Page 3 of Holland
“Where is she? I swear if you touched her I don’t care if you are a cop I’ll bury you in your own backyard.” I was beginning to think she was some crazy woman with the way she was talking until she started searching the house yelling.
“Crimson! Crimson, are you in here? Crimson, honey I’m here to rescue you.” Holy fucking batshit, batballs, Batman, this was Crimson’s sister, Bella. She spun around on me, catching me ogling her ass, I don’t know what the hell has gotten into me at this point. This is not who I am, I’m the good guy, the solid guy, the one everyone thinks is gay because I don’t ogle or hit on women. Thrusting her finger at my chest, she got right in my face.
“Where the fuck is my sister asswipe?” Before I can answer, Crimson’s squeals of excitement are coming from down the hallway.
“Bella! Bella, is that really you? Oh my GOD!” Crimson came barreling down the hallway and ran into her sister.
“You’re here, you’re really here. You found me!” Crimson hung onto Bella like she was the life preserver, and her ship was going down.
“Hey peanut, of course I found you.” Bella suddenly got very quiet as she stroked Crimson’s hair and hugged her close. I walked into the kitchen to make breakfast, giving them a moment. Their voices were barely above a whisper as they sat on my couch chattering to each other. I stayed quiet as I made enough breakfast for all of us. I was so focused on giving them privacy that I didn’t hear Bella when she snuck up behind me.
“So.” I flinch slightly and turn around to find her leaning against the other counter. Her right hand is on the counter, the heel of her boot against the floor where she is rolling in back and forth on the heel. All the badass biker bitch from before seems to have vanished as she looks down at her boots with remorse.
“Look, about what I said outside…” I hold my hand to stop her with the spatula still in it.
“We can talk after I get finished with these eggs, go ahead and have a seat.” I jerk my chin to the small four-person kitchen table and chair set sitting in my dining room. The cabin I live in was originally only meant for weekends and summers, but when my dad gave it to me, I decided I liked living out in no man’s land and made it home.
“You’re seriously making breakfast? You, Holland, are not at all what I expected when I came here.” She smiled as she slowly made her way over to the table and chairs.
“I’m not sure if I should be offended or happy about that statement. I take it you’re going to take Crimson with you when you leave.” It’s not a question, because I already know by the sounds coming from Crimson’s room she’s probably packing up.
“I’ve been looking for you since…” I wasn’t sure how much Crimson wanted to tell her or had told her, and I wasn’t about to reveal more than she was ready to, even if it was her sister.
“Since you rescued her from those sick fuckballs, yeah thanks for that by the way.” She didn’t look up at me, instead she fiddled with her nail polish.
“It should have been me, did she tell you that? I thought she was safe until she was old enough at least. They waited until I was eighteen, I thought they would do the same with Crimson, I was wrong. She paid for my ignorance, my belief, and now I’ll spend the rest of my life making that up to her.” Bella sounded like she had the weight of the world resting on her shoulders, and there was something deep inside me that wanted to help her with that burden.
“What they did is on them, not on you, and not on Crimson. Don’t put that on yourself, you are barely an adult, they were your parents, both of you should have been safe with them. They fucked up, not you.” Her shoulders seem to relax just a little as I bring the plates of food over to the table.
“She said you were a good guy, Crimson did, and I didn’t want to believe her. Most men I’ve met aren’t good decent men when it comes to young girls, if you know what I mean. But you took her in, helped her grow, even tried to find me. Which you did, by the way, that’s why I’m here.” Sitting down I looked at her in confusion, I was pretty sure she’d found me not the other way around.
“A few weeks ago, you made contact with a crew that is in my territory, they in return contacted me, and poof I’m here.”Wait, did she just say her territory?
“Your territory? I thought you were some guy’s old lady, that’s what Crimson told me.” I had a feeling there was more to this woman than meets the eye, just based off of the epic bike sitting outside in my drive. If she was an old lady, her old man would have brought her here, no way he’d let her go alone.
“Yeah, that’s a long story, and not one I can tell a cop.” She clipped out before loading her plate up and diving into breakfast. Crimson came out with her bag packed up, looking at me sheepishly.
“Holland, I know you’re going to be lonely without me, but I’m going with my sister.” Crimson thrust her chin out and held her head up high. She’d come a long way from the girl who couldn’t look me in the eyes, she was more confident and self-assured. It made me smile.
“You planning on skipping out on work without telling them you’re leaving?” Her face fell and I almost regretted mentioning it to her. She should go with her sister, she deserved to go and be happy. But there was a part of me that wanted to keep them here just a little longer.
“Shit, I totally forgot. Bell I can’t just leave them in the lurch like that. Think you can stick around until after my shift.” Crimson looked nervous asking her sister to wait for her, like she’d leave her if she didn’t come with her right that second. Bella looked like she was ready to say no, but then her face softened.
“Sure kid we can wait, if Holland here doesn’t mind putting me up for the night.” Inside I gave myself a fist bump for that going smoothly. Crimson would get a chance to say goodbye to the friends she’d made at work. It had nothing to do with wanting to spend more time with Bella, at least that’s what I told myself.
“Good that’s settled, now eat before I leave. I only have a few more minutes before I have to get to work. I’ll be home the usual time, if you want you can order pizza instead of cooking.” There was a part of me that would miss having her around, she reminded me of my sisters, and I missed them like crazy since they started college.
“You sure you’re alright with me hanging around your place without you being here. I could rob you blind and you wouldn’t be here to stop me.” Bella got a little sassy as I started cleaning up my plate and the breakfast dishes. It was like she was trying to get under my skin, but I wasn’t going to let her.
“I don’t have much worth stealing, ask Crimson.” I nod toward her sister who is still sitting at the table watching our exchange.
“Yeah, he totally doesn’t, even the motorcycle in his garage doesn’t start.” I give her my best, how dare you look. “Well it’s true, don’t give me that look.”
“I’m working on it, Sassy McSasspants. Rebuilds take time.” I say defensively and she giggles at the table.
“Yeah they take time, not centuries, dude. And that nickname shit is why people think you’re gay. The point is it’s worthless just like most of the junk in this place. Don’t let Bella scare you Holls she won’t steal anything I’ll make sure of it.” Bella looks shocked at our banter back and forth.
“People think you’re gay?” Bella asked while giving me the once over.
