Page 31 of Make You Mine

I shouldn’t be here wasting my time with someone who enjoys pushing my buttons every chance he gets.

I should be figuring out who this sicko who left me the note is.

Yet, I can’t deny it. A small part of me wonders where my brother used to live before we became family. Where he came from, how his life was before he entered mine. How he was without me.

11

KAYDEN

The smell of pines and smoke hits me as soon as I park the car on the side of the street, transporting me back to high school. Before Madelyn, before everything. Life as it used to be.

The town is still half-dead, with one-story houses with monotone designs decorating the whole block.

I stand on the pavement and stare to my right, zooming in on the sight in front of me.

The house where I used to live. Or, well, what’s left of it.

It’s renovated now. Charcoal paint is across the outer walls, with a small change to the tiles of the roof. Maroon, in contrast to the previous gray. It makes sense. Less than half of the house had been left intact after the fire that changed it all. The other half was destroyed, turned into ashes.

And then we ran. My father and I, leaving everything behind.

“Where is the store?” Madelyn steps out of the car, too. Her voice pulls me back to reality, to where I am now.

Not letting me drag myself into the past. Dead memories that should stay that way.

She spins around, scanning the neighborhood ahead of us. All houses and no stores.

“It’s not far,” I say. “A few blocks away.”

She folds her arms over her chest. “Then why did we park here?”

“The streets are empty, and it’s on the way.” I don’t mention a word about wanting to see my former home. Tracing back my steps. “A little walking never hurts. In fact, it’s healthy for you, Little Demon.”

“That’s such a P.E teacher thing to say.”

I shrug. “I am a P.E teacher.”

Madelyn rolls her eyes. “And yet, you drive to school every day. I think you should practice what you preach.”

A cackle escapes my lips.

Okay, she has a point.

God, she has no idea how attractive she is when she does these things. Pretends to be bothered.

The skips my heart makes in my chest make me unrecognizable. I didn’t use to be this cringey motherfucker, captivated by a woman’s little actions. I never let myself be fooled by anyone.

This time, I welcome the distraction. I’m so tense, I’m afraid I may pop a muscle—or an eye. I need to loosen up a bit.

“Start walking, Madelyn.”

“Fine.” She scoffs before she trails behind me. “You too, Coach.”

I lead her as we make our way through the first block of the neighborhood.

“Not gonna lie, don’t hate that nickname coming out of your lips,” I tease her. “Now try, Daddy.”

Her face twists in disgust, and she makes a gagging sound.