Page 14 of Destroyed

Suddenly Jonathan rushes out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

I look over at Jamison but only see his usual blank face. “Jonathan won’t be able to go with us.”

“I’ll stay back with him,” Sebastian responds. “I have someone tailing the girls to make sure they stay safe anyways. I need to make sure I can answer his calls.”

“Okay, I’ll get the rest of the info from my brother and get back to you guys when I land,” Andre says. The line goes dead, and I look over at Jamison. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

A dangerous smirk crosses his face before he replies, “Never been more ready in my life, Xavier.”

Chapter 10

Corrine

Riley and I leave the city on Saturday morning and head to our parents’ house. It’s only a couple of hours away, but it always feels like we’re entering a different world. Being back in the small town where we grew up makes me feel sorry for my parents. It’s as if they never got the chance to evolve and see who they are. Did they choose to stay in small-town New York for money reasons? I guess I’ve never really thought to ask them much about their past, or what made them stay in place.

It’s not normal for me to dwell on things like this, but I swear that this whole Xavier thing has thrown me out of my normal approach to life. The fact that he’s been through the heartbreak of a magnitude I’ve never experienced yet was able to keep that to himself, both baffles me and pisses me off. Did I not seem trustworthy enough?

“Allen!” Our mother opens the door and shouts upstairs to my dad simultaneously. “The girls are home!”

“Hi Mom,” I say and step through the doorway into her arms. My mom has retained her small frame all my life, and though she would say it’s because of her daily walks and fitness classes at the gym, I would wager it has more to do with her propensity for wine over food.

“Hi Cory,” she gushes. Her nickname for me instantly makes me feel at home. “How was the drive girls? Do you need something to drink?”

“It was fine Mom,” Riley says. She follows my mom into the kitchen and sets her bags next to the counter. “No hug for me?” she asks, stepping toward our Mom.

“Oh sweetie, I could hug you all day!” She pulls Riley in and looks at me. “I just am so happy nothing serious happened to you in that accident.”

“Depends on who you ask,” I say. My mom knew I was with Xavier when we were hit and she knew that we had been seeing each other casually. But I don’t think she realizes he didn’t wake up the same person he was before. “Xavier still hasn’t gotten his memory back.”

“Well, didn’t they say that it can take some time?” she asks, concern on her face.

“Yeah, and I’m exaggerating. It’s fine. Even if he doesn’t remember me, I’ll be ok.”

“A martyr!” My dad’s voice startles us as he walks into the kitchen behind me.

“Hi Daddy,” I say. “I’m not being a martyr; I’m just saying that if Xavier isn’t going to remember me, then I’m not going to pine over him forever.”

“Well, I’d wager to guess that being around you long enough will surely help him remember.”

“Maybe,” I say. “But he wants nothing to do with me right now.”

“He’ll get it together honey,” my dad says, and pull up a chair at the counter. “What’s for lunch June?”

My mom scoffs. “Since when do I prepare your lunch, Allen?” She smiles though, and turns to check the fridge. “I have chicken salad, pears, brie, and wine.”

Riley laughs. “Sounds right,”

“Sit.” My mom says, gesturing for Riley and me to sit with my dad as she begins pulling out plates and glasses.

“What’s the plan this weekend?” I ask my dad. He usually gets together with his buddies once a month or so, I remember as a kid my mom hated his night out because it almost always meant they were playing poker or gambling at the casinos outside of town. And inevitably, that would lead to a fight about money.

“I was thinking I would take you ladies to a nice dinner tonight,” my dad says, smiling up at my mom.

“As long as we don’t have to make small talk with Mom’s fitness buddies,” I say. No matter where we go in town, we run into someone who takes classes with my mom at the gym. She loves it, but growing up I always hated standing around waiting for them to stop gossiping.

“No promises,” my mom says.

“Mom,” Riley starts, “can we see pictures of you and dad from before you got married?”

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