Page 339 of Vicious Saint
As overwhelming the urge is to pull whatever thoughts he has out of him, I refrain for the sake of it being nothing compared to what he must’ve felt losing me this whole time.
Saint calls my name, allowing me to expel the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “You know everything I do is for you, right? Even the shit that makes you wanna hate me?”
Suddenly, I find myself wanting nothing more than to shove these words back inside his head.
“Like force feeding me protein bars?”
“I’m serious.”
Well, guess we’re doing this.
“It took me a long time to grasp your methods, but yes.”
“The good, the bad, the ugly,” Saint elaborates. “Everything, Jimi. It’s always been for your own good, even when I refused to believe it myself.”
I’m thrown by the intense nature of his words, and not in the usual swoony way. Because if I learned anything about Saintduring our time together, it’s how he’s never the type to be serious for nothing.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Don’t you dare try and lie” is how Ishouldfinish off the question, but I’ve only just gotten comfortable with speaking again.
My temper…it’s going to take a bit more to flare.
Saint dips the sponge in the tub, then returns to scrubbing my back. “I just need you to promise you’ll remember this moment…” He pauses. “No matter what happens.”
“What’s about to happen?”
“Nothing you need to worry about, I’m gonna fix everything.”
Before I can push harder, my mother appears at the bathroom door, suppressing her rage about me being naked in front of Saint.
Ask me if I give a shit.
“What is it?” Saint grits out over his shoulder, but she speaks to me.
“I need you to come downstairs.”
I give her nothing, not even a glance.
“Please, Hendrix, there’s someone here I’d like you to meet.”
Still nothing.
At least from me. Saint, on the other hand, whips his head to the side to face her. “Are you fucking kidding me, you’re doing this right now?”
Curiosity, with a tinge of fear, gets the best of me.
“Doing what?” I ask him quietly.
“Listen, Saint. Your father and I have spoken at length, and we think it’s best if Hendrix starts getting out of the mansion a bit. Maybe even return to school.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck what you two think. It’s not up to you.”
“And it’s up to who?You?”
Yes.
Saint jumps to his feet. “Get the fuck out, Juniper. Now.”
