Page 16 of Saving Tracey
Great. Just that quickly, I had fucked things up for my dad.
And oh boy, I was going to fucking pay.
"Hey, you okay?" Kaleb’s sudden concern jerked me from my thoughts. I blinked at the plate in front of me for a moment.
I finally lifted my eyes up to his, nodding quickly, forcing a smile onto my face. I couldn't give another person permission to talk to me. This wasn't going well and something in my gut told me that this wouldn't end like I needed it to either.
KALEB
I took a seat on the bar stool in the kitchen, while my mom stored the leftovers from dinner in the fridge. "Tracey seems like a nice, sweet young girl." She sounded unsure, which set me on edge.
I looked up at her, instantly bristling at her tone. "I can tell she has the ability to be nice.”
Did my mom not like Tracey?
My mom laughed a little. "I know Tracey is a nice girl, Kaleb." She rolled her eyes at me. I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't want my mom to not like Tracey, especially since I was trying so hard to become her friend—and maybe one day, something more. "I'm not dumb, though. There's something going on with her, and I think it's very dangerous not only for you to get tied up in but very dangerous for her."
I raised an eyebrow at my mom.Something going on with Tracey?That thought made me snort in laughter.
"Tracey is so hostile most of the time, Mom, that I doubt anyone could hurt her or bother her.” I shook my head.
Someone hurting Tracey was just completely absurd.
Mom turned to me with a sigh. "Kaleb, you would be surprised. You wouldn't know what can happen to strong people because I've protected you from that part of life." She ran a hand through her blonde hair as her mind flickered back to that dark time in her life for a split second before she dragged herself back to the present. "Kaleb, I think Tracey is being abused."
Tracey—abused? There was no way.
I immediately shook my head. "I think you're reading too much into things.” I slightly laughed. It just didn’t seem possible. “Just because she acts like you did when you were with dad doesn't mean that she's being abused. She could just be an angry person." I shrugged at her.
I just couldn't imagine anyone hurting Tracey with how bitchy and hostile she was ninety-nine percent of the time. It didn’t seem like she would take that kind of shit.
Mom sighed, her exhaustion wearing on her features. "Just be careful, okay? If you notice anything out of the ordinary, you should let me know so we can call social services. I know that you think that I'm overreacting, but something just tells me that there's something wrong with that situation."
I rolled my eyes at my mom. She could seriously be so overdramatic sometimes. "Whatever, Mom. I promise if I notice anything wrong, I'll let you know, but I assure you, there's nothing going on with Tracey."
Mom shook her head at me as my twin sister, Krista, came into the room, cutting off our conversation. She sat beside me on one of the stools and leaned her head on my shoulder. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, giving it a light squeeze. "Kaleb, Joey is being an ass."
I ruffled her hair, making her scowl up at me as she reached up to fix it. "You're the one that decided to date him after I told you that he was no good for you." I arched a brow at her, giving her a pointed look.
She hit me on the shoulder, making me roll my eyes. "You're my big brother. You're supposed to step in and be my knight in shining armor when guys treat me like crap." Irritation laced her tone.
I poked her nose, making her scrunch her face up in annoyance at me. "Sorry, Kris, but I'm not going to be yourknight in shining armor until I sense something seriously being wrong. You know that."
She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why can't I have an overprotective brother like every other girl that has an older brother? Why did I get stuck with the one that's so nonchalant about everything?" She threw her arms up in the air, making me snort.
Mom patted her shoulder in what was supposed to be a consoling manner, but Krista only scowled at her. "Your brother is right, Kris. You got yourself into this mess because you didn't listen to him when he told you that Joey was no good. Get yourself out of it."
Kris huffed and walked out of the room, muttering under her breath. I shook my head when she disappeared around the corner. "Why do she and Emily expect me to come to their rescue every time something happens that they don't like?"
Mom smiled. "Because you're their big brother, and big brothers are supposed to be overprotective and make every boy that comes near his sisters run for their lives."
"That's so stupid.” I rolled my eyes.
Mom smiled. "That's how things normally work, honey." She patted my shoulder. "I've got to get up early in the morning and so do you. I'm heading to bed. Make sure you go to sleep at a decent hour."
I rolled my eyes at her but nodded anyway. Getting up from my seat, I leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Mom.”
She hugged me tightly. "Goodnight, Kaleb."
