Page 40 of Corrupt Idol

“What aboutme?”

“What about you?”

Her eyes bugged. “You’re going to leave me?”

“Mom and dad are here.”

“But, we do everything together. I think we should go to the same college. That would be fun, wouldn’t it? What am I going to do without you?”

His eyes moved over her upturned face. She didn’t know what he was thinking, but he put his arm around her and tucked her close. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent. He always smelled nice. Her friends thought he was a hottie. She liked his face, but she didn’t allow herself to look deeper than that. Jesse was Jesse.

The fight continued, but she found she could handle it now that she was weathering the storm with her brother who wasn’t concerned in the least. He played with her hair as he read, which had a drugging effect on her. When she slumped against him, he told her to stretch out. She did so and tucked her face against his thigh. His hand returned to her hair and she fell asleep knowing that everything was going to be okay.

She roused slightly when she heard, “Jesse?”

“Shh, she’s asleep.”

Soft footsteps and then, “Why’s she in here?”

“You know she freaks out when you two fight.”

“Sorry. Here, let me take her.”

“She’s fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

She heard Lynne kiss his cheek. “You’re such a good big brother.”

“Did you guys settle your stuff?” Jesse asked.

“Yes. I’m sorry you had to hear that.”

“I’m fine, but maybe next time give me a head’s up so I can take her out before you start breaking things.”

“I’ll do that,” Lynne said. “Isaac’s the opposite of your father. He doesn’t tell me how he feels and shuts down instead of talking to me. I have to take drastic measures to make him open up.”

“I hope you didn’t break anything valuable.”

“No, I stopped at Goodwill a week ago to buy things for this showdown. Everything’s fine now. Good night, son. Don’t stay up too late.”

Lynne left the room and closed the door behind her. Violet listened to the sound of pages being turned and was on the verge of sleep when she heard the soft thump of the book being put on the nightstand and then Jesse stretched out beside her. He gathered her against his chest. Her body hummed with contentment as he buried his face in her hair and took a deep breath.

“Jesse?”

He stiffened. “Yeah?”

“Promise you won’t leave me.”

He sighed into her hair. “Vi.”

She twisted her hand in his shirt. “We should stick together.”

“I don’t—”

She tilted her head back so she could see his shadowed face. “You love me, don’t you?”

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