Letting Go (Thatch 1)

“How can you be laughing at a time like this? This is the third time she’s shown up during something like that!”

Grey nodded and took a staggering breath. “That’s why! It’s like she knows when not to show up, and does it anyway.” I just glared at her. “Come on, we have to be able to laugh about it by now.”

“No. Now I’m scarred for life. I should never have to hear my sister’s voice after getting off.”

“Ew, why do you have to make it even worse by saying that?”

I looked at her like she’d lost her mind then gestured to the hotel room. “Because that’s what just happened! Like I said, I’m scarred.”

I turned on the water in the shower, not caring that I’d just taken one about an hour before, and stepped in. Less than a minute later, Grey was stepping in beside me and wrapping her arms around my waist.

“I’m sorry I laughed, but I couldn’t help it because she always shows up.”

“I’m so disgusted right now.”

Grey’s lips tilted up in a smile she couldn’t hold back, and she nodded. “I know you are. Let’s get ready for tonight and try not to think about Charlie’s uncanny sense of timing, and then tomorrow when we get home, I’ll work at de-scarring you. Sound good?”

I looked over and reluctantly agreed. “As long as she doesn’t show up again.”

“Deal.”

Chapter 19

Jagger

December 21, 2014

AS I SET out the food I’d picked up on the counter the next day, I cursed when it hit Grey’s purse, knocking it off the counter and spilling the contents on the floor. We’d only been home for a little over an hour, and I was ready to just eat and relax.

“Jag?” she called out from upstairs.

“Yeah. Sorry, I’m just knocking over shit. You ready to eat?”

“Yep! I just got out of the shower, let me throw something on.”

I smirked as I bent down to pick everything up. “Or you could leave the clothes off,” I suggested, and heard her soft laugh.

Shoving everything back in her purse, I paused when I glanced at what was in my hand. I blinked a few times and shook my head before looking back down, but nothing had changed.

Grey’s checkbook sat in my hand. All the duplicates were folded over and held in place by a rubber band, except fo

r the most recent check Grey had written. Just a month ago.

“What’re you doing on the floor?” Grey asked on a laugh as she came down the stairs, but I didn’t say anything as she crossed the floor. “Babe?”

“What. Is. This.”

“What are you talking about, what is wh—” She cut off suddenly when she knelt down next to me and saw what I was holding. “Oh God.”

A harsh laugh burst from my chest. “Oh God? Really, Grey?” Standing up so I was looking down at her, her eyes glued to her knees, I took off the rubber band and flipped back through all of her checks before throwing it on the ground next to her. “Why the fuck have you given my mom five grand, Grey?”

She flinched but didn’t move.

“When were you going to tell me about this? That first one was months ago, were there any others?”

“No, just the three times.” Looking up at me, her face tightened in what looked like pain as tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry, I couldn’t—I couldn’t tell you.”

“And why couldn’t you tell me?” I asked, my voice rising even more. “You should’ve told me my mom was coming after you for money. Shit, Grey, this is what she does; this is why I won’t let her in our lives. She’s constantly trying to get money from me.”