Page 95 of An Unexpected Turn
PEYTON
“Is the festival canceled?” Mike asked me as he lounged on the floor. The three of us had a movie marathon from the time Jake had brought me back to his house yesterday. Mike was waiting for us with a box of donuts and an innocent smile, and I tried to stay upbeat for his sake, even if my mind was a million miles away.
“No. I’m not that important.” I shifted on the couch and adjusted the blanket around me. The only lights in the room were the flickering bulbs on their Christmas tree. It took up the entire corner of their living room—exactly like the one Uncle Keith had picked out.
My eyes stung whenever I thought of my uncle, which was almost every minute since he’d left my condo. My uncle never raised his voice to me or made me feel like he was anything but one hundred percent on my side for my entire life. It was something I always took for granted because I was never without it, or him.
Now, everything was so uncertain and unsettled. I wished he would have yelled at both of us and stormed out. Instead, he’d just left. No fighting, no anger, just disappointment.
It was far worse.
“I’d say you’re pretty damn important.” Jake handed me a cup of tea and kissed my cheek before settling next to me on the couch. “How’s the head?”
“Stitches are itching, but better. I can go to work tomorrow.”
“But you’re not driving,” Jake said, lifting a brow. “Mike can sleep an extra half hour tomorrow, and I’ll give you both a ride to school.”
“Sweet,” Mike said. “This week is BS anyway. Only two and a half days.”
“Enough with the language.”
“I abbreviated.”
A chuckle slipped out of me when he shrugged.
“Sorry, Peyton.”
“I’m off the clock and wouldn’t write you up for letters, so don’t worry.”
If I weren’t so distraught over my uncle, spending the weekend with Jake and Mike would have been wonderful. Transitioning from his guidance counselor to his father’s girlfriend wasn’t awkward or forced. Mike didn’t seem to flinch when I cuddled next to his father on the couch or disappeared into Jake’s room at night. Being this open with affection for each other was still a new thing for us, but with Mike around, it felt natural and comfortable. I could see myself here long term—with both of them.
“Aaron can’t go back until January. Not that he cared about the festival anyway. Sorry.” Mike flinched when he raised his head. “He feels really bad that you got hurt.”
“Tell him he can make it up to me by not getting suspended again in the next three years.”
I was tempted to take another day off, but I worried about Selena. She hadn’t asked to have lunch with me in a few weeks, and that may have been thanks to Aaron, but I feared whatever reaction the students had to the fight would set her back.
My eyes drifted toward where my phone buzzed against the couch cushion, my stomach tightening when I noticed my uncle’s number.
“Hello?” I said after I scooped it up and ran to Jake’s kitchen. If this was an argument or another intense conversation, I didn’t want Mike to overhear or get Jake upset any more than he already was, despite how he’d pretended to be fine since he’d brought me home with him.
“How are you, honey?”
I relaxed at the sound of my aunt’s voice, despite my fallen hopes that it was Uncle Keith. Even if he’d call to argue, at least that would mean we were talking.
“Okay. Bruises are turning an odd shade of purplish-green,” I joked. “Stitches are pulling, but I guess that means it’s healing. I’m fine to go to work tomorrow.”
“I wish you’d give yourself another day. Recover from it all.”
I shut my eyes, not wanting to acknowledge whatit allmeant.
“I think, in my case, going back to work is the best thing. Jake won’t let me drive, so I’ll be fine.”
“Good. He’s coming with you on Christmas Eve, right?”
“Oh ... I ...” I stammered, caught off guard. “I’ll ask him, but I wasn’t sure if I was invited.”
“You’re serious? Of course you are. Your uncle just needs to marinate on this for a bit. He’dnevernot want to see you on Christmas.”
