Mouth to Mouth (Beach Kingdom 1)

Jamie turned in the passenger seat. “What?”

“Beg. I’ll fucking beg to have her back.” He blew out a breath. “She doesn’t need that.”

It took another fifteen minutes to reach Queens and they eventually turned down the block to their aunt’s house where Molly Prince had been living for the past four years. Rory couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been there. Probably for Thanksgiving or one of the other holidays they only celebrated casually now. The street had been cleaned up, repaved. Trees lined either side, the same bodega sat on the corner, but it had gotten a new awning. Rain had started falling lightly from the sky now and the windshield wipers squeaked as Andrew parallel parked along the curb.

Andrew shut off the engine and met Rory’s eyes in the rearview. “She doesn’t know you’re coming, so why don’t you get your head on straight and come in when you’re ready?”

Jaw tight, Rory nodded, grateful for the silence that descended when the car was empty. He’d been dreading the moment he would see his mother again for so long. Now that it was here, though? It wasn’t as daunting. Maybe because he’d unburdened himself to Olive about how he’d left his mother to face the abuse alone…and she’d still wanted him. For a little while, only. But that still counted for something. No, it counted for everything.

He could do this. He might be at his weakest today, but overall, he was stronger from his time with Olive. He was a better version of himself. She’d made him take a look at himself in the mirror and realize he didn’t want to be lacking anymore. Made him realize he was in control of the future and could move on from the past, little by little.

God, he wished she was there.

Rain started to come down heavier on the roof of the car, signaling an imminent downpour. He already looked like shit and didn’t need to resemble a drowned rat on top of his three-day beard and sunken eyes. Better get inside now. After several bracing breaths through his nose, Rory pushed out of the car, not bothering to shield himself from the rain as his long strides ate up the sidewalk. He made it to the end of the walkway leading to the house…and that’s where his head of steam started to evaporate. Everything inside him felt so fucking unsteady. Could he really go in there and come face to face with his mother in this weakened state? What if she resented him? Would he be able to handle that when he’d already been cut off at the knees by Olive not wanting him anymore?

The rain started to pick up while he hesitated at the end of the path. Make a decision.

His breathing turned choppy, his feet inching backward—

“Rory!”

His head whipped to the right. And there was Olive, running toward him down the sidewalk, soaked. Soaked head to toe in sandals and a blue and white flowery dress, looking more beautiful than anything he’d ever witnessed in his entire life. He turned on a dime, his skin screaming for contact with hers—but he stopped short, his hands dropping back to his sides. Why was she there? Don’t hope. Don’t you dare fucking hope she came to be with you. It would burn him at the stake if that wasn’t the case.

“Olive,” he rasped, feeling like a leashed animal being held back by sheer willpower instead of a harness. “What are you doing here?”

“I…” She took a step closer, pushing wet hair out of her face. “I told you I’d go with you. To the party.”

His mind raced, trying to read between the lines. “You came because you didn’t want to break a promise?” He shook his head. “That’s sweet. That’s just like you, sunbeam. But please go home. Don’t you know it’s killing me to look at you?”

“I’m sorry.” She covered her face with her hands, then let them drop. “I’m sorry for what I said, Rory. For making you leave. I was wrong. I-I…” A big hiccup left her mouth. “I miss you so much, I can’t think or eat or sleep or read. Why are you looking at me like I’m a bomb that might go off at any second? I know I deserve it, but…”

The words I miss you so much were winging around Rory’s brain like boomerangs. She missed him. She missed him. He opened his mouth to ask her what that meant, but it occurred to him in one fell swoop that she was getting more drenched by the second. What if she got sick? No, he wouldn’t let that happen. Praying the car door hadn’t locked behind him, Rory guided her to Andrew’s vehicle and pulled the back seat door handle, breathing a sigh of relief when it opened. “Let’s talk in here. I can’t concentrate when you’re getting wet.”