Page 55 of A Perfect World
“I’m fine, I promise,” she whispered, leaning over to kiss me lightly. “I’ve been getting them my whole life.”
I dropped the subject reluctantly and climbed out of the car. Before I could open her door, she was out grabbing the presents I bought. Something for mom, something for my nephew and something for her.
Not that she knew about the last one- it was safe in my pocket.
I’d never visited Marie’s house; she moved out with her fiancé right after Dad’s death. She got pregnant, on accident she claimed, before planning a wedding. My nephew was barely two now, and I’d never been allowed to meet him. A pang of anger almost had me blasting the door off her pretty little house. I forced myself to take a breath. Courtney was with me, and we could leave if Marie wanted to dredge up her bullshit.
But I only had so much restraint.
A glare at her front door and it wrenched open with a bang.
“Ollie!” Courtney gasped.
Shocking her was too easy. I led her into the front hall of a neatly organized home with a few pictures on the wall: Marie pregnant, a close up of a little hand in a larger one, Mom and Marie smiling.
None with me.
The last one froze the blood in my veins. White noise screamed in my ears at the sight of him. Stern blue eyes scrutinized me with their intensity, spewing hatred and fear even through the photo. A slash of a mouth forever armed with words that cut deep. Golden skin that emanated no warmth, broad shoulders, lean, strong build with large callused hands-
I stumbled back.
“I’m here,” Courtney murmured, the same way she did when a nightmare ripped me from sleep. “That’s him?”
I nodded once. Her hand forced my face to hers.
“How did you get in?”
Courtney’s cool eyes held mine in warning. Her hand slid from my cheek as we turned. So much of my sister was a reflection of my mother: crystal blue eyes always on the verge of tears, sullen oval face, and lips curved in a pout. But despite mom’s sadness, she radiated warmth and light whereas Marie was a fortress of ice.
“Merry Christmas to you too, Marie.”
“Did you break in?” she demanded.
Some ingrained instinct had me angling slightly in front of Courtney as if I could shield her from the verbal onslaught. My angel's hand tightened in mine.
“Oh honey, you made it!” Mom exclaimed, rushing into the entrance hall with a beaming smile and arms wide open. She had regained a bit of color since the last time I saw her, though she was still too thin. After kissing my cheek, she turned to Courtney. “And you must be Ollie’s girlfriend.”
The absolute adoration pouring from her thawed some of Courtney’s tension.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she demurred.
Marie remained at the end of the hall, arms crossed and scowling while Mom grasped Courtney’s hand.
“Goodness, you’re even more beautiful in person. I made him send me pictures, I couldn’t wait to see who stole my boy’s heart. He said you're on scholarship for dance- that’sincredible,” Mom babbled, not stopping for a breath. Courtney laughed politely, shooting me a nervous glance.
“Thank you,” she said as Mom tugged her down the hall.
“Way to steal her,” I teased. Mom shot me a glare.
“Don’t you start, you and your sister need to talk,” she insisted. Courtney halted beside Mom, holding my gaze. I didn’t need to get in her head to know she didn’t want to leave me with Marie. I dipped my chin in an imperceptible nod. She pursed her lips, reluctantly allowing Mom to usher her off.
“Did you screw up her brain to stay with you?” Marie scoffed.
I tried not to flinch, tucking my hands in my pockets as I strolled closer. “She’s the only person immune to me.”
Marie raised a brow. “Lucky her,” she drawled.
“Leave her out of this,” I warned. She rolled her eyes. “We both know this has nothing to do with her.”
