Page 65 of Mind Pucked

I agree, grabbing my purse and heading downstairs with him. He leads me out the front door to the car as his parents watch.

“Go have some fun, you deserve it after all this,” he says, a look of adoration in his eyes. “I’ll tell them, I promise.”

I nod and start the car, pulling out of the driveway. I soon find myself in a shopping center, and my eye catches on a shoe store. I can’t resist a good pair of shoes. As I browse, I see a pair of black and gold strappy heels that I know Jackson would like on me. I pull them off the shelf and try them on, snapping a picture of them on my feet. I send it to Jackson.

Thought you’d like to see these on me.

I wait for his response, taking the shoes off as I do. A few minutes later, my phone dings with a message.

Mmm…I can imagine those on my shoulders…

I feel my cheeks heat at his response. I’m definitely getting the shoes just for that. I pay for them and exit the store, soon finding another store I want to check out. I see a dress in the window that will go perfectly with my new heels. It’s floor-length and black with gold trim around the edges just like the shoes.

Got the shoes. I’m going to see if I can’t find a dress to go with them before the shoes end up on your shoulders.

I send the text with a smile as I walk into the store. I browse around and soon my phone buzzes in my purse. I’m reaching in to grab it when I look up, and my eyes lock with a pair of eyes that belong to someone I thought I’d never see again: Preston.

My mind can’t comprehend what I’m seeing. He’s alive? All the evidence at the scene of the accident pointed to his death. Nowhe’s right in front of me, breathing and looking at me with wide eyes.

“Preston?” I breathe out, shock filling my system.

My heart stutters in my chest as I realize he’s been alive all this time and hasn’t bothered to let us know somehow.

I watch as he freezes in place and stares at me for several heartbeats before he rushes to me, pulls me into a tight hug, then drags me into the dressing room behind us. He closes the door and turns the lock before pulling me into another hug. He holds me close to him for a couple minutes before pulling back to look at me.

“Amelia? What are you doing here? How’d you find me? How’d you know I was here?” he asks, worry crossing his face.

“I had no idea you were here, Preston. We’ve all been thinking you’re dead for two years. We’ve grieved you for two long, miserable years,” I say, anger creeping into my voice. “How could you do this?”

“If you didn’t know I was here, then how did you find me?” he asks again.

“I’m here on vacation with Jackson. I went shopping so he could have some time with his parents. I’ve thought you were dead, Preston. Why the hell didn’t you ever call?” My voice is growing louder. “Your blood and your wallet were found at the scene, Preston. You weren’t. Why?”

“Why the fuck are you with Jackson?” he asks.

I take a good look at my brother’s face and notice several scars that appear to be burn marks on his face. I wince as I think about the pain he must have endured. My eyes search his face,mapping out the patterns the scars make. He’s still handsome, but I know they must bother him.

I know he wants answers, but so do I and I’m not giving him any until I get mine first.

“I asked you first, big brother,” I say, my chest tightening as I realize we might be at an impasse here.

16

JACKSON

Iwatch my mother and father play with Hayden on the living room floor. They don’t love the fact that her arm is hurt, but they understand that accidents happen. It’ll be no time before our little girl is back to normal.

As I watch them interact with my daughter, I realize that I’m thankful for them. I’m lucky to still have my mom and dad. I love them dearly, and even though my mom doesn’t know how to slow her mouth sometimes, she really is one of the best people I know.

Despite Amelia being gone a while now, I haven’t found the perfect time to talk to them about our relationship. The trio are now on the floor with coloring books and crayons. I have trouble getting on the floor with her anymore and I’m an athlete. My parents are twenty-five years older than me and still get down on the floor with her.

In my mother’s defense, it’s been several months since they’ve gotten to see either one of us. It’s nice to see them, but I want them to know about Amelia. She deserves for them to know,and they deserve to know that I…for the first time in years…am happy.

I know they worry about me—my mother more than my father. She’s been worried about me ever since Lyla passed away. I know deep down she wishes there was a way to take the pain away, just as much as I wish that Hayden would never get hurt, but life simply doesn’t work that way.

“When are we going to dinner, love?” my mother asks, looking up at me from where she sits on the floor.

I give her a small smile, but it’s all I can do.

---