Page 85 of Bittersweet Revenge
“First.” She pokes at my chest. “You should have told me first.”
“Have fun getting yelled at,” Rory says, he and Cil walking away. “What do you want to do, Cil?”
I turn my attention to Aislin. “Dean was there when he called, and then I wanted to talk to them. I was coming to find you next.”
“How long will you be gone?”
I shrug. “No idea, but I told Dean to watch out for you.” He was surprised I didn’t ask Cillian or Rory. They will always keep an eye on my sister, but she’s close to Dean too. Plus, I trust him. It’s fucking wild to consider, but I do.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” She wraps her arms around my waist and sets her head against my chest. “Be careful.”
“I will. You know me. I’m always fine.” I kiss her temple, trying to ignore that weight in my gut. Iamalways fine, but realistically, there will be a time when I’m not.
“And now you have a boyfriend to come home to.”
I roll my eyes, but the words drum up powerful emotions in me.
“You’re not even going to argue?”
“What’s the point?” I ask as she pulls away. “You keep an eye on him too, okay? He’s…”
Her expression softens even more. “Yeah, I know. I will. And I feel slightly better about you asking him to watch out for me since you asked me to do the same. You worry too much abouteveryone, try to take care of everyone. You stress so much about others, you don’t spend enough time thinking about yourself.”
“Not everyone,” I tease. “Just the people in this house.” And Mom, but then, in a way, I’ve abandoned her by coming here, haven’t I? “I gotta go, Ash.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I don’t go upstairs to say goodbye to Dean again, but I know he’ll understand. It feels good to have someone who understands me like that.
I spend the drive to Boston thinking about last night. Dean is an artist, and he draws me.A lot.I know how difficult it must’ve been for him to show me that because just like he knows me, I know him.
When I get to the house, Dad isn’t there. Mom is sitting in the library, in her robe and slippers, a book on her lap.
“What are you reading?” I walk over to the couch and sit by her.
“Tiernan! You’re here.” She pulls me into a hug, her response saying my father didn’t tell her he’d called for me. “Is Aislin with you?”
“No. She stayed in Ashford. I have some work I need to do with Dad.”
Her expression clouds over, the sunshine and excitement from just moments ago dimmed.
“Tiernan…”
“It’s my responsibility.”
“It shouldn’t be.”
“But it is,” I counter, and we both know it. “And I’m okay with that. I wouldn’t know the first thing about living any other way.”
She sighs and gives me a sad smile.
“How are you, Mom?”
“Better now.” She grabs my chin and pushes it up, using her other hand to tug down my shirt collar. “What is this?”
“Um, not something…sexual…at all. Because that would be really awkward.”
