CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Reid
Leaning against thehouse whilst the others search the house and grounds, I watch as the woman who has captured my attention lowers herself to the ground near the old, rustic fence that needed replacing decades ago.The sun casts a glow behind her, outlining her silhouette.
No one, not even her cousins, is around her.It bothers me more than I care to admit.She should have someone holding her, telling her it’s going to be okay.I’ve only been around the Addison sisters a few times, each interaction short and sweet.One thing I learned, however, is that these girls have been through shit and walked out the other side different.Not broken, but not whole either.They each have strength only a person who has fought for their life can attain.Summer has a different kind of strength inside of her.It comes with her ability to be a great friend, a fantastic relative and person.She holds so much light inside of her.Her namesake fits her.This life...the danger, the chaos, it isn’t something she is used to.It’s clear as day on her face.This isn’t shock—not like it was back at the house—even though some still lingers.It’s a mixture of things.Fear.Worry.Concern.Acceptance.And loneliness.She needed protecting.
A woman like that has never appealed to me before.I’ve always wanted a woman to be fierce, strong, and someone who can handle her own shit.I needed someone who could take sarcastic comments or handle violence, since they may witness me getting into a lot of fights.I know she can handle herself, keep herself upright—she proved that today—but I also know it comes at a cost.It chips away at your soul, hardens you in some aspects.I don’t want that to happen to her.I barely know the girl, and I just want to buy her a plane ticket out of here.
Because surprising me, no other woman has appealed to me more than the girl in front of me.Vulnerabilities and all.
Her hands tremble as she grips the phone in front of her, and seeing that has me pushing off from the house, making my way over.
I can’t stand her being alone a minute longer.Neither me or my brothers hold each other and promise everything will be okay when things go to shit.We don’t need to do that shit.We just know we have each other’s backs.But we would be close or in reach.We wouldn’t let this much space go between us.
The reaction the Addison sisters exhibited today showed they are just as tight with each other as me and my brothers are.It kind of pisses me off it doesn’t extend to Summer.I may have witnessed their love for their cousin, but they don’t show the same level of reverence for Summer as they do each other.
I drop down next to her and she glances up, trying to mask her feelings by coming across annoyed and bored.I see the relief, and I won’t ignore it.“I’m not in the mood to argue with you, Reid.”
“We’ve already determined I’m not arguing with you,” I tease, brushing my shoulder against hers.“I just thought you needed someone.”
“I have Berty.”
My eyebrows scrunch together.Maybe getting her checked over again won’t be such a bad idea.“Berty?”
She twists her head to the side and jerks her chin at the post level with her head behind her.A snail sits on the top, and for some reason, my brain immediately goes to the movie Mum made us watch as kids.
“Did he ask you to meet the missus yet?”I whisper.
It takes her a moment but she clicks on, laughing.“Sadly they separated last year.”
“Damn.I was hoping they had a single daughter.”
Her smile is forced this time.“Reid...”
She doesn’t say the words, but I know that tone.It’s the ‘leave me alone’ tone.
“I’ll stop with the joking,” I assure her.“But I’m not going anywhere.You need someone.”
