged by Emery Anderson, the expert horticulturist in our family. Kai’s sister-in-law still teaches piano lessons to kids on the side, but landscape gardening is her main passion now.
“I don’t know what to do.” Placing his drink on the coffee table, Kai scrubs his hands down his face.
“I’ve been in your shoes. It’s no fun.”
“Do you think Arlo would talk with him? Oli hero-worships your son. Maybe he’ll open up to him?”
I take a quick sip of my drink. “I’m sure Arlo would speak to him, but he’s family. If Oli is keeping secrets, he won’t confide in his cousin for fear he’ll tell you. But a conversation can’t harm. Arlo should be here shortly. You can ask him then.”
“We feel so helpless,” he admits. “This is killing Abby. She’s always had a special bond with Oli, and the fact he’s pulling away from her is a double whammy. She’s upset and terrified.”
“The teen years are hard.” I stretch out my legs, crossing my ankles. “I came into Arlo’s life in the thick of it, and he had so much shit to deal with. It wasn’t easy.”
Kai sits forward a little, reaching for his coffee as he eyeballs me. “How did you do it? How did you get him through it? Arlo is so grounded now. You obviously did something right.”
“Keep this between us, but Arlo is still in monthly therapy. His trauma was significant, but I guess we were lucky because he agreed to let us help. Eventually,” I add, thinking back to that time. “He was all over the place at first and struggling to deal with everything. He refused therapy at first, but Thena got through to him. He went for her.” My tongue darts out, wetting my lips. “Maybe you should fall back and let Abby drive this. I know you haven’t wanted to make this about you. You’re focusing on what he needs, but maybe it’s time to manipulate the situation.” I drill Kai with a look. “Abby should play up how this is making her feel. Oli is a good kid. Still the same person inside. He adores his mom. He’ll go for her.”
