Page 95 of Blood & Lace
"I can do that."
"But it will be quicker with the two of us."
Adam groaned. "We've already done so much today."
We had, but how did I explain to him that I wasn't sure how often I'd be able to come over and help? I had my own family obligations, and not to mention my duties at home. I still needed to get home and get Onyx's dinner ready.
"Okay, how about I give you a haircut and we can fold laundry next time while you teach me French."
"I never agreed to any of this." Adam massaged his temples. His sighs were even more drawn out. "As interesting as today has been, I'm really tired."
"Come have a seat" I tapped the back of the seat, scissors and comb in hand.
Adam looked to the sink and then back at the table. "You move too fast for how big you are." He was clearly avoiding sitting down. "How about you go home and I take a nap."
"Or we can go to a hair salon and get you fixed up. After that there is a nice lit?—"
"No, that sounds like torture, I’ll sit." Adam rushed over and sat down. His left leg instantly started to bounce.
"I'll cut only enough so it's easier for you to manage."
"Shave me bald." Adam twisted in his seat and raised his hands that held a slight tremor. "That was also a joke. Don't do that."
"I didn't plan on it." I turned him back around and started off with combing what I could out. I'd grown up with a lot of siblings, and as the second oldest, sometimes that meant I had to help with things that I wasn't good at. There had been plenty of times the twins had wanted me to brush their hair. They had curlier hair compared to Adam's but it was all the same in the end. I concentrated on my task, keeping an eye on my brother-in-law. Every twitch and jerky movement gave me pause. I had to make sure not to hurt him. Although he was like Onyx in ways, in others he was very different. He was much more skittish and weary than my husband. The entire day I attempted to make sure he had a good time, or at the very least, taken care of.
"You never asked me what I did to piss Onyx off," Adam said, breaking the bubble of silence that had circled us.
I snipped a few inches and made sure it was even with the others. "Siblings fight sometimes. Do you still love him?"
"Of course, it’s just sometimes being near him makes me feel… inadequate." He groaned while pressing the heel of his hand into his eyes. "Anyway, we aren't always good to be around each other. We didn't have the best childhood. Or really, I didn't, and then I ruined it for Onyx."
"I doubt he sees it that way."
Adam snatched his head away and turned to glare at me. There was anger swimming in the pools of his eyes. "How the fuck would you know?" He let out a bitter laugh, his mouth twisting in a frown. "I know if he didn't tell you about me, he sure as shit didn't tell you about what happened."
I was missing something very important here, and a part of me wanted to ask, but I also knew I shouldn't. "You're right, I don't know." I lightly twisted him back around to get access to his hair once more. "But I know my husband, and I know what kind of person he is. He doesn't hate you, let alone blame you for anything."
"Vous ne savez rien."
"Is this my first lesson? I didn't bring a notebook."
"No, it's not," Adam shot back. He sounded a lot angrier than he'd been all day. No matter how much I pushed or dragged him around, he wasn't nearly as angry.
"Sorry if I said something wrong. My family always tells me I can be careless sometimes with my words."
The silence that greeted my apology wasn't surprising. I finished up the haircut, making sure to still leave Adam with some length. Before I knew it, I was done. I brushed it back before taking a step away from him. "There, go take a look." I went for the broom to clean up the mess all over the floor as Adam went to the bathroom.
By the time I finished cleaning up and storing away all the food, Adam had finally made his way back out. He looked refreshed, and with his hair out of his face, it wasn't obscuring his features. His jaw was more square and his cheekbones were prominent.
"Do you like it?"
He nodded, staring at anything but at me.
"I'm going to head home now. I would invite you over for dinner, but Onyx won't be home till late." Thinking about my husband, my fingers itched to call him. "You will have to come over soon. I can make veal marsala paired with a great wine."
"Maybe."
Onyx loved desserts. I'd been known to bribe my husband with them on occasions. His brother on the other hand, seemed to like food on the savory side. "I'll add in those onion and garlic pastries you seemed to like."
