Underneath the Sycamore Tree

A relieved laugh bubbles from my lips.

“I didn’t buy either.”

We fall back into silence.

At some point I fall asleep. I only know this because I’m pressed against a warm wall of hard muscle that smells faintly like cedar and cinnamon. Christmas trees and cookies. Kaiden grumbles as we near his car, but I can’t make out the words. I’m tired—too tired to tell him to put me down. I close my eyes and nuzzle into the warmth, feeling him tense.

The next time I come to, we’re passing street lights. The yellow color casts shadows on Kaiden’s tight expression, which I get a perfect view of from where he put me in the back seat. His jaw is hard, but the way it moves is like he’s grinding his teeth.

My head feels too weak to pick up, so I lay there and watch him. The radio is playing a rap song I’m unfamiliar with, but I listen to the lyrics and try to stop staring at Kaiden like a weirdo.

He glances back when the car slows for a stop sign, seeing my tired eyes on his. “Would have been nice if you’d woken up before I had to carry you.”

How did he get over the fence at the cemetery? I ask him as much and he grumbles and starts driving again.

“Had to walk the long way around.”

“Oh.” My voice is tiny.

He doesn’t say anything for a long moment. We just sit there until the song ends and a new one begins. “We’re almost home.”

I force myself to sit up, yearning to cry over how my body reacts to the movement. Dizziness sweeps over my vision and everything around me blurs until I almost fall down.

Kaiden, unfortunately, notices. “Have you eaten anything today?”

Thinking back, I realize the last thing I ate was a sandwich late this morning. It’s going on nine o’clock now. “Not since you saw me making something earlier.”

He curses and pulls into the driveway. I frown when he turns to me with an irritated expression on his face. “You have to eat, Mouse. You’re too skinny as it is.”

My jaw ticks at the comment. “What has my father told you about me?”

Silence.

I scoff. “Let’s just go inside.”

He sighs and gets out, surprising me by opening the back door. “What? Do you have an eating disorder or some shit? You could be prettier if you just gained some fucking weight.”

Not wanting him to see me cry, I slide out of the car and storm to the front door. Maybe the Riley conversation triggered something beyond my knowledge, but it’s no reason for him to treat me like trash.

There aren’t any lights on, but the front door is unlocked. As soon as we’re inside, Kaiden stops me from going anywhere.

Biting my lip to contain the yelp of his grip on my wrist, I glare at him. “Let go of me, Kaiden.”

He does. “Go to the kitchen.”

“Don’t tell me—”

“Christ, Emery. I’ll make you dinner.”

I’m speechless at his words. This is only the second time he’s used my name. And the sound of it rolling off his tongue…

I swallow. “I’m sure they brought back the food they ordered. I’ll eat that.”

He crosses his arms on his chest, causing his shirt sleeves to hug the biceps I shouldn’t be staring at. “You don’t even like Mexican food.”

“I ordered a salad.”

“You need protein.”