The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

“Good.” I glared at Ollie and pointed at him. “You owe me for this.”

“Of course.” He grinned and moved toward the bedroom. “Lock up on your way out, will you?”

I shook my head and turned toward Ari. “Grab your things. Ollie woke me up, and I need more sleep or I’ll be an even bigger asshole than you’ve witnessed here.”

She picked up a small pile of clothes. “I’m ready.”

“That’s it?” I questioned, an air of shock to my voice.

She nodded.

Well, fuck. I feel like a huge dick. This girl literally has nothing.

“Okay, then, let’s go.” I nodded at the door.

She went first, and I closed the door behind us, purposely leaving it unlocked.

“Yours?” she asked, nodding at my white Jeep.

“Yep.” I pushed a button and unlocked the doors.

She climbed inside—which was highly entertaining to watch with her short little legs—and set her clothes in her lap. I slid in and stared at that small pile of clothes like it had personally insulted me.

“You can drop me off at a shelter or something. It’s okay.”

I looked up at her face with her softly spoken words. “Are you fucking crazy?”

“Um…no.”

“You’re staying with me,” I declared, starting my car. “I thought we’d established that.”

“You didn’t seem too happy about that fact.” She shrugged. “I’ll be fine on my own.” She looked doubtful at those words. “You don’t need to take care of me.”

I sighed heavily. “I know I don’t, but I’m going to. Ollie and Talia help a lot of people, but they’ve never asked me to be involved before. You must be special.”

She shook her head. “I’m nothing special.”

I wanted to argue that fact with her, but I’d already come across as a jerk, so I figured I’d keep my mouth shut for now.

When the gates opened into my neighborhood, Ari gasped.

“You live here?” she asked, almost pressing her face to the glass to see better.

“Yeah,” I replied, amused by her reaction.

“Who are you?” she whispered.

“No one.”

She laughed softly. “Liar.”

The road wound higher and higher until I finally reached my house.

“Holy shit,” she gasped, looking up at my house with her mouth parted in awe.

I pushed a button and the garage door rolled up. I pulled inside and killed the engine.

“Let’s establish some rules first.”