Page 42 of Possession

She was the first to break away. A few inches separated our lips.

“Should I stay?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“What about Liam?”

Liam could fuck right the hell off. “Let me worry about him.”

I lay back onto the pillow and she followed, placing herself in the exact same position as earlier.

“Okay.” She yawned.

“Do I need to set an alarm?” I didn’t have to be awake until eleven so I wasn’t worried about me, but I wasn’t sure if she worked tomorrow.

“Mmm?” She nuzzled closer aligning her body along the side of mine, and the hand she had on my chest curled around the fabric of my shirt securing her hold on me.

I chuckled. “Do you work in the morning?”

“No.”

I reached to the left and hit the light switch on the wall next to my bed, hardly moving her at all.

“Goodnight, Paige.” I kissed the top of her head.

“Love you.” It was just a murmur, but the heat of her breath saturated through my t-shirt and hit me square in the heart.

“She’s a good girl, Declan.” My father’s speech was slurred as I walked past the couch.

He was wearing his uniform still, his boots were covered with filth and sat on the coffee table without care. His legs were crossed, and he seemed at ease, even though the color of his skin around his left eye was turning an angry shade of blue. I’d just came in from saying goodbye to Paige. Liam offered to give her a ride home this time, so we wouldn’t have to take the bus. She’d said her parents could come get her, she said it every time, but I wasn’t ready for them to see this shithole, or even worse, ask to meet my parents. Besides, Liam needed some time away to cool off.

“I mean it…” He attempted to sit up, but he burped, dry heaved, and then sat back and closed his eyes.

“I know she is, Pop.”

He didn’t respond. Passed out, just like always.

I wanted to shout at him, “I wish you could really see her. I wish you weren’t always drunk, breathing whiskey down her throat every time she was here.”

She’ll never come back.

The voices had been so quiet lately. But tonight the malice in my head was right. She’d never come back, not after tonight. Liam and my father had really gone at it. She looked terrified. I was pissed at Liam for not controlling his temper.

“I’m sorry she had to see that.” Mom, placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Did Liam really drop out of school?” I turned and looked at my mother. Even though she’d had us boys late in life, being married to Pop, it must have aged her twice as fast. Her hair with strands of gray already, her eyes surrounded with deep wrinkles… she looked spent.

“I’m afraid he did, that boss down at the tattoo parlor offered to teach him how it all works, I suppose. He said he’d make more money, and I told him we didn’t need it, but he insisted we did. I guess he saw one of your doctor bills. It got sent to collections.”

Guilt drowned my lungs.

Your brother has to suffer because of you.

Look at the trouble you cause.

“I’m feeling better, I don’t need—”

“You know as much as I do that once that boy gets an idea in his head he can’t be stopped, and honestly, I haven’t told anyone yet, but your dad, he got demoted. We really could use the money, and Liam has always been good at everything he does. I have no doubt he’ll shine and be the best artist there.” She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “All my boys are so creative.” She gave me a light pat on the shoulder. “Stop worrying. I can see those gears grinding.”

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