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“If it makes you feel better, he didn’t seem happy to see her.”
It didn’t.
I felt hurt that he left without saying good-bye, and angry that my brother and Dru seemed to be so accepting of Michael’s “orders” for me. I also felt too defeated to argue. For now.
Dru sighed and reached out to pat my hand. “When was the last time you ate anything?”
The pineapple at the Renegade House. “Breakfast.”
“Let me take care of you, okay?” Dru asked in a gentle voice. “I know you hate it, but I need to practice for when the little one gets here.”
“Not fair.” Mentioning the baby was the worst kind of blackmail.
I let Dru take me home, feed me the marinara sauce and bread I’d smelled coming from the restaurant kitchen, and even make a bed for me on the couch, knowing she did it only to keep an eye on me.
Even though my body had reached the point of exhaustion, my brain wouldn’t shut down. So many thoughts kept my mind whirling: Jack, and who, not to mention what, he really was. Lily, and the secrets between us. Michael, and where he was. What he was doing. And with whom.
Circling around and around, never finding any answers, I fought sleep, holding out hope the phone would ring.
Talk about pissed.
I woke up confused. I’d slept in three different beds in the past few days. I preferred Michael’s to all of them. Probably because of the pillow.
He never called. Or he did and Dru or Thomas answered because I was asleep. Maybe one of them turned off the ringer. I reached out for the portable phone on the coffee table, fumbling to see the caller ID.
Nothing.
I might not know where Michael was, but I had a pretty good idea how to find him. I threw the covers back and made a beeline for my room, taking the phone with me, just in case.
“Hold it.” Thomas stepped out of the kitchen with a box of Fruity Pebbles in his hand, blocking my way. “Where are you going?”
“To take a shower.”
He angled his body to keep me from stepping around him. “What about after that?”
“Why does it matter?”
“You’re not going to look for Michael, are you?” Thomas asked the question as if he already knew the answer.
“I guess it all depends,” I said, fisting my phone-free hand on my hip. “How long are you supposed to keep me away from him?”
“Did he call?”
I shook my head.
“Em, he was serious. I don’t know if he knew what kind of situation he was walking into when he left, but he didn’t want you to be involved.”
“I need to go to the coffeehouse to check my schedule,” I said in a monotone, not meeting his eyes. “Am I allowed?”
“Don’t be this way,” he pleaded. I knew he hated lording any kind of authority over me. But he still did it.
“I’m your sister. You’re taking Michael’s side over mine. How could you?” I figured it wouldn’t hurt to layer on some guilt now to pave the way for forgiveness later.
“I am on your side. So is Michael,” he said self-righteously. “His intention is to keep you safe.”
I still held the cordless phone in my hand. I really wanted to throw it at my brother’s head. Growling in frustration, I pushed past him, slammed the door to my room, and locked it behind me.
I showered quickly and chose not to argue with my hair, leaving it loose and wavy. I didn’t want to think about why, but I took special care with my makeup and clothing, wearing tighter jeans than usual and a close-fitting green T-shirt with a scoop neckline. As accessory challenged as I am, I even threw on a matching pair of earrings. Dru’s shimmery powder still sat on my dresser, and I used a little to highlight my … collarbone. Trying not to feel like a hooker, I grabbed a pair of strappy-heeled sandals and pulled them on as I half ran, half hopped to the front door.
