I unbuckle my seatbelt and open the car door. “Thanks for the lift.”
“You don’t have to go back to the Bennett’s house. You can stay with me or Lilly until you find your own place.”
“Lilly said the same thing, but they are my family.”
He holds my wrist before I get out of the car. “Family doesn’t always have to be blood.”
“I know, but they’re good to me. Really.”
He lets me go with a nod. Once I’m in my car and start the engine, he drives away, holding a hand up and I return the gesture.
* * *
“Where the hell have you been?”Gareth glares at me as I walk into the kitchen. “If you’re going to be staying here, a text of your whereabouts wouldn’t go amiss.”
Is he actually playing the caring uncle now? He’s barely spoke to me since I moved in. “I’m sorry. I went to a friend’s after work.”
His fingers slide up and down a bottle of beer as I walk by and pour myself a glass of water. “The DNA results came in.”
I hold the glass to my lips, unable to take a sip. Words fail me as a lump grows in my throat.
He slides his phone across the breakfast bar, displaying an email from the clinic. We share 25% DNA confirming he is, in fact, my uncle. Well, this explains the sudden care of my whereabouts.
“Can I ask you something?” A sticky sweat coats my neck and I tense.
“What?”
“Was Mum r…ra…” I can’t say the word. “Was she forced?”
He laughs, but it’s not because he finds my question funny. It’s a sinister laugh, almost mocking. “Didhetell you that?” He won’t speak Kane’s name, like the one who shall not be named.
“He would say that, wouldn’t he? Couldn’t imagine his precious angel would want another dick besides his. Your Mum came willingly more than once. She couldn’t get enough of us.” He chugs the beer back, slamming an empty bottle on the counter before stumbling to bed.
She couldn’t get enough of us? Us? A shiver takes over. It’s hard to believe that anyone could cheat when they had a man like Kane. He’s enough for any woman. I understand Gareth isn’t going to believe his own brother was a rapist. It was a foolish question and one I should’ve asked when he was sober at least.
I walk up the stairs, past the photographs hanging on the wall. My father, Gareth, and another boy with hunting rifles. He looks like Jesse and Jack with his dirty blonde hair. His purply-blue eyes have a sharpness that could cut glass, not like Jesse’s, whose are softer like an icicle that’s melted around the edges.
My feet continue up the stairs and into my room. The entire house is still, with an eerie quiet, highlighting every creek on the floorboards. I cringe at every movement, not wanting to wake anyone.
My door handle clicks. My chest pumps against my ribs as I spin on my heel, holding my breath.
Jesse enters my room with a smile and his finger pressed against his lips.
I relax my shoulders on an exhale.
“Wanna smoke?” he whispers, sliding a rolled up joint from behind his ear.
“Why not?” I shrug and flop back on the bed with a bounce. Jesse joins me and lights our gear.
“Was the old man pissed at you?”
“Not really.”
“He show you the email?”
“Yes.”
“It’s official. You’re one of us now.” He places his arm out and I lift my head to lie on it as we have done before. Only now everything is different. It’s nice to feel wanted just for being me and not because some guy wants to get in my knickers.
