Page 86 of Little Bird
I slide through the main room and into the kitchen, where I find Gabe rustling around in the pantry, looking for something. When I get there, though, he’s not actually doing anything other than throwing things around on the shelves, creating chaos and ruining the organization I’ve finally managed to impose.
I reach out and snatch his hand back. “I thought we said that if you want to rearrange in here, you run it by me first.”
It’s supposed to be a joke, but it falls flat. He turns on me, his eyes wet with tears.
“And what do you care about that? It’s not like you’re going to be around much longer, anyhow. Probably already planning to leave us like you did last time.”
The words are so hurtful, so untrue, that I draw back like I’ve been slapped. “What?” I gasp. “I’m not leaving. I promised you I wouldn’t.”
He snorts. “Seems like your promises don’t actually mean that much.”
Okay, now I’m mad. “Are you calling me a liar, Gabe Hawke?” I draw myself up to my full height and do my best to look down my nose at him. He’s a full head taller than me, so it’s difficult.
But I try.
He narrows his eyes at me, and I can tell he’s about to argue with me about it, but Gunner shows up behind me.
“What are you two shouting about?” he asks. In a shout. “Why are you in the pantry arguing like children?”
Gabe’s hot, angry eyes snap to his father. “Because we are children. Your children, in case you forgot! You’re the adult here. The one who’s supposed to make the big decisions. Though maybe you’ve forgotten about that, too!”
Whoa. I don’t have to ask to know that statement was full of double meanings, and when I look at Gunner, I can see that it hit exactly the target Gabe was aiming for. He looks stunned and horrified in equal parts, and I’m positive he’s just guessed that Gabe knows what we did.
And if he’s smart, he’s also guessing that Gabe’s upset because Gabe and I have shared similar moments.
They both look like they’re about to tear each other apart, and it’s all because of me. They may not have gotten along well while I was away but at least they weren’t at each other’s throats. Now I’m back, and they’re been fighting all the time, acting like they actually hate each other.
Because I’m coming between them.
I shake my head at that, refusing to believe it. I’m not coming between them; I’m trying to love them. They’re family, and they should treat each other that way. And if they’re not going to figure that out on their own, I’ll just take matters into my own hands.
“Stop it,” I snap. “Both of you.”
Two sets of blue eyes snap toward me, shocked, and I pop one hip and look coldly from one to the other.
“That’s right, I said stop it. Honestly, I don’t know how the fuck you share a house if you hate each other that much. Because if you’re actually enemies like you act like you are, one of you should move to town. So who’s it going to be?”
I look expectantly at Gunner, and then Gabe, waiting, but neither of them speaks.
“Well? Who’s moving out?”
Crickets.
“Neither of you? You still want to live in the same house together?”
I wait again, but there are no answers, and now they’re both looking at the ground in embarrassment.
So I don’t push the issue.
Instead, I thread one arm through Gabe’s and the other through Gunner’s and lead them back into the kitchen. “In that case, I have demands. I’m tired of you fighting. You’re family, and you should act like it. We’re family. We belong together. We love each other. Grow up and act like father and son. I’m not letting up on either of you until you can manage it. Gabe, go get dressed. Gunner, shovel the driveway. The snow is melting, and I want to be able to get to the vehicles more easily. I’m going to make breakfast.”
I drop their arms and turn to them, finding that they now look like little boys who’ve been spanked.
I fight to keep from laughing at that.
“You’re going to be nice to each other. I love you both, and I won’t accept anything less. Do I make myself clear?”
After a brief hesitation, they both finally nod. But I’m not done with them yet. I don’t want to address what just happened between me and Gunner, or what’s been happening between me and Gabe, but something in me says that it’s better to just get it over with right now.
