Page 126 of Family Bonds: Coy & Angel

“Sorry,” he said. “I’m just concerned.”

“Don’t be,” she said. “You know what I know. Nothing to be concerned about.”

He reached his hand over and laid it on hers in the SUV and squeezed her fingers.

They got home and before she could get her laptop out of the back, he was grabbing that with his and putting both over his shoulder. She had the food in her arms since he’d handed it over when he got in.

“I’ve got it,” he said.

“Oh my God, Coy. I can carry a pizza. Unlock the door before I dump it on your head.”

He laughed as if he thought she was joking. She wasn’t.

She started to eat when he went to shower and change. She’d do it next. She was too hungry to wait and wanted it hot.

When he came out, she’d already had one slice and a piece of cheesy bread.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“To shower and change.”

“Are you done eating?”

“No,” she said. “But if I eat too fast I feel ill. I’ll take a break and shower and if I’m still hungry when I’m done, I’ll have more.”

“Eat if you’re hungry.”

“Coy,” she said. “I know how to eat. Trust me.”

She walked to their room, undressed, and jumped in the shower. After cleaning up, she put on shorts and a T-shirt, then returned to the kitchen.

She picked up a second slice of pizza and started to eat it.

The silence didn’t bother her, but it seemed to annoy him.

And when Coy was fidgeting, it was annoying to her.

She got up to put her plate in the dishwasher, then grabbed the foil to start wrapping up their leftovers.

“I’ve got it,” he said.

Rather than argue with him, she said, “I’m going to call my mother.”

She picked up her phone and started to walk toward the stairs. “Where are you going?” he asked.

“To Spencer’s room for some privacy or do you need me to talk in front of you?”

“No,” he said. “I just didn’t know what you were doing. You never go upstairs to make a call.”

“I am now,” she said, smiling and climbed the steps.

She got to her brother’s room and shut the door, then sat on the bed. She almost went on the deck, but then Coy would be able to hear her and she needed to vent to someone.

“Hi, Angel. I didn’t think you’d be calling tonight.”

“Is this a bad time?” she asked. Please don’t be a bad time. She needed to talk to someone and had no one else.

“Of course not,” her mother said. “What’s going on? You sound like you want to scratch someone’s eyes out.”

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