Page 90 of Debt of My Soul

I move back toward the kitchen, hoping I can distract myself by helping with dinner, or better yet, pop the top on the cheap bottle of wine we brought.

Adam grabs for my hand before I make it three steps. “I’m sorry, Fleur. About your home and that I didn’t tell you.”

I muster a smile even though deep down my stomach roils. “I hope you stay well, Adam.”

It’s the best I’ve got right now. I’m not sure what else to say. I’m married to his brother and while his words weren’t meant to harm earlier, Iamactually stuck.

But it’s temporary. I look at Liam, the nervousness seeping out from under his cold exterior.

It is temporary, right?

Chapter 34

Liam

Ishould’ve known Adam would be here. I’m too intuitive to be blindsided, but like an idiot, I jumped at the opportunity to bring Fleur to my family withme. Not with Adam or for a community event, but with me. As if I could be normal. I snort at the thought.

She stared at those daisies as if hypnotized by them, and regardless of the chaos taking place right now, it’s all I can think about.

After the confrontation in the hall, Fleur snuck back into the kitchen to help my mother finalize dinner while my brother and I stared at each other in the hallway. Adam’s edged smile was all it took for me to see red.

Without another word, Adam moves past me, his shoulder knocking into mine but doing nothing to rock my person. I turn and follow him into the kitchen where Fleur sets forks on the table. Her eyes meet mine full of nervousness and annoyance.

I should’ve told my mom no. Should’ve held firm when she practically called crying with a hurt tone for me to bring Fleur over. We’ve done so much as a family to try to keep her and Adam’s relationship stable, but at this point, the urge to sayscrew it and divulge all the information we’ve been keeping—it’s on the tip of my tongue.

The dining room hasn’t changed much since I grew up. The rectangular white farmhouse-style table still seats eight even though the three of us are moved out. Many memories of my family take place at this table, some good and a few bad. Like the time Adam decided to steal my charcoal sticks and draw on the underside of the table, then denied it with fervor. My father nearly chased me out of the house in a rage until my mother looked at the scribbles and knew it wasn’t me.

Adam moves to stand by the double French doors that look out over the backyard.

It’s almost like it was a lifetime ago Fleur stood under the large white tent, glaring at me as I purposefully ate her sloppy fruit salad. The shock on her face turned to a glare with a scrunched nose—I remember wondering what other faces I could coax from her.

Fleur brushes past me, attempting another circle of the table with water goblets this time, and the hem of her tantalizing dress falls through my fingers. My middle finger grazes her thigh, and I snatch it away, looking in the opposite direction. I’ll pretend I didn’t notice the silky smoothness of her skin beneath my fingertip. She’ll pretend she didn’t feel it at all.

Everyone is quiet, even my mother, who I suspect is now comprehending how terrible of an idea this was, especially with Adam.

“All right, I think it’s ready,” my mother says as she carries over the barbeque chicken on a platter.

Some childhood favorites are also on the table. Sweet potato casserole, roasted Brussels sprouts, a heaping bowl of collard greens, and some dinner rolls. It’s been ages since I’ve eaten a meal like this.

“This looks delicious, Mrs. Parker,” Fleur says.

My mother’s tight-lipped smile tells me all I need to know about the way this is going to go. She’s concerned about Fleur. The whiplash between her sons.

When we’re seated and my father says the traditional blessing, my mother picks up the rolls and holds them tight to her chest. “So, who wants to tell me what the hell is going on?”

Chapter 35

Liam

Icount the milliseconds of silence as we all look around the table at my mother. Poised perfectly, she places each dish proportionately on her plate, beginning with the rolls and ending with the chicken.

There’s a part of me laughing inside at the fact I’m giving this the time of day. The need to snatch Fleur and leave grows stronger with each lingering stare Adam offers her and with each glare my mother forces in my direction.

My father clears his throat, trying to ease the situation. “I believe they’re married to keep Fleur safe at the moment.”

Adam shifts in his seat.

“Well, that’s exactly the problem, isn’t it?” she continues. “If Liam wasn’t in with Darrin and his crew, this wouldn’t have happened.”

---