Page 47

I look across the table at Blaire, wincing. “Shit, sorry. I was lost in thought.”

“That’s like the third time you spaced out like that,” Bax says, waving a hand in my direction. “You sure you’re okay? Do you need a nap or something?”

I shake my head. “I’m fine, I promise. I just stayed up late last night trying to complete a project for one of my classes,” I say. I’m not lying per se. I did finish that project but the thing that kept me up way past my usual bedtime was Maverick’s tongue in my ass.

Not that I’m about to tell my siblings that little detail.

“If you’re sure,” Bax says, lifting his hand of cards up. “Do you have any Queens?”

“Nah, go fish.”

We continue to play until Blaire finally comes out with the win. I pick up all the cards, thinking about Maverick and wondering how his shift is going when the door bangs open, slamming against the wall.

All three of us jump. I leap to my feet, putting myself between the twins and the door. My shoulders fall away when I see my parents stumbling into the house together.

“Would you shut the fuck up? Please? Jesus Christ,” my father yells, walking into the house. He turns towards us, his eyes widening when he sees me.

My mother follows behind. My eyes drop down to her stomach, finding it round. My own stomach sours at the sight.

“Thane? What are you doing here?”

I swallow around the bile threatening the back of my throat. Well, I guess I didn’t need to track them down.

Ignoring my parents, I turn around and look at Bax and Blaire. Their faces are white, their eyes frantic. “Look at me,” I say gently, forcing them to look at me instead of our parents. “Go pack your things then wait out in the car.”

They nod before scurrying to their room. With a shaky breath, I turn back to my parents. Seeing them again fills me with terror but at the same time, I feel my spine straightening, a strength overcoming me.

“Sit,” I say, gesturing towards the table.

“This is not your home anymore. It’s not your job to tell us what to do--” my father starts to say but my mother growls.

“Just shut up and sit down. Let’s hear him out.”

As they settle into seats, I run through the front door to the car, grabbing the paperwork. My hands shake against the paper but even so, I know I’m doing the right thing. I know it in the pit of my stomach, I know it in my very soul.

“Before you say anything,” my mother says, raising a hand at me. “I want you to know that things are different now.” I tilt my head to the side and let out a huff of annoyance. “I’m serious, Thane. We’re separating. For good this time.”

“Right,” I say, sneering at my parents. “You’ve said that before and I’m sure you’ll say it again. I don’t care what you two do anymore. All I care about are Bax and Blaire.”

“Thane,” my mother says but I cut her off.

“I don’t trust you. Hell, I don’t think I will ever trust you again. I don’t care anymore, don’t you get it?” I put down the piece of paper, sliding it over to them. “I will fight you on this tooth and nail. Make it easy for all of us and just sign the damn paper, okay?”

“This isn’t right. We’re their parents,” my father says, crossing his arms over his chest.

“You haven’t been a parent for any of your kids. You were never there for me and Tess. You threw away your chance to care for Blaire and Bax. If you keep this up, I will end up fighting you for that baby in your belly as well,” I say to my mother. “I never asked for this! I never wanted to be a dad at the age of fifteen but that’s exactly what you both made me do!”

“Thane,” my mother tries to say again but I quickly cut her off.

“No,” I say right away, waving at the paper in front of her. “You made me their dad so let me act like one officially. Let me take care of them. Please.”

My parents look at each other before they pick up the pen, signing the paper one by one. My mother keeps a hand on her belly as she slides the paper back.

“I’m really sorry, Thane,” she says softly, barely above a whisper. “I never meant for things to get this bad.”

“Well they did,” I say through gritted teeth. “You let them get this way over and over and over again.” I stand up. “Maybe this next kid will be different, but you lost your shot with us. I’ll be keeping an eye on you. And I’ll be back for the rest of the twins' stuff.”

When the door closes behind me, I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I get into the driver’s seat and pull the car out of the driveway.