Page 8 of Safe and Sound

I lean forward and brush our lips against one another but fight with myself to keep it just that. I walk to the door and turn to look back at her. She’s got that damned strap up now and issitting up in her little twin-sized bed. There’s a lot of dissonance in the view that meets my eyes. She’s got that sexy little black top on, but she’s surrounded by stuffed animals and childhood memories.

It's the very essence of Estella. She has such a big name, very elegant, very grown-up, but the girl behind the name is soft and easily hurt, innocent, and just beginning to explore the world she finds herself in. She’s a woman but needs to be looked after and taken care of, something she didn’t get a lot of during her childhood.

I love Ava, but she needed Estella to take care of her more than she took care of my curious little stepsister. I shut the door giving her some room because I know what’s coming isn’t going to be easy for her. She might even hate me a little bit before things settle down and she sees that I have her best interest as my top priority. She’s the only priority.

Chapter Seven

Estella

Icome down to breakfast like a good girl, so my poor mom doesn’t have to come find me. Or send Ren back for me. As soon as I step into the room, Mom and Ren stop talking. That’s never a good thing. I also notice my plate is already piled high and sat next to Ren’s so I have no choice but to sit right next to him.

My mother looks up at me, “Estella, you look like you didn’t sleep well last night.”

Apparently, it shows since Ren also said something about it. I don’t think he would have said something to Mom to make her say that so…it has to be bad.

“You shouldn’t come down to company looking like you didn’t rest well, sweetie. I would have understood if you asked to take a tray this morning.”

“Sorry, mom.” I am forever apologizing to my mom it seems. And she is forever telling me in the way she looks at me that I am coming up short. Not that she doesn’t love me. I know she does. “Ren isn’t really company thought. He’s…”

I stop short of calling him family. Not after what happened last night. And just now in my room. He kissed me. I guess itcould be looked at as a…no, it was no brotherly kiss. No matter how I look at it, I can’t make it come off as that.

“Yes, yes. I know, dear. He’s your brother.”

“Step.” My eyes shot up to find Ren’s. We say the word at the same time, reminding Mom we have no family connection other than as stepsiblings. I frown and start chewing on my bottom lip as worry starts rising up inside of me.

I look back down when he doesn’t look away and start pushing my food around on the plate. Under the table, he lays his hand on my upper thigh and whispers to me.

“Eat.”

I jerk in my seat at his touch on my bare leg and send my fork flying to the floor but don’t say anything. How can I when mom is right here? I try to focus on my breathing since it seems when Ren touches me, I can’t remember to breathe as he gets up to grab me another fork. A phone rings throughout the house and my mom goes running for it. She is not a hypocrite at all. She didn’t bring her phone to the table either after giving me and Ren the rule. I no longer have a reason to bring my phone with me or go running for it right after because…

“Eat!”

“I’m not very hungry.”

Is he going to tell my mom after breakfast? Has he already talked to his dad and that’s where my mom is now, talking to Ben about kicking me out? Pretty sure an empty stomach wouldbe more desirable if that were to happen since I am one hundred percent sure I would vomit.

He leans forward and stabs food on my plate. “What…?” Does he not have the same stuff on his plate that I do? Why want mine?

He makes sure he has a good forkful before bringing it to my mouth and shoving it in.

“What are you doing?” I cover my mouth so the food doesn’t fall out as I start chewing out of reflex more than anything else.

“Making sure you eat. Why didn’t you sleep last night?”

“Why do you think?” I hiss the obvious question back at him as I try to bat his hand away. He grabs my wrist and proceeds to feed me again like I never tried to stop him in the first place.

“What’s going on?”

My eyes fly to my mom standing in the door of the dining room looking at me and Ren and suck in a deep breath as I finish the food I was just given. Her eyes are focused on where Ren has my wrist in his hand.

“Just horsing around. Makin’ sure Estella eats.”

“Oh.” She still gives us an odd look but a smile quickly covers her face. “Well, anyway, I have great news! I just talked to Ben!”

I go rigid beside Ren and feel my stomach sink. A warm hand comes back to my thigh again giving me a comforting squeeze. At least, I think it’s a comforting squeeze. It might be tellingme my time is up and here comes the final blow. Would he be someone who gloats like that?

“He loved the idea, Ren.” Mom seems so happy about whatever she’s talking about. I’m totally lost. I turn to look at Ren hoping he can explain since he seems to understand what she is talking about. “So much, he said he was going to add another month to his itinerary.”

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