A smile tugs at her lips.“Mamma’s boy?Did not see that.”
“Fuck yeah, and I’m not ashamed.You don’t bite the hand that feeds you.She’s also scary as fuck when she gets mad, so I’d rather not do anything that will piss her off.”
She sighs, shaking her head.“Follow me.”
Milly lifts her head from my shoulder.“Please can I sleep in your room?”
“You don’t want to sleep in your own room?”Summer asks softly as we stop at the bottom of the stairs.
The carpets have been ripped up, the paint stripped off the banister, I notice as I glance up the stairs.From what I’ve seen so far, it’s nothing like I pictured it to be.The Addisons were old-fashioned but warm.Mrs Addison always had cookies for us boys or some sort of baked goods.We could always smell them from outside.This place, whilst still a home, feels kind of cold.
Movement on my shoulder pulls me from my thoughts.Milly lifts her head a little.“Please.I’m scared.I want to stay in your room.”
Summer nods, tucking a strand of Milly’s hair behind her ear.Goosebumps rise on my neck at the brush of her hand on my shoulder.“Okay, squirt.”She glances at me, swallowing.“My room is on the first floor.”
I nod and follow her up.At the top of the stairs, there’s a hallway that leads left, and if my calculations are correct, three bedrooms will be down there and a bathroom.I remember a conversation Mum was having about the house with Jaxon and vaguely recall her talking about the unique layout.Summer turns right, into the next hallway, passing three doors until we get to the fourth door.To the left, there’s another set of stairs that I’m assuming lead to the other two bedrooms in the house.
Summer pushes open the door and flicks on some fairy lights as she enters.My eyes widen at the room.It’s such a different contrast to the rest of the house that I’ve seen.I think it’s because the walls are perfectly smooth, there’s thick lush carpet, and everything is so well put together.There’s a swing chair in the corner, but my eyes are drawn to the big-arse bed, before they return to Summer.
She rubs her hands down her trousers.“Maya, Freya’s nan, bought it, and she went overboard with the size.”
I raise an eyebrow.“Size clearly matters.”
She forces out a laugh.“Yeah, clearly.”She glances around the room, seeming nervous.“Um, could you wait with her whilst I run upstairs to get her pyjamas?I know I’ve already taken up a lot of your time, so you can say no.”
“Sure,” I reply, and lower Milly to the bed.
Summer rushes out, and I glance down at the little con artist on the bed.“You completely played her, didn’t you?”
She blinks her eyelids open.“Don’t tell her,” she whispers.“Her room is so pretty and it smells really good, but Malia is all like, don’t go playing in there.”
I chuckle.“My lips are sealed—as long as you tell me what you really wanted the money for.”
She gets comfy on the bed, clutching one of the throw pillows to her chest.“They moved Bones to Disney, and then Criminal Minds, so I need to renew my Disney subscription.I spent all my pocket money on a surprise for Malia.”
My eyebrows scrunch together.“Should you be watching those shows at your age?”
She shrugs.“Baby shows bore me.”
I want to say there’s nothing wrong with a Disney animated movie, but I don’t get the chance.Soft laughter startles me.
Summer breezes in with a set of pyjamas in her hands.“She’s really advanced for her age.Her school reports say different because of behavioural problems but it’s only because she’s not challenged enough.”
“Why not move her up a year?”
It’s Milly who answers.“Because it’s not common practice and my old school discouraged it.”
Summer rolls her eyes.“And they need to be careful about potential challenges it could cause with her academics and social life.Freya is going to be giving us some extra work.”
“And being gifted means watching traumatic shows?”I question.
Milly’s eyes narrow on me.“No, it means I like to know what my options are if such an event ever presents itself to me.I will know how to get away with murder and how to make the body disappear.”
“Stop scaring him,” Summer warns, but I can hear the amusement in her voice.She’s enjoying this.She turns to me, holding the pyjamas closer.“Thank you for dropping us off and helping with the situation.”
Her gaze goes to the door, and I get the hint.“Got it.I’ll let you get her changed.”
“Thank you.”
