Letting You Go (Stone Lake 1)

“I did too. I need to get going, I have work today, but I’m not leaving you here alone.”

“She was pretty hammered last night. I can call my mom to come and get me. I don’t want to make you late for work.”

“How about I take you home?”

“I don’t think—”

“Just like a block from your house. You can tell your mom you hitched a ride there. I’d just feel better knowing you’re not here alone. I’m not sure there’s anything to the notes that Jules has been getting, but it’s better to be safe.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.”

“I’m positive.”

“Then, I guess we better head out,” I respond with a sigh, hating that I can’t stay with Gavin longer.

“Tomorrow is Monday, Babe. I’ll be with you at school.”

“Yeah, but I’m still going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, Moonbeam, more than you know.” He takes my hand and I follow him out the door as he locks up. Being without him is not going to be easy, but it’s not too much longer until graduation and then we can be together all the time.

Chapter Fifty Six

Gavin

“Well, don’t you two look sickeningly happy,” Atticus sneers.

I tighten up, despite the joy of having Luna back in my arms. I know my brother is only trying to get to me. I should ignore him, but it’s hard.

“We are,” Luna says, looking up at me with a wink. Despite having Atticus so close, I smile, bend down and kiss her. We’re outside. It’s warm out for a change and I’m on the ground leaning against the trunk of a tree, Luna lying down, her head in my lap, our hands linked lazily against her stomach.

“Do you want something, Atticus?” I ask him, irritation laced in my voice. I won’t get a lot of time with Luna, and I’d rather not have to share any of it with my fuck-head brother.

Atticus ignores me, which is not surprising. I twirl Luna’s hair around my finger, biding my time until the asshole leaves.

“Have you seen Jules, Luna?”

“I haven’t. She didn’t come to school today. I got a text from her last night that said she was sick, and she’d check in with me later. I figured she was still hung over.”

“Probably. She was pretty drunk Saturday night. I just wanted to check on her.”

“I’ll tell her to shoot you a message tonight when I talk to her, Attie.”

“Sounds good. I’ll catch you later, Luna.”

“You don’t have to leave, Attie.”

“Let him go,” I tell her, my gaze locked on Atticus’s. I see the hate that flashes over his facial features, but I don’t really give a fuck. He was bragging last night about the fact he watched Dad beat me. He left me, not knowing—or caring—if I lived or died. Considering Dad came after me because I defended Atticus, that pretty much did me in. I don’t care what happens to the asshole now.

“Gavin, don’t,” Luna says, sitting up.

“Don’t worry about it, Luna. I’m used to Gavin treating me like shit. He may be nicer to you, but eventually you’ll see the real him,” Atticus says, turning away.

“That’s rich coming from you,” I growl and since Luna is no longer in my lap, I stand up.

“What’s that mean?”

“Don’t you ever get tired of the damn games, Atticus? Doesn’t it exhaust you to act like the good guy around Luna when both of us know you’re nothing but a piece of shit?”

“I’ll tell you what I get tired of, Gavin. I get tired of you acting like you’re so much better than me. You’re not. You’re nothing. One day Luna will realize that and then where will you be? Alone. Probably lost in a bottle just like our father. You’re already halfway there.” He snickers, but I don’t find anything he just said funny.

“How in the fuck do you figure that?”

“Sniffing around Luna, knowing she’s too good for you. You only want her because she has money. What’s next, brother? Are you going to knock Luna up? Isn’t that how Dad got Mom? Are you going to pretend to save the day and then leave her miserable too, until one day she just has enough and leaves you behind?”

“You forget they had you too.”

“I didn’t forget. I’ll never forget. I know exactly who I am. You’re the one who doesn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“That you’re scum.”

“That’s rich coming from you, brother.”

“We’re not brothers, we might have the same mother, but that’s it. You’re the reason for all of the shit in my life,” Atticus boasts.

“Bullshit,” I laugh. “I don’t know what you’ve convinced yourself of, but it’s not true.”

“It is. That’s what my father told me the night we were fighting. He told me that he used to be a good man, used to have plans, but then he met a woman who he wanted, only she didn’t want him back.”