Page 54 of The Afterthought

I go to take a step back to give her some privacy, but she reaches down to grab my hand to stop me. "Thank you."

I nod at her, and she releases my hand, letting me step away. I gather up everything we brought and make my way back to the car. She'll come back when she is ready. If she needs me, she knows I'm not far.

Chapter 25

Avalynn

When we got back from the field yesterday, emotions were still high, so Chloe went straight to her room. A few hours later, she finally came out to the living room and insisted we watch the newest season of some reality dating show. It was trash TV at its best and exactly what we both needed after the heaviness of the day.

I heard from Greyson this morning. He's coming home tomorrow. I'm going to use today to my advantage and have a girl's day. It's Saturday, so Chloe doesn't have school, and it's not like it would matter if she did. With her graduating so soon, I would let her stay home if she wanted to.

The two of us have really formed such a close little bond in such a small amount of time. I think the fact that we have both experienced loss has helped.

In true sister fashion, she keeps bugging me about my relationship with Grey. She was so proud of being able to set up the drive-in date night and has been excited that we are back together. I couldn't tell her that we never officially got back together. Greyson just said I belonged to him, and I stopped fighting somewhere between the iced coffees and orgasms.

My phone vibrates, so I pull it out and see it's another email from Mrs. Myers. I've been trying to avoid contacting her until I have time to talk with Grey about what I found out. I swipe the email notification away and pull up my texts. She can wait a few more days.

Me: What's your ETA

Wrenly: Be there in a few. I had to get your coffee so your psycho boyfriend doesn't murder mine.

Me: That was not necessary.

Wrenly: I'm not taking any chances. You know they call him Coal on the streets, right?

Me: He's harmless.

Wrenly: To you, maybe. The rest of us are all fair game.

I laugh. Even Wrenly is calling Grey my boyfriend at this point. I don't think he would kill Kai over something so silly, but then again, I never really know what to expect with him. He is always full of surprises. It seems like Wrenly and Kai are officially a couple now, though. I can't wait to get the details about that today.

We have a busy day planned. First, we are going to get our nails done, then we are all getting our hair done, and we are ending the day with a nice meal at one of the restaurants in town. It's nothing fancy, but it will be nice to have girl time.

"Chloe, are you almost ready?" I yell out. She hasn't come out of her room yet, so I'm not sure what she's doing in there. She doesn't answer, so I try again. "Chloe!"

She finally pops her head out of the door, "Chill. I'll be out in a minute."

She quickly shuts the door again, and I'm confused. I saunter over to the door and knock, but she yells at me.

"I said I'll be out."

"Why are you being weird? What are you doing in there?" I twist the handle and crack the door open, my eyes immediately widening at what I see.

"OH MY GOD! I told you I'll be out."

A mixture of amusement and horror overtakes my face. "Uhhhh, hi Matt." He pulls the covers up over his body to hide himself. I pull the door open a little further and look over at Chloe, who is wearing nothing but his shirt and a pair of underwear. "I trust that you two were safe?"

"AVA! That's seriously so embarrassing!"

"If you're old enough to have sex, then you should be old enough to talk about sex." I shrug and cross my arms over my chest, waiting for her answer.

"If you have to know, yes, we are always safe. I have an implant, and we use condoms." Her face is a deep shade of red, and I am loving every moment of this.

"Good. I don't need to know anything else. You're almost eighteen. Just be safe please," I say to her before turning back to Matt and pointing a finger at him. "And you better not hurt her."

"I would never," he says.

I look between the two of them again and laugh. "Wrenly will be here soon. You two better get dressed. We're having a girl's day. You're not skipping out on us, Chloe."

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