Page 46 of Bound by Family
As we stand at her car, my chest tightens all over again.
“Wanna hop on my bike and come with me?”
“More than you want to know.”
“Then do it. Come home with me.”
She looks down at the ground. “I’m bound to my family. I can’t just leave them like that.”
“I want this, Bristyl. I want what we had last night over and over again. I want you in my bed, in Georgia. You want it, too.”
She gives a slight nod.
“We need to figure out a way to make that happen.”
“You want me to leave everyone I know and move in with you? Don’t you think that’s going a bit too fast?”
I kiss her breathlessly. “What do you think?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know what to think, Cooper.”
“Just think on it. That’s all I’m asking.”
“Okay.”
“Now kiss me.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” she teases, and I love it.
“No, only you.”
Our lips collide.
After loading her into the car, seeing the small tears in her eyes, I pack up and head back home, disliking each mile between us. This is going to come to an end sooner rather than later.
* * *
“You’re late,”my mother calls out from the kitchen as I enter the clubhouse.
Even coming right here, I’m late and tired as fuck. With so little sleep last night and the drive, I could pass out for days.
“I’m here. Let that be enough.”
I head into my room, splash some cool water on my face, and put on a new shirt. Family time needs to happen fast so I can crash for work tomorrow.
“Cooper!” my sister yells from across the clubhouse, running up and hugging me.
Being fourteen, I’m sure those days are going to be less and less. It would be nice if she stayed this sweet, little girl for as long as humanly possible. Or, at least not turn into a bitch of a teenager.
“How’s it goin’?”
“Good. I got an A on my English paper, but a D in math. I don’t know how the teachers expect you to know all of this stuff.” Her hand goes to her hip as I wrap my arm around her shoulders.
Heading outside, greetings come from all angles, along with shit from the guys for not coming home last night. It all rolls off my back.
The burgers are fantastic, and it’s nice to see the kids play on the shit I did a long time ago. Well, it feels like a long time ago.
Thoughts of Bristyl here with me, sitting next to me and talking with my family come to mind. She’s never too far from my thoughts. Ever. I hope she realizes how serious I am about her coming here.
