Maelstrom (Inferno 5)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Kalen

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“I wish you’d look at me. Just once to let me know that I actually meant something to you before everything got fucked in your head,” I say to Hailey quietly as I reach for one of her hands. I bring it up to my nose, inhaling the soothing scent of lavender, then rest it on my thigh as I rub the top of her hand softly with my thumb.

“I know we didn’t always get along, but I’d like to think that at the very least you cared about us. And even if you didn’t care about me, then Dalton. He still takes care of you, he loves you so much, and you ...”

Abandoned him.

I finish the thought mentally because if I say it out loud, I don’t know if I’ll be capable of controlling all of the anger and hatred I feel toward her.

I never gave a shit about having a mother or father—especially not a mother like her, or a father like the one we’ve never met. I just wanted the picture-perfect family life for Dalton.

The one thing I’ve always wanted to give him, I’m too useless to do.

And he still loves me.

Still takes care of me.

Still sees me instead of through me.

“Why did it have to be like this?” I ask softly. “Why couldn’t you just love us? Why can’t you do it now? Is it because of him? What do we have to do to get you to just talk to us?”

I steal a glance at Hailey then bite my lower lip in anger.

Even the gentle caress of my thumb against her skin isn’t enough to get the bitch to look at me.

Pouring my heart out to her is doing even less, but I came in here because I needed advice and I refuse to leave without trying.

“There’s someone in the house. I’m sure Dalton told you already, um, and she’s going to be taking care of you for the next couple of weeks until we graduate. But... well... I, uh...”

How do I tell my deadbeat mother that I stood outside of this stranger’s door and rubbed one out without sounding like a total scumbag?

“She’s really pretty,” I continue in a soft, slow tone. “And last night I... “

I steal another glance at Hailey to see if I’ve gotten her attention yet, but her eyes are still fixed on the window.

She loves him so much, pines for him to come back, and could care less about anyone or anything else.

As the anger starts to boil over inside of me, I tell myself that she’s not worth it. It’s not like it’ll make a difference if I laugh, cry, or scream at her.

Nothing, unless it’s him, will ever get her to snap out of this bullshit she’s lulled herself into.

I let go of her hand and run mine irritably down my face.

“I was walking down the hall last night and I saw her door was cracked open.” I get to my feet and ball my fists by my sides before I lay it on her, “And I jerked off, Hailey. Because her body is fucking gorgeous. Every curve, the sweet alabaster color of her skin, the way one of her tits fell out of her top when she turned on her side... God, I’d fuck her if she’d let me. Maybe I will. Even if she doesn’t. And you’re not gonna do a fucking thing to stop me because you’re useless.”

___

“Dinner smells great!” Dalton says as he enters the dining room and sits down at the other end of the table.

I’ve been sulking in my usual spot for the past twenty minutes, waiting for them both to show up.

I’m not hungry, but I’ll do my best to at least taste whatever it is she’s made, because it’ll be easier to reconcile what I’m going to do to her if I can at least be polite about the efforts she makes for us.

“Doesn’t it?”