Page 139 of Where Sinners Repent

I don’t reply. I don’t trust my voice.

Kaleb reaches over for his gift, and she straightens on my lap, reaching for it. And then I see something that instantly makes me feel better. My brother, looking as nervous as I was.

Oh, we are so fucked.

A sly smile curves over her lips when her hands wrap around the bat, feeling it underneath the wrapping paper.

“Kaleb?” she murmurs. “What have you done to Kitty?”

Doubt flashes in his dark eyes. So slight, the girl wouldn’t be able to see it. But I do.

She tears the haphazardly wrapped paper and throws it aside, her jaw falling open when she sees it. Even I can’t help the way my eyes rove up and down the bat.

“Oh my fucking God,” she squeals, hugging the bat to her chest. Her giggle is half shocked, half crazed. “I love it!”

The once-worn Kitty has had a makeover. The wood has been professionally burnt, designs twirling up and down the bat. On the handle, the word Kitty, stretches around.

It’s dark and beautiful. Just like her.

She jumps from me onto Kaleb’s lap, and he catches her in an instant.

Tears pour freely down her face now. Crying into his shoulder, shaking her head.

“Thank you,” she sobs. “Both of you. Thank you.”

Roxy drags the back of her hand beneath her eyes and sucks in a shaky breath before prying herself off Kaleb.

“Okay,” she sniffles. “You two have got to stop making me so fucking emotional. It’s embarrassing. Your turn!”

She pads to the tree and picks up a flat envelope. My eyes follow her every movement. Her steps slow as she reaches us, shifting from one foot to the other. She holds it out, and Kaleb reaches for it. She bites her bottom lip, watching him open it with a line between her brows.

When Kaleb pulls it out, my eyes fall on the paper. It’s a drawing.

Of us.

The three of us.

Kaleb stretched out on the bed and her on top of him. And me, behind her. My back is on full view. Scars and all.

Every line has been drawn with immaculate detail. The slight differences in our bodies and faces that nobody else would ever notice. My hands fist.

She noticed.

And for the first time in my life, I don’t hate my scars. In her drawing, they don’t look ugly and monstrous. She made them look beautiful.

Is that how she sees me?

“Fuck,” I whisper, shaking my head once.

Her eyes flick to mine, her hands twisting nervously in front of her.

“Do you like it?” she whispers in a soft voice.

A shake my head again, and her face falls. So I quickly add, “It’s everything.”

Kaleb nods, his thumb dusting over the edge of the paper. “Everything,” he whispers in agreement.

“I owe you a frame; I broke the last one,” she murmurs, looking at her feet.