“I wouldn’t really say that. He’s just being nice.”
My answer causes her to laugh. “Trouble is never that nice. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good guy, but he wouldn’t ask you to his home for dinner if he wasn’t interested.”
Her words give me pause. Is Trouble interested in me? I’m not so stupid to think he doesn’t find me attractive. I’ve seen the way he looks at me and felt the heat of his desire, but he knows nothing sexual can happen. At least not for a while. By the time my body heals, I’ll be gone from here. So, what is he getting out of our dinner tonight?”
The question plagues me all the way to Susan’s house.
TROUBLE
I SLIP MY HAND INTO Remi’s as I lead her away from my car and up the walkway to my house, a sleeping Elijah tucked into my other arm against my chest. Once up the steps, I’m forced to let her hand go to open the door. It’s unlocked, because crime doesn’t happen in Malus, so there’s no need to worry about someone breaking in.
I flip on the light. Remi stops just inside the doorway and looks around. The house isn’t huge, but not small by any standard either. It was gutted and refurbished when my brothers and I came back to town years ago, so it looks nothing like it did when I was a child. I ripped out all the walls so it now has an open concept with the kitchen to the right, the dining room straight ahead, and the living room to the left. There’s a set of stairs leading to the loft and three bedrooms. A spare bathroom sits off of the kitchen.
With Elijah still in tow, I go to the living room. Remi stays in place for a moment, but eventually follows me.
“You bought Elijah a bassinet?” Remi’s shocked voice comes from behind me.
I lay him down in the small bed and turn to face her.
“One of the women in town let me borrow it. Elijah needed some place to lay while you were here, and I didn’t want it to be the floor or couch.”
A small smile graces her lips and the light in her eyes tells me she’s pleased with my answer. I find it very satisfying when she looks happy about something, especially something I’ve done.
; “Would you like something to drink? I’ve got tea, juice, and water.”
“Water would be nice. Thank you.”
Leaving her in the living room, I grab a water bottle from the fridge and a beer for me. Remi’s at my wall of pictures when I come back.
“This surprises me,” she comments, gesturing to the wall with her bottle.
I shift closer to her until I smell her sweet scent. “How so?”
She side-eyes me. “There are so many pictures here. You don’t seem like the type to hang family photos.”
“I didn’t have a good childhood, nor a good family, except for my sister. I wasn’t proud of where I came from and the life I was born into.” I tip the top of my bottle to the pictures. “I love the family and life I have now. I’m lucky to have them. I want to show that off. Mae prints them for me.”
I look at the wall of pictures. Only one of them is from my childhood.
Remi reaches out and gently runs her finger across one of the pictures.
“Is that your sister?” Her tone is quiet and thoughtful.
I clear my throat of the gruffness that’s suddenly trying to choke me. The picture is of Rella, my brothers, and I. Rella’s standing in front of me and I’ve got one arm wrapped loosely around her neck with her hands resting on my forearm. Judge, JW, and Emo are standing at my side.
“Yes. It’s the only one I have of her.”
Remi turns her head toward me, but I keep my eyes on the picture. I was nine and Rella was six. Surprisingly, we’re all smiling. If I had to guess, it’s the only picture of us smiling as kids that exists. Mae made us pose for the picture while Dale snapped it. It was in front of The Hill. I never saw it until after we escaped that night. Mae had some printed for all of us and we all have it hanging in our houses.
She steps closer to the picture, her head tilted to the side.
“Is that….” she stops and looks at me. “Is that the cross you gave Elijah?”
“Yes.” I keep my gaze trained on the picture. “I found it in her little princess jewelry box a couple of days after… it happened.”
Tears swim in her eyes. “Oh, Trouble.” Her hand is shaking when she steps up to me and places it on my chest. “Are you sure you want to give up something that means so much to you?”