Page 169 of Grounded
Walking up to her door, her faint cries are unmistakable.
Turning the knob, she doesn't jump at my presence, doesn't kick me out, doesn't move from her curled-up spot in bed. And she doesn't object when I open up her duvet and snuggle into her.
I want to tell her I love her, and that I'll be here for her as she processes this. As her broken heart heals, as time fixes everything like it always does, I will be waiting for her.
But for now, her tears soak the shared pillow and I hold onto her tighter than I ever have.
Idon'trememberfallingasleep, but apparently, I'm dreaming about being on a boat.
We're moving and rocking back and forth, unstable on these rough waves. My blood pressure increases as I attempt to balance myself.
It's only when I feel more shaking that I comprehend Amelia's efforts in waking me.
"Earthquake," she gasps as the entire room is hit with an aftershock.
She's grabbing onto my biceps as the clothes in her closet sway on their hangers. I'm shirtless, but I might as well be wearing a suit of armor. I cover her with my body in case anything falls on us.
And as if it never happened, the earth stops.
If it weren't for the random items that fell on her already messy floor, I'd think I dreamt it.
"The freaking San Andreas Fault." Amelia is grabbing her throat like she got the wind knocked out of her.
"That was terrifying," I say, not realizing how much scarier it was about to get.
Amelia's door flies open and her dad storms in hollering, "Ames, are you okay?"
No knock, no announcement, just pure terror on two faces staring back into the eyes of a man who just went from alarmed to enraged.
"What the hell? What the hell is this?" Bruce shouts. He immediately calls for my mom to come witness what is obviously their two children canoodling in their worst nightmare imaginable.
I'm shirtless, in my boxers, when my mom enters the doorframe.
She covers her open mouth with her hand, and I'm afraid her eyes might fall out of her sockets.
"How long has this…" Bruce looks like he might throw up. "Been going on?"
It's his turn to avoid eye contact with me. Perhaps I deserve that.
"Why do you care?" Amelia snaps.
"Excuse me, young lady? You are my daughter. He is your stepbrother."
My mom's eyes are glossy, and I'm unable to speak. It's two against two, except they are fully clothed and acting as though they are incapable of making mistakes. We are caught, barely clothed, yet draped in debauchery with slack-jawed faces.
Of all the things Amelia could reply with, she settles on: "How long were you cheating on Mom?"
A live grenade has landed in the room, and we are all about to be destroyed.
"Howlong?"Irepeat.
"Honey, this is not the time or place—"
"Stop! I can't believe you two." The tears are pooling in my eyelids as Theo puts a gentle arm around me. "Standing there judging us when you committed the ultimate betrayal."
Molly is also crying as she asks, "Theo, did you know?"
"I've known all along," he admits stiffly.
