No longer would I entertain his stupidity. If I pretended like he didn't exist, then I could alleviate all problems between us. He could see how it feels to be the one getting ignored instead of doing the ignoring. Maybe it would make him give a damn.
My stomach was sore and my ankle was throbbing, I probably twisted it when Easton pushed me down. I knew was not broken and I don’t even think it sprained, it was just hurt. I was lucky.
No one protested when I walked… I mean limped out. Leaving avoided the possibility of more problems and that was what we all wanted. Well, maybe not Macy. She looked as if she wanted a bowl of popcorn to go with the drama.
My feet already knew where to take me because it was the only place I wanted to be lately. I already knew that Javi would want an explanation for what had happened and at this point I owed him it. I couldn't keep running to him when something bad happened and then refuse to tell him what exactly went down.
I stood on the front porch for a minute contemplating whether or not I should even be here. Easton's agitating voice was lingering in my mind. What if he was right? What if when Javier finally knew everything, he'd think I was too much to deal with? He only knew pieces, but he had proven that he was willing to work with a lot. Still, I wondered if maybe my brother was right.
Because who would genuinely choose me?
Thirty
Eli
Iwaited for about twenty seconds after ringing the doorbell. I hadn’t told him I was coming, which was a little disrespectful on my part, but I wasn’t thinking in the midst of everything.
Gabriela swayed her hips side to side, dancing as she opened the front door and greeted me cheerily. "Eli! Javier didn’t say you were coming.”
"Hey." I mustered up the best smile I could. “Can I come in?”
Her dancing came to a slow stop as the smile on her face faded. Her eyes scanned me before locking in on my forehead. "What happened?"
Not giving me the chance to respond, she widened the door and pulled me inside. She dragged me into the kitchen with a firm grip before having me sit down while she got ice. She wrapped it into a dish towel securely.
“Sorry, we don’t have any ice packs.” Gabriela forcefully shoved the towel into my hand and then guided it to my head. "Keep it there."
"Thanks."
"Javier is going to lose his shit when he sees the huge knot on your head," she said, her voice tight with concern. "He was so mad the first time you showed up with a bruise and he didn'teven know you well back then. Imagine how angry he will be now."
I recalled the time she was talking about and I couldn't remember him being angry. Concerned, yes, but not angry. "He didn't seem that mad."
“He’s really good about keeping calm. He was upset, he just didn’t show it to you.” Gabriela put her hand on her hip with a sigh. “But he won’t be mad if this is all because you accidentally fell and hit your head. Tell me this is all because you're clumsy."
I shook my head and her lips turned into a frown.
"It wasn’t because I’m clumsy, but I swear I am okay. This could've been a lot worse and I'm actually a little proud of myself."
"Proud, why?" I turned around at the sound of Javi's voice. He had already taken notice of the makeshift icepack I had pressed against me and was staring at it with narrow eyes.
Once he was by me, he removed the ice pack and his breath hitched at the sight behind it. He placed it back gently, his fingers lingering on mine before finally letting go.
"What happened?" His tone was low and controlled.
I couldn’t get rid of the grin on my face. Nothing about the situation was happy or amusing, but that was the reaction my body was having. Maybe it was my way of trying to gaslight everyone into thinking everything was fine. "I hit someone."
"And clearly they hit back," Gabriela mumbled.
Javi sucked in a sharp breath. "Did they deserve it?"
"Did Easton deserve it? Yes, yes he did."
"Your brother did this? Why?"
I chuckled softly. "Did you miss the part where I hit first?"
His hand wrapped around my wrist and moved it to the side to reveal my forehead. The unamused look on his face put an end to my untimely laughter. "Have you seen the size of the knot onyour forehead? Do you know how hard he had to hit you to do that?"
