Page 27 of A Whirlwind of Color (The Light to My Darkness 2)

I looked up the stairs. I couldn’t see the locked rooms from my seat on the couch, but I knew they were there. I knew there were secrets that I wouldn’t understand all over this house. But I wanted to try to understand. “There are two rooms upstairs that are locked. Why? What doesn’t James want me to see?”

Rob lifted the remote and turned up the volume.

I should have laughed the action off, but it made me angry. “You’re keeping secrets for him.” I practically had to shout. “Why?”

He ignored me.

“Rob! You can’t expect me to sit here all day with all these questions running through my head. I’m sorry if this is stressful for you, but…”

He reached over and started tickling me.

“What are you doing? Stop!” I gasped for air as I started laughing. “Get off of me.” I tried to push his hands away as I laughed hysterically. “Rob!”

When he started laughing at my pain, I took the opportunity to retaliate. “Oh, it’s so on!” I said and tickled his side.

He barely even flinched. It was like he was a tickling aficionado. He climbed on top of me and grabbed my arms to pin them down.

“Stop!” I yelled through a bout of laughter as he tickled me with his free hand. “I can’t breathe.” I tried to squirm away from him, but I was trapped underneath of him. “I surrender!” I said through a giggle. But I didn’t actually want him to stop. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had laughed so hard. Probably before meeting Austin. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like his hands on me. Or him on top of me. God, did I have the hots for my husband’s brother?

Suddenly the sound from the TV disappeared. The living room was quiet except for the sound of my incessant laughter.

“What the fuck are you doing?” James said.

Rob’s hand froze on the side of my ribcage. His smile immediately disappeared as he looked up at James. “Okay…so this looks…bad. But she started it.” He tried to stifle another laugh as I squirmed beneath him.

“I did not, Robert,” I protested. “And I said I surrendered. You can let me go now.” I was very aware of his body pressed against mine. But I was also aware of the edge in James’ voice. He was clearly pissed about this. Couldn’t Rob sense that? I avoided looking at James. Could he tell how much I liked this? Could he see through me?

“Ugh, back to Robert, huh? Don’t make me tickle you again.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. He was funny.

“Get the fuck off of my wife. And out of my house.”

Rob slowly climbed off of me. “Lighten up, man. She was upset. I made her laugh.”

“If I ever see you touch her like that again…”

“We were just messing around, James. Chill.”

“I don’t care what you said were doing. I asked you to leave.” James stepped to the side to let Rob pass.

But Rob didn’t move. “Yeah, I’m not leaving right now. She’s scared enough without you acting like this. Can’t you see that?”

“I think I know her better than you. And all I could see was you taking advantage of her because she doesn’t remember…”

“Oh my God, stop.” I stood up. “Both of you. Don’t talk about me like I’m not in the room. What is wrong with you?”

“Penny.” James stepped toward me but I put my hand up for him to stop.

“Honestly, I’m not interested in talking to you right now.”

Rob laughed.

“Either of you,” I added and glared at him. “You’re treating me like I’m some delicate damsel in distress. So clearly neither of you know me at all. I can take care of my freaking self. So you two pussyfooting around by not telling me the truth isn’t helping me at all.”

“Pussyfooting?” Rob laughed.

“Laugh at me all you want. But I’m not talking to either of you until you’re ready to tell me what happened to me. I need to know why I’m not allowed to leave this apartment. And what pictures were removed from the walls. And why there are locked doors upstairs. And why I freaking look like I’m pregnant.”

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