Page 36 of Shattered

“All right, all right. Fuck.” He slides an arm over my shoulder and starts walking us down the street again. “I’m listening. I’ll stop. Just don’t say shit like that again.”

I only grumble in response, causing him to chuckle.

We continue walking with no real destination in mind while thoughts tumble around in my head, until Jason breaks the silence again. “So . . . you want to get some tacos?”

I can’t help but huff out a laugh. I’m still pissed, but I do love tacos, and I do love my brother, despite his ridiculous behavior. “Yes, I do.”

“Nice. Then we need to go back this way.” He spins us around and guides me in the direction we just came from with his arm around my shoulder. “Aren’t you glad you came to visit?”

I sigh, dropping my head back against his arm.

One thing is for sure. Whether Jason had intervened with that guy or not, nothing would have ever happened with him. It never does.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Neilix

I make my way home after an especially long and tiring day, blowing out a breath as I turn onto my street. Sweat makes my shirt cling to my back, and the thick material of my Carhartt pants makes my legs feel like they’re suffocating. I’ve been daydreaming about a shower since shortly after starting work this morning, when the sun was already blasting everything with heat.

Despite the grueling days, I like working with my hands and I don’t mind dry-walling. I had no particular direction to go after high school since college wasn’t an option, but taking this job was probably the best decision I could have made. I went through some dark days where I could have easily stayed in bed all day while living at my parent’s place, but working gave me a sense of purpose and responsibilities before Adi came along and kept me going.

Besides, being able to support myself and pay for Adi’s needs are all that really matters to me, and I’m able to do that.

I pull into a spot along my street and grab my lunch bag before pushing my car door open and getting out. My small house sits on a mostly quiet street with some trees lining the road. After about a year of working, I was able to afford to rent my own place, and since then, I’ve even been able to send some money to my parents to help them, despite our distant relationship.

I wanted somewhere Adi could come and feel at home, not a tiny apartment with no yard, and definitely not the shared house I was living in at first. This place is perfect for us: a two-bedroom bungalow-style home with a little patio in the backyard.

Perfect . . . except for the neighbor on the right. Erika seems to appear at all the worst times, approaching me when I’m not in the mood for talking. Like right now. She’s just leaving her house as I’m walking up the pathway to my front door.

“Oh, hey, Neilix.” She steps across her lawn to mine, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

“Erika.”

“You just getting home now?”

I keep walking but slow my steps so as not to be a complete asshole. “Yep. Heading straight for the shower.”

“Oh, nice. Well, I’m just headed for the gym.” She walks alongside me for a couple of steps, playing with the end of her ponytail. “You really should join me one of these days.”

“As I’ve said before, I get enough of a workout throughout the day.”

Erika chuckles lightly. “Then I guess it would just be for the company.”

“I don’t need company,” I reply, starting up my steps, grateful she doesn’t follow me.

“Yes, you do, silly. You’re always alone.”

Glancing over my shoulder on the top step, I give her a forced smile. “That’s the way I prefer it. Besides, I have Adi.”

“Your son doesn’t count.”

“Good night, Erika,” I call out as I open my front door and close it behind me.

It’s not that there’s anything wrong with Erika—she’s attractive, and I’m sure she’s a nice person—but I wasn’t lying when I said I prefer to be alone. Past events have taught me that people don’t stick around.

The gentle hum of my fish tank greets me when I walk through the front door, and I quickly kick off my work boots and head over to feed the fish before I forget. The next stop will be the shower that’s been calling to me. I’m starving and would love nothing more than to just sit and zone out for five minutes, but the sweat and dirt coating my body needs to come off.

I start undoing my pants on the way to the bathroom, but my phone chimes in my pocket before I’ve managed to push them down. I stop just outside my bathroom and pull it out to read the text from Navi.

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