Exodus (The Ravenhood)

He slips on his jacket. “I might.” He nods toward where I sit next to the fireplace. “Don’t touch the board.”

“Oh, goodie, you’ll be back,” I stand. “Can’t wait.”

He takes a menacing step toward me, and I take one back, turning my head to avoid his effect on me. With the lip of the couch touching my thighs, I’m out of space, and with his next step, I’m engulfed in flames, the paralyzing knowledge that if he so much as reaches out and touches me, my body will react. I hold my breath to keep from inhaling him in as he inspects me closely from inches away.

“What is it about you?” He asks, his voice close to a whisper. I take it as just another insult, an inquiry as to what Sean and Dominic saw in me.

I step to the side to give myself some breathing room, and he moves in.

“Can you just give me some leash? That’s all I’m asking. Maybe knock before entering?” He leans in, his nose running along the side of my neck without contact, but the effect is the same.

“No.” It’s a faint whisper, but the message is received as if he’d shouted it. Shortly after, when the front door closes, I stand there fixed on the direction he went, my limbs heavy. He’s infuriating, and fighting with him is starting to feel pointless.

That night, I dream of amber eyes and lightning bugs.

I wake the next morning to the sound of a familiar voice drifting from the first floor. Aggravated, I brush my teeth while doing a once-over in my shorts and tank to make sure I’m covered. It’s the addition of the second voice that has me taking the stairs two at a time. When I enter the kitchen, I’m struck by the sight of Tobias, suited and flawlessly polished, the scent of his freshly applied cologne the first thing to invade my nostrils before I lay eyes on Jeremy. He’s busying himself by unwrapping a new laptop when he spots me and cracks a wide grin.

“Hey, you, been a minute.” He darts his eyes back to his task as I cock my hip next to the counter and stare a hole through the side of his head. My thirsty eyes drink in his familiarity, and all it does is make my heart ache. His man beard has grown a little longer in the eight and counting months since I’d last seen him, and he’s sporting his usual attire of dark jeans and suspenders over his T-shirt. Pinstriped suspenders I found at a thrift store and bought while shopping because I thought of him and considered him a friend. Late night conversations between the two of us spring to the forefront, but I bat the emotion away and let my resentment take a front seat. Ignoring the amber eyes combing me, I make my way to the coffee pot and click on the small TV on the counter to catch the last of the morning news.

It’s when I go to add my sugar that I find the box is empty. Tossing a glance over my shoulder, I don’t miss the simper

on his lips before Tobias lifts his mug, and I narrow my eyes at him.

Jeremy darts his gaze between us over the laptop he’s just powered up. “I see you two are getting on well.”

We both glare in his direction, and his chuckle is unmistakable. Temper flaring, I turn and open the cabinet above the pot and spot another box of sugar on the second shelf, just out of my reach. Lifting on my toes, I try in vain to grab it when I feel Tobias approach behind me.

“I’ve got it,” I snap, pulling a spatula from the drawer and using it to hook the box before jerking it toward me. It gives easily, smacking me square in the face. Nose burning, I’m on the verge of exploding when an infuriating rumble sounds from Tobias’s throat just before he steps away. Shrugging off my embarrassment, I prepare my coffee and ignore them both, keeping my eyes on the screen. Jeremy speaks up a minute later.

“How you been, Cee?”

Elbows on the counter, I lean in and turn up the volume.

“That mad at me, huh?” I can sense when they exchange a look behind me. I couldn’t care less. But the burning at my back lets me know I may be revealing a little more skin than I should. I glance over my shoulder to see the source of my discomfort. Head cocked, Tobias is peculiarly looking at me before he darts his eyes to Jeremy.

“We good?”

“I mean, he only showed me how to do this once, but…” Jeremy glances my way, and I know who he’s referring to. They’re worried about the security of the laptop.

They share another wordless look as I go back to my coffee and pretend to watch the news. A few keystrokes later, Jeremy speaks up.

“I think we’re good.”

“Think or know?” Tobias replies in an unforgiving tone.

Jeremy sighs with exasperation. “It would help if you let me—”

“I’ll figure it out,” Tobias snaps.

“Too proud to reach out to your own brother, huh?” I say, with my back turned.

More silence.

“How is he these days, Jeremy?”

A pregnant pause. “I wouldn’t know, Cee.”

“Sure, you wouldn’t.”