Page 15 of Boys Who Taint

“Okay-ish,” I reply.

“Same.” His bright gray eyes seem more dulled than usual. “I don’t normally care when people die.”

Wow.

“But since she’s your family, I just wanted to say that I hope you know I tried my best to save her.”

“I know.” I nod a few times, trying to keep the flashbacks of Apollo swimming with Mavis’s bleeding body at bay. “Thanks.” I swallow back the tears.

He lifts his firm hand and places it on my shoulder, the weight nearly crushing me as he leans in to hug me with the other. It catches me off guard, my heart racing as I’m squashed into his ample pecs, which feel like airbags.

He pushes me back and pats me on the shoulder. “Don’t go dying on me like Mavis did.”

I nod a few times, still in complete shock he’d come up and just hug me like that.

Apollo never, ever hugs. Not anyone.

He turns around, walking toward the back door while pointing at me and winking. “Catch you later, Freckles.”

Freckles?

A quiver runs along my spine.

Shuffling to my right makes me turn my head, and I gasp as Kai Torres, Lana Rivera, and their son Levi Torres, along with all the others from their family—Sunny Reed, Elliot and Max Fletcher, Nathan Reed, and Milo Fletcher—all walk through the front door of my parents’ house.

Uninvited.

Oh no.

Like a godforsaken ice storm freezing the house over, everyone pauses and shivers from the chill.

My gaze briefly connects with Levi’s, and the moment feels like it lasts an eternity as the darkness within them has taken hold. When they walk past, I reach out for his hand, our fingers electric upon a single touch, but he immediately pulls away.

“What are you doing here?” my mom grits through her teeth as she steps out of the kitchen.

“Paying our respects,” Levi’s mom answers, lowering her head. “We’re deeply sorry for your loss.”

“My condolences,” Levi’s dad says, and the rest follow.

“I’m sorry for your loss, ma’am,” Max and Elliot Fletcher say in unison.

Levi briefly steps away from his parents to speak with mine. “I’m … sorry.”

It feels like the entire room has turned ten degrees colder. Or maybe that’s just their mutual stares.

“Hi, Sunny.” Orion waves at her from the corner of the room.

I forgot he was even here. He’s just like Melody, easily disappearing into a crowd when it suits him.

“Remind me to stomp on your heart after I’ve ripped it out of your chest,” Sunny replies with a fake smile.

Orion’s eyes widen, and he retreats into the crowd of mourners like they’re a protective blanket against the friendly fire.

“I miss Mavis. She was the only tolerable one from your family,” Sunny mutters.

“Wow.” Silas, my half brother, saunters down the stairs. “Do you want to die so badly?”

“Silas,” his dad, Felix, warns him with a stern look.

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