Page 12 of His Ruin
“Yes,” he says heavily. “I hate these events, but you make things better.”
My cheeks twinge with heat as I duck my head and shove another bite of cake into my mouth. “Thank you.” I glance up at him, swallowing. “You make things better too…”
He doesn’t smile, not really—but there’s a softness that settles into his eyes whenever he’s pleased with me. His whole face gentles when he looks at me, as if he’s holding something fragile. I think it’s because he doesn’t want to make me cry again.
And that warmth spreads through my chest. He may not know how to show what he feels, but he can’t hide the way he cares for me. It’s quiet, restrained—his own unmistakable touch.
And I don’t think I’d want it any other way.
Chapter eight
Kaden
Thesummertimeismy least favorite, mostly because it brings sweltering heat and humidity in its wake. Sweating while I dig up bones isn’t my favorite, but Melody thrives in the sunlight. She enjoys wearing her sundresses and sandals. Little brightly colored ribbons tie her hair back most of the time, and I can’t help but keep my complaining to myself as she enjoys the warmth.
She’s seated on a rock near the creek, her bare feet in the water as she hunches over and dips her hand past the current. Her white sandals are beside me as I root around in the mud, but I’m careful not to get a speck of dirt on them. It would tarnish the pristine leather, and I don’t want to mess up something so important to her.
Melody shoots up into a seated position, her hand tightly wrapped around something as her mouth gapes with joy. “I caught one!”
A little minnow flaps around in her palm, its tail flicking wildly.
“It only took you two weeks,” I muse.
She gives me a withering look. “Two weeks is better than the whole summer! Look at it!”
She holds it up, triumphant of her catch, before its fin flicks her sharply, and she drops it to the ground with a wet slap.
“Nooo!” She whines as she shuffles off the rock.
I chuckle, the sound low and unfamiliar. It slips from me before I can even think of what I’m doing.
Melody gasps, completely forgetting about her fish as she stares wide-eyed at me. Surprised silence suffocates us, and I can’t fathom what just happened.
“You laughed…” She slowly begins to smile, her lips pulling up brightly. “You laughed, Kaden!”
“It’s not a big deal,” I grumble, going back to the mud in front of me.
My sister bounces over, putting her hands on my shoulders as she peers around me with pure joy. “Do it again! It was so pretty.”
My neck heats with embarrassment as I plant a hand on her forehead and lightly shove her back. “No.”
“Please!” She begs, intertwining her fingers and shaking her hands. “For me?”
I don’t know when I started thinking of her as my sister. It wasn’t instantaneous. It happened slowly, the embers gradually building until a spark ignited. Before I knew it, I was looking for her in every room, every corner. I couldn’t separate from her even if I tried. She’s become a constant in my life, and one I can’t give up.
I sigh, resting my elbows on my knees. “Maybe later. Your fish is going to die.”
“Oh, no!” She shouts, realization striking her as she scrambles to pick up the minnow. She pets it with a finger, trying to get it to flop around as she rushes back to the water. She leans over the rock, sliding the fish back into the stream.
“Melody!” Mrs. Jasmine, our nanny, makes both of us flinch as she storms towards us. She’s older with grey hair and crow’s feet. Her long, dark skirt billows around her ankles as she trudges through the mud.
Melody slinks off the rock, her expression becoming frightened as she uses her thumb and finger to roll the hem of her dress.
It’s her telltale sign that she’s anxious, and it makes me shoot up from my spot.
“You’re covered in mud!” Mrs. Jasmine scolds with a scowl. “You have family pictures in twenty minutes!”
“S-sorry, Mrs. Jasmine.” My sister’s bottom lip wobbles, and her eyes well with fresh tears.
