Page 37 of Sour Layer

Chapter 22

“Matt wasn’t the most popular kid in school. He was picked on a lot, and we’d planned to talk at the bleachers after school, but when I got there, some football players were shoving him around. They’d taken his backpack and were playing keep away. They were taller than he was. He never had a chance.”

Clark rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Kids can be mean.”

I blinked, and a tear fell. “I ran toward him, and I was angry. Not that I thought I could stop the guys, but I was going to try. They knew my sister, Gwen would have kicked their butts if any one of them laid a hand on me. She was mean like that.”

“I would have done the same for my sister,” Clark said, as if trying to make this easier on me.

“They pushed him down and started hitting him. I saw red as I ran toward them. I jumped on one guy’s back, and he staggered. Lightning struck the ground between Matt and the bully. It could have killed us all. I didn’t know that I was the reason behind the lightning.” I blinked, and a tear fell down my cheek. A trickle of rain hit the window outside. “It should have killed us all. Matt didn’t deserve to die alone.”

“And you think you caused the lightning?” Clark asked, dropping his hands to his sides.

“I know I did,” I answered. “When the bully shoved me off his back, he and his buddies ran while I went to Matt. I cried. I don’t remember much after that. I cried until there wasn’t a tear left in my body and the ground gained three inches of rain between the time Matt died and they wheeled him away.”

“It could have been coincidence,” Clark suggested.

“It wasn’t. We had record rainfall in the month that followed and more lightning outbursts during football games that year. I had so much anger. I couldn’t let it go. Why should the players get to live their lives like nothing happened when Matt was dead?”

“You were grieving,” Clark said, pulling me into his arms and holding me tight.

“I almost killed the bully that year. I would have if my Grams hadn’t stopped me,” I whispered into Clark’s shirt. “Somehow, she knew that the weather was because of me. She knew, and she told me to lock it up tight until I could control it, and so I did. It’s dangerous and unpredictable every time I try to harness it, so I don’t even try anymore. Not when mistakes could turn deadly.”

“You’re a ticking time bomb,” he said as he kissed my hair.

“I am, and Clara said using that gift is the only way I’m going to stop Lynnfield. I just can’t afford to hurt anyone else in the process. That’s why neither Mavis nor you should come with me.”

Clark leaned back to search my eyes. “You said you haven’t used that ability in a long time. What if it’s been too long? What if it’s gone? How would you defend yourself?”

“I’m not going to die. I think I’d know best when my number was up,” I lied. “So, let’s go check out those kitchens. Lynnfield is bound to show up at the right one.”

Clark’s cell phone rang before he could reply. I stepped out of his hold, fighting back the memories of Matt and the icy anger that I’d been storing inside. There was going to come a time when I couldn’t keep it bottled up. I knew it, and so did my family. The last thing I wanted to do was pop that cork while around Clark and his family. The Bennetts might understand, and be more equipped to protect themselves, but something told me that with Clark around, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything, much less harness it to do my bidding.

Clark hung up and turned to look at me, his brows set in determination. “You might not have to do anything. The FBI agents found something. They need me up at the Lynnfield house.”

“Go.” I smiled and gestured to the door.

“You promise not to leave and go do something stupid?” he asked with a raised brow.

Nothing I cared to share. “I’ll wait on the others to get here.”

“Promise?” he asked, not trusting my words. He was right to question them because, as soon as he left, I was leaving too.

“Go, don’t keep them waiting,” I said and kissed his lips before all but shoving him to the front door.

He pulled it open and went to step out, but he stopped and I ran into his back.

“Hi, I’m looking for Mercy. I believe she’s staying here.”

Clark stepped out of the way for me to see my sister standing in front of him, all bundled up like I’d been when I arrived.

“Honor.” This couldn’t be good. Not good at all. “What are you doing here?”

Honor smiled in that knowing way that I used to hate in high school…when she knew I’d cheated on a test. “Looking for you.”

Clark kissed me once more. “Good timing. You two can visit until I get back.”

Honor watched the exchange and the kiss. Her lips were twisted at the corners as she tried unsuccessfully to hide her smile. “Seems we have a lot of catching up to do.”

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