Page 143 of Pucking Them
But how can I be? They have allowed me freedom, while keeping a protective ring around me at a distance.
They aren’t controlling. They’re caring.
I never understood the difference before.
“I thought…” I wet my dry lips. “I thought that Nicole and Craig would at least show. I thought that I needed this to put my past behind me. But I’m not important enough for them to even turn up.”
Eden’s gaze darkens. “We don’t need them. We have each other.”
“They let us down our whole childhoods. Why should I think that they’d suddenly be reliable now?”
But that doesn’t make it hurt any less. The article about them was bullshit.
Eden was right to burn it.
My brother drags me closer, until our foreheads are touching.
Finally, I relax.
The rain batters our shoulders. It runs down the back of my neck, plastering my hair to my head.
Yet I feel safe now.
“Garcia investigated the Webbs. He wrote a report.” Eden scrutinizes me. “He sent it to your email.”
“What?” I blink in surprise. “He swore that he wouldn’t say anything to Jude. Also, that he wasn’t a snitch. I’m revoking his rights to be a member of our sub group.”
“Don’t,” Eden says, startled like I am being serious. “He gave the report to Robyn, and she told me. He didn’t break a promise.”
Warmth spreads through me. “Good to know sub solidarity is sound. But when the hell did he have the time?”
“He stayed up all night. He works fast.” Eden tilts his chin. “I may ask him to teach me his methods.”
Well, that’s ominous.
I’m all for my brother making friends, but with Garcia would it be more like hitman bonding?
Still, Garcia didn’t need to do that for me. How many people in my life have gone out of their way to help me?
This time, Garcia hasn’t stayed up and worked on this as a favor for his best friend, D’Angelo.
He did it for me.
Slowly, feeling is returning. I no longer want to claw off my own skin.
“Hmm,” I reply, noncommittally. “I’ll thank him. I don’t know what he likes besides guns and smart suits.”
“Bondage,” Eden replies. “Ropes.”
It forces a laugh out of me. “Fine. I’ll buy him a set of silk ropes. But what did he find?”
Eden’s expression shutters. “I don’t know. I didn’t read it.”
My brow furrows. “Why?”
“The Webbs have nothing to do with me.”
I study my brother.
