Page 52 of Faking Forever
The brief touch scalded her flesh and she was still absently stroking her tingling skin when he retreated to the room and shut the door.
She sank onto the sofa that he’d just vacated. It was still warm and smelled like him.
Warm and spicy.
So painfully familiar.
She was ready to wrap herself in the abandoned blanket and envelop herself in that scent.
Yeah, because that’s totally healthy, she thought with a snort.
She removed herself from the temptation and shifted to the easy chair instead, sitting there quietly for a long while, just staring into space as the room lightened around her.
She jumped when her phone suddenly screeched out its signature falsettodummieeeeestone reserved for her sibling chat. Her brothers had never heard it, and she was pretty certain they’d take exception to it if they ever did. But as the youngest of four and the only girl, Kenny had frequently been aggravated by her brothers.
She considered ignoring the chat, but the silly tone went off again. And again. And…
She glared at her phone, which was still on the coffee table where she’d dropped it last night.
She groaned and leaned forward to pick it up.
She checked the chat and made an exasperated sound. Didn’t these idiots have anything better to do on a Monday morning? Surely they should be getting ready for work or something? It was seven-thirty, for God’s sake!
Andsomuch worse,Kennywas the current topic of conversation.
Crap.
Cade
Christ! Am I the only one in this family who doesn’t do a runner when shit gets too hard?
Gideon
What’s going on?
Cade
Kenny’s pulled a Nox. She’s disappeared to parts unknown.
Nox
Technically, that’s called Pulling a Gideon.
Gideon
Fuck off, Nox. Everybody knew exactly where I was.
I haven’t pulled a Nox.
Nox
Come on, guys! we’re not calling it that!
Cade
You left town, Kenny. Took extended leave without saying a goddamned word to anyone about it. What would you call that?
A holiday?
