I smirk, if she only knew!
“Oh my God, I don’t want to know.”
“Dal, I’m telling her,” I raise my hand when she goes to interrupt me, “and I’ll ask her to keep it to herself, which I know she will no matter how pissed she might get at me. But it’s the only way to stop her from misunderstanding what goes on between us. You know that right?” I know this conversation isn’t going to go well, but I certainly wasn’t expecting to be greeted by silence. “Dal?”
“I don’t know what to say.” She moves forward and sits on my bed. “We’ve kept it to ourselves for all this time…you promised.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t promise your mom. I promised you…Callie means the world to me and I’m not going to sit back any longer and watch her get on with her life without me in it. So what if word gets out that you’re really my sister. My sisters are old enough to understand, even my mom, has moved on from what dad did to her by going with other women. Honestly, I don’t think it will be too big a surprise to her and I know your ‘dad’ is a bastard so if the shit hits the fan then you can come live here.”
“I’m scared Reece. They’ll hate me.” This is the reason why I haven’t said anything because of Dal and her fear of being rejected like her mother did to her, it’s also the reason why I let everyone think there was something going on between us, but it has to stop – now.
“I’m not going to tell her all the other shit because that’s your story to tell, but the fact that we share the same blood has to be told.”
“This is my fault. I need to go with you and apologize to her…explain.”
“No. I really don’t think that’s a good idea.” This is so not a good idea considering they didn’t get on to begin with.
“Reece, stop and think. If she doesn’t believe you or if you screw it up then I’ll be there to confirm what you tell her… Look, I really want to help, okay. I was a bitch to her because I felt threatened and yes that is hard to admit, but I’m sorry and I really do want to help you get her back.”
Oh fuck! She has a point, but I really don’t want to piss Callie off as soon as she sees me. “On one condition.” She meets my eyes, surprise filling her own at my firm tone. Normally I let Dal walk all over me. “You stay back at the hotel while I go and see her. I need to try and get her to listen to me first before I bring you both together again…and we’re having separate rooms. That isn’t open for discussion. If I’m doing this, I’m doing it right. Plus I’m really hoping she’ll spend time in my room.”
Dal stands up and starts pacing back and forth. “You’re an ass, you know that? You can’t go there and expect to get straight back into her panties. Can’t you spend time with her? Get her to show you around where she lives without your dick getting some action. God, men!” She’s really in the swing of things now. “You’re all the same – ruled by that thing between your legs.”
I smirk. “As though you’d know that,” I reply, knowing she hasn’t been with anyone. At least, I don’t think she has. Narrowing my eyes, I ask her, “How do you know that, Dal?”
“Really. You’re asking me if I’ve been invaded by one of your kind?” She rolls her eyes.
“What the fuck is wrong with you. Can’t you just answer?”
“I’m not answering a question like that because it’s none of your business.” She stands with her hands on her hips looking pissed and ready to punch me, but I can’t stop.
“You know everything about me, sometimes probably too much so, yes, I want to know if you’ve finally had your cherry popped.”
“I really want to smack you in the face right now,” she states.
“Answer the question so we can move on.”
“I hate you right now…and no I haven’t had my cherry popped, but I read. I read lots thanks to the kindle you bought me, although I still indulge with the odd paperback. Ugh! You happy now, you don’t have to go and beat someone up for fucking your sister?”
“Jesus Christ. I really don’t want that image in my head…just go and wait in there.” I wave my hand toward the lounge, and thankfully she goes.
I shudder because I so do not want the image of my sisters with a guy. Fuck, I feel sick.
“You’ve gone and done it now,” Phoenix shoves his way into my bedroom and closes the door behind him while I have no clue as to what he’s referring to.
“Huh?”
“Callie’s not coming back…as in never. She’s enrolling at the local college to finish out her courses, but she isn’t coming back here. And I’ll give you three guesses why, but I can assure you that you’ll only need one!” He runs his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, Thalia keeps crying. Have you got any idea how fucking helpless I feel when she cries?” He sits on the bed, which Dal vacated not even five minutes ago and freezes when he spots my half packed bag. “You going somewhere?”
“Texas.” I rub the back of my neck. “I didn’t know she was planning on staying there, but she’s been gone long enough so I was going to bring her back, after I’ve explained Dal to her and gotten down on my knees to apologize.” I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m worried about her reaction to me. The fact remains I didn’t defend her, regardless of who Dal is.
Ignoring Phoenix while he stews on what I’ve just said, I toss a new pair of converse into the bag before zipping it up. If I’ve forgotten anything then I’ll have to manage because I just want to get going. The sooner we leave the better.
“I’m not going to tell Thalia what you’re doing so she doesn’t tell Callie you’re on your way.”
I nod in response and wait for him to leave before I close my door and head to the kitchen and the notice board where I write a message to Donovan, telling him I’ll hopefully be back in a few days. I hope.
I turn to Dal and ask, “You ready to go?”