Tortured Souls (Rebels of Sandland 2)

I pulled away, but my dad kept his arm around my shoulder.

“We’re doing okay, you know,” he said. “Our little family is doing okay.”

Mum sniffed back a tear, and I smiled.

“I think I might join you the next time you visit Doctor Meredith.”

Mum’s face lit up.

“Are you sure, Harper? I mean, I would love that, and Meredith had reserved a space for you, in case you ever changed your mind. She’s ready whenever you are.”

“I wasn’t ready before, but I am now. I think counselling will help me to come to terms with things and remember Brodie the way I want to.”

Dad squeezed my shoulder in support and Mum stood up to give me a hug.

“This is the best news I’ve had in a long time,” she said. “I love our little family. I love you both so much. Brodie too.”

She started to cry, and we held each other. Just like we had done on the day Brodie died, and at his funeral after that. We’d hold each other up for as long as we needed to until we could each stand tall again in our own right. Because that’s what a family does.

It works together.

It builds you up.

It gives you strength when you don’t have any of your own. I wanted that for Brandon too. And maybe, in time, we could build that together.

I didn’t want to leave her like I did. I stayed awake half the night, watching her sleep and stroking her hair because she just looked so damn beautiful. But in the morning, I heard the front door close, and I knew I had to get out of there. I didn’t want to put her in a position where she had to smuggle me out or lie to her parents. So, I did the decent thing, and I climbed out the window. It wasn’t like I was going into her garden blind; I knew it like the back of my hand.

It hurt like hell to go without saying goodbye though. I wondered if we’d ever get to a point where I could walk in through her front door, say hello to her mum and dad without them wanting to gouge my eyes out, and just be what I wanted to be to her.

Her boyfriend.

Someone she leaned on.

Her everything.

I dropped by my nan’s for a quick shower, threw on a clean t-shirt and some sweats, and then headed over to Zak’s place. The lads had been blowing up my phone since I’d switched it off yesterday, and they were having a meeting this morning to discuss some bullshit I couldn’t even focus on. All I could think about was what her face would’ve looked like when she woke up and saw that I’d gone.

Would she think I’d regretted it?

That I couldn’t face the morning after the night before?

I fired off a quick text to the lads to let them know I was on my way, then I sent one to Harper, hoping I’d say the right thing.

Brandon: I didn’t want to leave you this morning. I’m sorry that I did. Thought it best to avoid your parents. I’m sorry.

She didn’t reply for a while, and I’ve got to admit, it messed with my head. But when my phone eventually lit up with an incoming message, every muscle in my body tensed in anticipation.

Harper: I get it. I understand. You’ve got nothing to apologise for. I know you prefer using the garden fence instead of the front door anyway.

She added a cheeky winking emoji to let me know there were no hard feelings and it helped me to relax somewhat.

Brandon: What can I say? I’m very flexible.

I sent my response then slapped my own face at how lame I sounded. I needed better banter.

Harper: I know exactly how flexible you are. I like it too.

I chuckled. She’d added another winking emoji and I knew that would keep me going through the day. My banter I could work on. At least she didn’t hate me.