Page 16 of Ruling Scar
“Why not?” I counter back. It’s not like I have anywhere else to hang out.
An internal battle crosses her face. “I’m going to come and check it out.”
My nails tap against a book in my lap. “When’d you turn into Mom?”
She ignores me, going through the messages again. “So,” she quietly says after a moment. “You’ve really made friends with a triggerman?”
I nod, waiting for her judgment.
Instead, despite the worry, a mischievous smirk graces Adeline’s lips. She pounces on me, wrapping me in a hug. “I love this energy. I need more of it.”
CHAPTER 4
Lennie
Adeline for all her zaniness, is a fantastic gift giver. I receive a record player for Christmas and all my favorite early 2000s pop albums on vinyl.
Though, I want to beat her after I open Nat’s gift.
“I got the ones on your list,” my oldest sister said.
Nat is no-nonsense when it comes to gift-giving. Give her a list and she doesn’t deviate. I love her for it, especially because of how she fills my bookshelves.
“Thank you.” I hugged one of the books to my chest but Adeline grabbed another.
“Is this the one you were telling me about?” She grinned.
I shot her a look.
She spun toward our father, who sat in his favorite spot on the couch. “Do you know what it’s about, Dad?”
I tried to kick her.
“The main character tries to escape her horrible father, so she joins a pirate ship, and guess what happens? The pirate king rails her, Dad. Rails her.” Dad's fingers twitched, almost like he hoped there’d be a glass of vodka in his hand. “But then she’s kidnapped by the rival pirate king, ’cause apparently there’s two of them. And guess what?”
“Adeline,” Mom warned her.
“Railed again!” Adeline smacked her hands together to illustrate the point.
“And she’s your favorite daughter?” Nat asked.
“I have no favorites,” he replied, pinching her cheek.
My face burned as I stuck the books back into the gift bag. “Thanks, Nat.”
“It’s called why choose,” Adeline explained innocently to our father.
Christmas morning passes quietly. We’re a family of bookworms. I read one of my new ones, skipping certain smutty chapters, as we hang out in the living room. Everyone has a book in front of them, while a sappy Christmas movie plays in the background. Adeline stretches out on the rug, absorbed in a fantasy.
Even Nat’s got a legal thriller, though, she keeps staring off into nothing.
I’ve caught her several times lost in thought. I’m the one normally stuck in my head, so it’s weird to see my big sister doing the same.
I’m wondering what’s going on when my phone lights up.
The name gives me pause but not enough.
When I texted Elijah at Max and Russet’s party I opened up the floodgates.
