Page 90 of Hunt Me
We’d compromised by me cleaning her down at the river and her wearing my socks so that she at least has a small barrier of protection against the destroyed streets ahead.
I look to were Liam, the cocky prick, is dancing down the street. Maybe if he didn’t make such a fuss before Fauna would still be in my arms.
I’d gladly carry her for the rest of my days, and after.
But she’s pretty independent, which is why I am battling to keep myself in check and settling for a simple handhold. The happiness I feel having her next to me and holding onto me makes me giddy. Maybe Liam was a little right about calling me out like that.
But not an ounce of me could care as long as I have her back.
She’s mine.
I almost feel bad for not thinking much about Isla until she brought up my sister, but I left her with Vish, and despite being dafty number two, he’s one of my most trusted men. Not to mention the fact that he is already familiar with her grumpiness. I inwardly chuckle at the multiple possibilities that could come from Isla waking up and seeing her childhood crush again. I bet she’ll never have guessed that coming, especially not now, given the way the world is these days.
‘What has you smirking?’Fauna tugs on my calloused hand, hers equally as rough.
‘How Isla will react seeing Vish again.’
‘Wait, what? Does she know him too?’Then, her eyes widen as if remembering what I’d said when explaining the history of The Skulls.‘Were they…’
I chuckle,‘No, but she definitely had a crush on him. Used to go bright red and shit whenever he’d come over.’
‘No way,’there’s a lightness to her step as she walks the closer we get to her group.‘The girls won’t believe it. She’s nothing like that, or at least I’ve never seen her be like that in… well at all. Even when she had something with one of the nurses, she wasn’t all over Steph, and she wasn’t even shy.’
‘Steph?’
Fauna said Steph, as in a woman? Isla is attracted to women.
‘Yeh, Stephanie.’Then, looking at my expression, her own becomes one of worry.‘Did I just out her?’
It’s a surprise; when we were growing up, she’d never mentioned it. And I’d never asked.
‘So she’s bi?’I ask cautiously, not to put Fauna off from telling me anything.
She shrugs,‘Maybe. She’s never said and… well, she and Steph did not end well at all, so we never brought up their relationship. Some of the girls have had relationships, but Isla was never interested in that connection. It was a bit of a surprise when we found out she was pregnant.’She laughs, but it’s not the full one filled with joy that I usually crave, but one that falls flat.
‘What happened?’
‘Well, she, erm, met a guy and had sex. That’s kind of—’
I resist the urge to throw up as I hold my hand to motion Fauna to stop.‘Not that part. I’m well aware of how babies are made,’my pointed gaze makes her bite her lip.‘And I do not need to be thinking about anything remotely to do with my sister and how she became pregnant.’
‘Right,’Fauna laughs. This time, a genuine one, and it sends warmth through my chest.‘Probably not something you want to be imagining with her being your little sister and all.’
‘What happened with Stephanie?’I prompt her as we round a corner Liam had turned down a minute or so ago. He’s stopped for us and is doing some weird dance to no one but himself.
We chose to ignore him, leaving him to entertain himself.
‘You should ask her. It’s not my place to say.’
Fauna’s answer does not satisfy me, and it does not feel good to know that there are things that my little deer will not share with me. But I am proud of her for protecting my sister's privacy like this.
Not feeling the need to answer, I squeeze her hand tighter in my hold as the school building comes into view.
Chapter Thirty-seven
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Fauna
