Page 5 of The Rowdy Ones
Back home, Mom coddles too much. Aunt Eve doesn’t have the time nor the patience for babying anyone. Destiny might need this to get her past the mental shit that’s plaguing her. I’ll do anything to help her with that. If only I could figure out how to get past my own.
Again, I miss my fucking dog.
The next several moments are fairly chaotic as we make our food. Destiny, used to someone plating up her food, is nudged by Aunt Eve to make her own plate. I want to step in and take over, especially seeing the bloodstained bandages on her wrist, but Aunt Eve won’t allow it. If Destiny is put out by this, she doesn’t let on.
Uncle Atticus winks at me, which is oddly reassuring. These people love us. I can let my guard down around them. They’re not going to intentionally harm either one of us. If Aunt Eve thinks Destiny needs to get familiar with their kitchen, then I’m going to trust in her intuition.
Once we’re seated with our food, I try not to inhale it like some wild forest animal. Thankfully, everyone is raptly listening to Wild tell a story about his college football. Both his parents beam with pride. Wild is loud and energetic, but he has nothing on the Jamison family. When our family eats a meal, it’s straight up fucking insanity, fights, and drama, especially if Reagan and Kota are at the table. This meal is much calmer than our norm. Destiny seems to be appreciating it so far based on the curious way she tilts her head to hear the story Wild’s telling.
Forest, in a booster seat beside me, touches my arm, smearing sauce all over my sleeve. He stares at me with his wide, vacant eyes. The twins are the exact opposite of their older brother. They’re weird, to be frank. Silent, always watching, and just kind of creepy. I’m pretty sure they can talk telepathically too because they always seem to be communicating with each other without ever murmuring a word.
“Thanks for that,” I mutter, grabbing a paper napkin from the pile in the center of the table.
Forest goes back to stuffing, what I now know is lasagna, into his quiet mouth. I swipe off my arm and then dive back into my meal. Admittedly, one of the best things about being in town is the food. Wild’s family are all great cooks and they have plenty of amazing restaurants to eat at. At least there’s that to look forward to.
A flutter of excitement dances through me.
This time will be better. I’ll show Destiny all the good things about being in town. It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. If I focus on her, I won’t have time to worry about my own bullshit.
Now that’s a plan.
After a fantastic dinner, Aunt Eve puts Wild and her husband on dish duty and takes me and Destiny to her bathroom where her haircutting supplies are. I sit on the closed toilet lid, watching her trim the ends of Destiny’s hair. There’s a serene smile on Destiny’s face that puts me at ease. All too soon, Aunt Eve shoos her away and then starts whacking away at my hair.
“Much better,” Aunt Eve grumbles. “Shower before you go to bed. You smell like an animal.”
Destiny giggles, and in turn, I smirk. If being the stinky animal around here makes my sister happy, so be it. Aunt Eve can pick on me all she wants as long as it amuses Dez.
Once Aunt Eve ushers Destiny to Wild’s room where she’ll be staying, I make my way out to the living room where the twins are tucked in at Uncle Atticus’s sides on the couch.
“Wild is moving your stuff over to the RV,” he tells me. “I figured the two of you could stay there. Beats sleeping on the couch.”
Though I’m grateful for the privacy, I’m not keen on leaving Destiny inside. The last time she was left alone, she tried to hurt herself.
“Those scissors,” I whisper, meeting his gaze, “and anything sharp…”
Uncle Atticus nods grimly. “I’ll take care of it. She’ll be fine.”
His words are meant to reassure me, but I can’t help the way anxiety clutches my throat, squeezing so tight I struggle to breathe. I grunt out my thanks and hurry outside, desperate to fill my lungs with fresh, cold air. Once I don’t think I’m going to hyperventilate anymore, I make my way over to the RV. It’s lit up and Wild’s music is blasting from inside.
When I step into the RV, he cuts the music and grins. “Mom already loaded the fridge and cabinets with all the good shit. Your stuff is in the back room. I’ll take the bunk over the front seats.”
I peek in a few cabinets to see what she left for us and snatch a bag of Doritos from its spot. You just don’t get tasty snacks like chips or candy like you do while in town. I’ll never get tired of eating this stuff.
The back room is simple, with a huge bed that goes from one side of the RV to the other. There’s no room for end tables, but there is a row of cabinets above the bed for storage. It’s not my cabin back home, but it’ll certainly work as a good sanctuary, especially since it has an accordion door I can close. If Wild thinks he’s going to play his music nonstop, we’re going to have words. I’m already missing the quiet serenity of my home.
After shoving the Doritos in one of the cabinets, I unzip my backpack and start pulling my clothes out. I hope Destiny is comfortable in Wild’s room. If it gets to be too much, she can always stay in the RV with us.
Well, withme.
Wild would never hurt her, but I’d feel better if she were closer to me than him.
Why is that anyway?
Because no one will protect her the way I do.
Iwake with a start, my heart hammering in my chest and sweat crawling over my skin. Someone’s close. Watching me. I’m momentarily confused, wondering if I’m stuck in that wretched tent withhim. Jace.
“She can’t see.”
