Page 110 of Don't Leave Me Behind
“I’m okay,” I whisper, pulling the hoodie sleeves over my thumbs, tucking my hands into my lap. “The nightmares are still pretty bad, but Clay’s really good about helping me through them. He knows what it’s like, you know?”
“Yeah,” Miya sighs. “I’m glad, Leni.”
“Thanks, Mimi.” I bump her side with my elbow and look at Pepper, who might be sleeping sitting up. “Peps, go take a nap. We’ve got her for a minute.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, go on.” Miya waves her hand dismissively.
“It’s my job, though. I’m not getting paid to nap.”
“Well, she’s napping. So go lie down. We’ll wake you when she wakes up.”
“Bless you both.” Pepper slips off the barstool and heads for the couch. She’s barely lain herself down before she’s snoring.
“I can’t believe he hired her,” Miya whispers.
I grin because I can believe Brooks hired her. Brooks is desperate, but he’s also a good judge of character. Pepper might be a little immature for a twenty-five-year-old, but she’s got a heart of gold. “I wonder if they’ll bang.”
“Wait, I thought the brothers were off limits!”
“Adler is, for sure. She can’t fall for my annoying little brother, but Brooks could use a little wild, don’t you think?”
Miya eyes me suspiciously, like she can’t quite believe what I’m saying.
“We could die at any second, Mimi. Better it be loved and well fucked than lonely and horny.”
“Cheers to that.” She raises her coffee mug before taking a sip.
A knockat the door has me looking up from the book I’m engrossed in. Wheeling myself around isn’t exactly ideal with the cast still on my broken arm. I spend a lot of time in my room, not wanting to bother anyone with my need for help doing pretty much everything. Clay keeps me comfortable when he’s here, but he’s back at work now, leaving me to my very boring devices throughout the day.
“Come in!” I call out, not surprised to find my mom peaking around the corner.
“Leni dear.” She smiles. “This package came in the mail for you.” She sets a small box on my lap with a pair of scissors.
My eyes widen at the label, a squeal coming out before I can stop it.
“I uh, I’ll let you…” Ma stands, giving me space like she has for the last ten years. Only, I don’t want it anymore. I want her here. Want a new normal.
“Wait.” I catch her hand. “Stay, if you’re not busy.”
“I am never too busy for you.”
I smile, because that’s exactly how it used to be. Ma would run herself ragged trying to make sure everyone had what they needed. She might have had six of us, but I don’t recall a single time as a kid when I was jealous of her time with my siblings. There was always enough of her to go around somehow.
She settles on the bed next to me, tucking her legs to theside, shoulder bumping into mine. I can’t remember the last time we sat like this. Slumping my body down, I rest my head on her shoulder, the cumbersome nature of the neck brace making it hard to do so.
“Brooks really got you fired from a job?” She asks, one hand smoothing my hair away from my face.
“He did,” I sigh. It was probably for the best in the long run. Patty’s was not a great place for a twenty-something to work. Though it was supposed to pay my bills. I still don’t know how Brooks knew I was working there. I don’t know how they had half the information that they did. Sometimes I wonder if Miya was a double agent, but then, I think it’s more likely that she told her mom things by accident, and Miss Iva took things into her hands a time or two.
“I’m sorry I stayed quiet. I was trying to let you handle things. I should have seen that you needed help with the boys. I should have asked more questions, especially about that boyfriend they ran off.”
I chuckle. “I’m not mad anymore. Imagine if I were still dating him, it’d be pretty awkward considering Clay is kind of the love of my life.”
A warm laugh bursts from her chest. “Your dad and I knew it after the first time Mercer brought him home. There has never been anyone else for you, dear.”
“I think I get that now,” I sigh. “We wasted so much time.” I glance at her, sorrow building in my chest. Not only Clay and me, but all of us. I wasted so much time pushing my family away, building up walls when I could have had them on my team this whole time.
