I look at her legs then. They’re leaning against me and the thought of taking her home makes guilt swim in my gut.
I swallow the lump in my throat, staring forward, “He doesn’t hit her.”
Jax is quiet. Zephyr is sitting at the kitchen table.
I sigh. “So, we should take her home.”
Jax stands and pulls Zinnia into his chest. She’s out cold, so she doesn’t wake up at all.
“She’s only ten years old,” I murmur. “My dad started hitting me when I was fourteen.”
Jax stares down at me, and I don’t think he feels one ounce of pity for me. Not with that face, and somehow that makes me feel better.
We walk to the car in the driveway. Zephyr watches from the table, and I meet his eyes right before I’m out the door. He’s unreadable, too.
Jax drives through the night. When we’re close to my house, I wake Zinnia up.
“We’re going home,” I whisper.
She stirs, not waking up.
I look at Jax and whisper, “Please wait for me.”
He nods. “I will.”
I gulp down my pride and shake my sister awake.
A few minutes later, we’re in the freezing cold night, walking barefoot on the sidewalk. We walk into my quiet house where my dad is nowhere to be found. I tuck Zinnia into her bed, and then I rush into my bedroom, close the window, and gather everything I need for everyday life––clothes, school stuff, soap, anything I can quickly grab.
I walk out of the house with a few bags full of things. My heart crawling up my throat, afraid my dad’s going to pop around the corner and make me pay.
I walk down the sidewalk and back to Jax. He’s waiting right where I left him, leaning against his car. Relief floods me when I’m back.
“You waited.”
He looks at my bags. “You’re moving in.”
I hide my smile, letting him grab a few bags from me.
When we get back to his house, Zephyr isn’t in the living room or kitchen. I follow Jax down the hall, and he shows me the guest bedroom. It’s cold and boring-looking. It doesn’t look used very often. Jax places my things on the wall near the desk, so I put the bag I’m holding next to them. I stand awkwardly, thankful for how this night unfolded.
“Thank you,” I whisper as he walks out.
He nods and closes the door.
I lie in the bed, trying to get comfortable in the unknown, and close my eyes.
My dad would literally kill me if he knew I was here.
Chapter Five: Callum
The blonde tastes like Patron and Sprite.
I’m kissing her against the wall near the pool, one hand in her hair, the other holding a red Solo cup I should’ve put down five minutes ago. The music’s so loud I can feel it in my chest. Bass thumping. People screaming. Someone just jumped in the pool fully clothed.
She pulls back, breathless, grinning, and says something I can’t hear over the noise.
I nod anyway and drink from the cup. It’s mostly ice now, but I finish it.
