Page 61 of The Pact

“Hold on tight, ok?” I recommend, loving the feeling of her arms around my waist.

We peel out of the parking lot and I have to remember that I have a passenger and not give into the worry that makes me want to ride as fast as the wind.

I’m a mess of anxiety and excitement but the weight of her body against mine as I lean into every curve of the coastal road is grounding me. I just have to pray to all the gods that Mom hasn’t done anything excessively stupid this time.

***

Ausra

KELLEY STOPS IN FRONT of an apartment that isn’t very different from my own. Slightly more upscale maybe but nothing like the big house I moved out of or Bode’s beach house.

He helps me to undo my helmet and places it next to his on the handlebar of his parked bike.

“Ok, let’s go in,” he whispers, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and offering me a smile that doesn’t reach his hazel eyes.

I smile back, accepting his hand. The night he saved me at the Stowaway, he held my hand to comfort me. Now he seems to be drawing comfort from my touch. His broad shoulders are tense as he unlocks the door to his apartment.

“Mommy, mommy! It’s Kelley! Happy birthday, Kelley!” A little girl squeals, jumping into Kelley’s arms.

“Nora,” he says smiling as the child covers his face with loud kisses, “Where’s Mom? Is she ok?”

“Why shouldn’t I be ok?” A youthful woman with the same bright hazel eyes as Kelley’s, walks into the narrow hallway.

Her brown hair, tied in a high ponytail, is a couple of shades darker than her son’s but they have the same smile.

Kelley’s hold on my hand tightens and the distress in his voice is hard to miss. “You texted me 911, that’s why.”

The woman’s smile widens. “Oh, that. Sorry, sweetie. Nora got you a present and she was so excited to give it to you ...”

Kelley grinds his jaw so hard that I fear his teeth might shatter. “You gave me a fucking heart attack. Last time you did that, I found you naked and drunk off your tits, Mom. With Nora left to fend for herself and to witness your—”

“Kelley!” The woman scolds him. “What will your friend think of me? This isn’t the sort of stuff you should say in front of others. And I had to resort to that little ploy because lately, you only come home to take Nora to school in the morning or if I’m at work. Or if there’s an emergency.”

Another tick in Kelley’s jaw tells me that his mother’s excuse isn’t working one bit.

“By the way,” the woman says offering me her hand, “I’m Rosalie. You are? It’s so nice to finally meet one of Kelley’s girlfriends.”

“I’m not—”

I begin to say but Kelley interrupts me. “Her name is Ausra. And you haven’t met any girl before because you must admit, you aren’t always in good enough shape to receive guests. Besides, I’d only bring home someone special.” Then he looks at me.

My heart jumps in my chest and the butterflies in my stomach flutter their wings at the thought that he might mean it.

But I’m sure he’s just trying to piss his mother off and that’s confirmed by the smirk on his face when he realizes that he succeeded.

“Kelley, I don’t appreciate—”

“But since I’m here, where’s my birthday present, huh princess?” He lets go of my hand, picking up Nora and spinning her around.

“Kelley, put me down!” She squeals in a fit of laughter.

Kelley’s smile is genuine, his eyes shine with love for Nora.

I observe the close resemblance between Kelley and Nora. They have the same eye shape, the same smile. The little girl’s nose is similar to his, just more feminine. Their coloring is the biggest difference between them. Where Kelley’s hair is brown with natural sun-kissed streaks and his eyes are a bright hazel that ranges from a warm amber to a dark green, Nora has dark blonde hair and blue eyes.

For a second I wonder if she could be his daughter but she looks about eight or nine years old, too old since Kelley’s turning nineteen today.

As Kelley puts her down, Nora looks at me. “Hello, Ausra. So are you a princess too?”

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