Page 45 of Open Net

“What’s on your schedule today?” Emma asked.

“Just the same.” I limped across the kitchen to get a mug for coffee. I needed something in my system before dealing with the small talk. I reached up to the top shelf where my mugs were stashed.

“Let me get that for you.” Kendall took a step forward.

“I’ve got it.” I reached up and found one before turning to the coffee maker.

Something. Went. Wrong.

I twisted in a way that my knee didn’t like, and pain shot up and down my leg in an instant. I swore and grabbed my knee, dropping the mug on the counter.

“Olli, what’s wrong?” Emma hurried over, but I held up my hand to stop her.

“I just moved wrong.”

She stopped a few feet from me with a worried expression. “Okay. I’ll bring over a stool. Try not to move it anymore.”

I ignored her and tried to fully extend my knee. “Oh.”

This was bad. Something happened. Something bad.

“I’m here.” I knew she was trying to be helpful. I knew she was doing what she thought was helpful, but I just needed a minute to breathe.

“Sit down, Olli.” Kendall said is a soft tone.

I shook my head turned to face the counter, gripping the edge for balance as I tried to bend and straighten my leg. “Ah.”

“Olli, please.”

“Stop, Emma.” I bit out the words and knew I’d have to apologize later for my tone.

“I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” Her arm reached for me, but I picked up the mug and spun. It hit the wall and shattered into thousands of pieces.

Emma’s gasp is what pulled me out of the tunnel vision staring at the broken ceramic covering the floor. I turned around and heard Jackson screaming.

I’d missed him by a foot, maybe two.

I hadn’t looked at where I was throwing, and I wasn’t used to his bouncer being in the kitchen.

Emma’s eyes welled with tears. Her face reddened, and her lips pursed like she was holding everything back.

Kendall moved toward Jackson and picked him up. She rubbed his back and soon he was calm again. She shot me a filthy look, one that should have scorched me to ashes. “You need to figure this out, Olli.”

She hurried out of the room and I heard her footsteps up the stairs.

Emma hadn’t moved. She was watching me with such disappointment…and fear.

“Emma.” I reached out an arm, but she stepped back. “Emma, I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “No.”

No? What did she mean? “It was an accident.”

Tears started rolling down her cheeks. “No, that wasn’t an accident.”

I looked around, searching for an answer or explanation. I couldn’t help when those moments of rage hit. It was as if something took over in my body. Something I couldn’t control. I focused on the spot I’d hit. A crack. The remains of the mug on the floor.

I did this.