Page 78 of Savage Scream

“Oh, hey kiddo,” Will says when I enter, his face lighting up with a warm smile.

I offer him an awkward wave, going to the fridge and grabbing a juice box.

“Where’s your fella?” he asks from where he’s sitting at the kitchen bench, some paperwork spread out on the counter as he eats a sandwich.

Using my phone, I tap out my response and show him.

‘Shower.’

Will nods, taking a sip of his coffee.

“So, it’s your birthday on Friday. Are you still planning on leaving?”

My brows shoot up at his forward question.

Ok, so it’s not necessarily forward, but everyone else but Jared has been dancing around it, which kinda suited me fine.

I offer him a shrug and he nods as he watches me jab the straw into the juice box and take a long sip.

“You know, Cynthia and I would really love for you to stay. When we asked you to stay with us, we didn’t mean just for a while until you age out. We are offering you a family for life.”

Shit.

Heat pricks the backs of my eyes at his words, and I suck harder on the straw, nearly choking on the juice.

I want to say yes. I want to stay here and build a life. A real one with family and friends and, and, and… love.

But can I really do that? Maybe if Griffin is successful in cleaning out the scum like the Kerrs, Travis could stay too and be safe. He already has friendships he’s made. Hell, I think he may even have a girlfriend if the thing between him and Tillie is serious.

We could both stay. Be close to each other and rebuild our relationship too.

Will is still watching me, but I don’t respond. I don’t know if I can, or should, so I keep my lips sealed shut and finish my juice box.

Jared joins us in the kitchen a few minutes later, freshly showered, his blonde hair still damp.

Ooohhh, sexy.

“Hello, Jared.” William straightens in his chair, his demeanour changing before my eyes.

“Hey Mr Rogan.” Jared offers him a smile, but it’s not returned.

“Now that you are both here, let me go over a few rules.”

My gaze darts to Jared’s before we both glance at William.

“I realise we can’t have one set of rules for Rhys and another set for you, Dee. So this relationship the two of you have,” he gestures between me and Jared, “isn’t a problem with us. However, there will be no more sneaking in and out. You use the front door. I don’t care what time of day it is. Just no more sneaking. Ok?”

Again, Jared and I glance at each other and when I turn my gaze back to Will, I nod my head in understanding.

“Also, stop staying up all damn night. Today is the last time we allow you to take time off school because you stay up all night. Next time you hardly sleep, you suck it up and go to school, anyway. Understand?” he asks firmly, and both Jared and I nod.

“Ok good. Well, get to school before the Principal calls and gives you both detention.”

Slowly, Will smirks, and my shoulders relax.

I’ve never had rules that I obeyed before. My lack of respect for any foster parents I’ve had in the past made it easy to ignore their bullshit. But Cynthia and Will? They are different. Idorespect them. A helluva-lot.

I imagine if I did stay, I’d happily obey their rules. It would be easy to, really. They are pretty cruisy with relationships, and more than anything, I know their rules come from caring and not trying to control.

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