Page 179 of Nobody's Girl

I don’t bother to answer him. Once in the car, I drive away. Alyssa watches him through the rear-view mirror.

“That went poorly,” she says. “Why did you snatch me away from him? I told you who he was. I know dad wanted me to ride home with you. It wasn’t like I was going to go with him. A minute or two to explain things to him would’ve been nice.”

Pure anger flows through my veins. I grip the steering wheel. “Alyssa, have you no anger towards him? His lack of communication made you so distracted you nearly got yourself killed.”

Alyssa’s head leans on the leather headrest. She turns her head to look at me. “It isn’t his fault I let myself get into such a tizzy over not hearing from him for a while. Not even a whole day had passed, and I was all upset like a crazy person. Don’t be mad at him.”

“Well, I am. If you were mine, I’d never go somewhere without letting you know,” I say. “If it was important, I would want you with me. He left you alone and neglected to call or leave a damned text message. That’s inexcusable in my book.”

Her arms cross over her chest, a clear sign she’s not happy with me right now. “Well, I’m not yours. I’m his. So you’ll have to get over it if you want to be my friend, Eden. Kyle and I are a package deal.”

I have to put this anger away. It’s pushing her from me. Her words are like stones being thrown at my head. The idea of telling her who she really is does battle with the idea of bringing her around to that reality slowly. She’s in no condition to receive the information.

Much calmer now, I reach over, dragging my knuckles across her cheek. “I’m sorry, Alyssa. I don’t know what got into me. I want us to get along. Anything to make my princess happy.” I smile over at her. Her arms uncross and she lays her head back.

“Good,” she says, closing her eyes. “This is the softest leather I’ve ever felt. Does the top come down?”

Good, she’s loving my car. I knew she would. “It does, but I’m not dropping the top today. Once you’re better, I’ll take you for a ride with the top down.”

Blinking back visions of her sitting in the passenger side, her silky hair flowing around her gorgeous face, I’m hard in places I’m supposed to be steering clear of with her for now.

The thump in my chest is back. I look at her in the bright sunlight. She’s here with me. It’s reality, not a dream. Her hand looks so inviting lying in her lap. I take it in mine, stroking her knuckles with my thumb. It does little to ease the tightness in my pants, but I don’t mind.

Without opening her eyes, she says, “When Kyle comes over, none of this, okay?”

When Kyle comes over. That’ll be never!

“Agreed, baby.”

CHAPTER 13

ALYSSA

After all the theatrics, Kyle hasn’t even shown up. Mom refuses to give me my cell because I need to be resting. It’s Saturday night, and I was supposed to get to go watch his band play for a while, but now I can’t.

With no cell, I can’t even call him to let him know I won’t be there. He’ll be crushed, I guess.

My bedroom serves as my new prison, albeit a nice one. But still I’m held against my will. Mom helped me bathe, which was embarrassing. I couldn’t do it myself, though. And I overheard her tell Eden the strangest thing. She asked him if she should help me, as if it was up to him.

What they have going on is mind numbing, and my mind is already a bit on the bad side anyway. Thanks to the magic pills they sent home with me, I have no pain, but man, am I out of it.

Eden either carries me or holds me so tight to his side that I’m almost a part of him. Which ain’t so bad. Except I’m not proud of myself for liking it.

I hear footsteps in the hallway. “Hey!” I shout, wanting some company.

Scotty pops open my door, sticking his head in. “Hey, sis, what’s up?”

“I’m bored and lonely.”

“Cool. I’ll get my Xbox and you can play games with me. That ought to un-bore you,” he says, taking off before I can tell him I’d rather be covered in chocolate and left on an ant hill.

Mom must have seen him coming back up the stairs with his idiot box. “Where are you going with that? You know you’re not allowed to have that thing in your room. You’ll never sleep if we allow it.”

“Mom, chill, I’m taking to Al’s. She’s bored and lonely. She told me to.”

“Take that thing right back downstairs. She can’t have that kind of noise in her condition. It was nice of you to offer. I’ll tell her I sent you away.”

I mouth a silent thank you to God for the intervention. My door opens and Mom comes in with a smile on her face. “Well, don’t you look lovely, all propped up in bed with your precious unicorn PJs on.”