Page 4 of When love and Hate Collide

“Nice to see some things never change. I’ll be back in a bit.” I chuckle and kiss my mother’s cheek before I make a beeline for the door.

The walk to the supermarket is less than ten minutes from our house. I was meaning to pick up a few things I forgot to pack and bring with me, like razors, dry shampoo and tampons to name a few.

Now the sun has set the street is dark and the road that leads to our house isn’t really lit well, but I know the area well enough to know it’s safe, even after hours. While I’m distracted texting Ash about what we will wear to the club later, I don’t see the black car driving in my direction as I step off the pavement to cross the road. The sudden screeching of tyres and the car braking to a halt a mere inch from my legs frightens the ever-living crap out of me. I gasp, my phone and bag of supplies fall out of my hands while I stare at the car, stunned for a few seconds, my heart thrashing wildly in my chest.

“Jesus! Are you blind?! Can’t you see I’m walking here!” I snap hotly gesturing to the road and glare at the driver when he rolls his window down and sticks his head out the window glowering at me—albeit very handsomely.

“How about next time you attempt to cross the road you use those things in your skull called eyeballs,” the driver fires back at me hotly. “You see that flashing orange light up ahead, it’s called a pedestrian crossing, use it or next time you might not get so lucky, sweetheart.”

I lean over and snatch up my phone off the ground before I pin him with a deathly glare. “Oh really? You see that big round sign over there with the number twenty on it, that’s called a speed limit, how about you stick to it before you kill someone, you colossalasshat.”

We stare at one another angrily for a drawn-out moment and he revs his engine at me threateningly. “Do you plan on standing there gawping at me all night princess, or do you want to get out of my way?”

My scowl deepens and I feel the anger coiling deeper inside my gut to a point I wanted to throw every item I had in my bag at his beautiful head. “How about an apology? Oh, and I’m fine by the way.”

The driver’s eyes rake over me and he smirks, licking his lips, “You sure are, sweetheart,” he drawls and winks at me before he drives off disappearing down the street.

What a bonafide prick.

There isno place like home and boy am I pleased to be back. The smell of my mum’s cooking wafts toward me the moment I open the door and walk in. I drop my duffle back on the floor in the foyer and sigh.

“Nate, is that you?” I smile when I hear my mum’s voice approaching from the kitchen. I’ve not told anyone that I’ll be coming home for the summer and decided it would be a nice surprise to just show up. My poor mother still thinks I’m away at the airbase in Germany. I spoke to her this morning before my flight in, so she has no idea and boy am I excited to see her reaction— all of my family’s reaction. I miss them all terribly—especially Ash—my twin sister. This is the longest we’ve ever been apart from one another, and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been feeling a little lost without her. Of course, we text back and forth but it’s not the same. Between the intensive training and travelling for missions I’ve not really had the chance to visit home over the last two years since joining the Royal Air Force three years ago.

Joining up to the RAF as a fighter pilot was the best decision I ever made. I found my calling and it’s to serve and defend my beloved country. It’s where I belong, soaring through the skies in my baby, my one and only love— my Typhoon FGR4. A beast of an aircraft that stimulates me like no other. When I’m ripping through the skies, there is absolutely no feeling like it. While the job has got its challenges and risks, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

I smile at the photos of each of us along the wall on the stairs. Those fugly school pictures of Ash, myself and our big brother Oz proudly displayed on the wall.

“Dean!” I turn when I see my mother appear from the kitchen, eyes wide and her mouth ajar while she stares at me stunned, clad in her white ‘Your opinion wasn’t a part of the recipe’ apron and a wooden spoon in her hand.

“Hi Mum.”

“Oh! Dean?!” She exclaims placing her hand on her chest, her brown eyes almost instantly pooling with tears. “My baby, you’re home! Thank goodness!” She weeps. I open my arms for her when she comes flying at me and hug her tight.

Ah, mama, how I’ve missed you.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?” she sniffles, dabbing her eyes with the cloth she’s still got clutched in her left hand. “I would have cooked all your favourite foods, sweetheart.” I smile and shake my head. And that is precisely why I didn’t, because I know she would make an enormous fuss.

“Because, I wanted to surprise you all and you already know I will eagerly wolf down anything and everything that you cook. Two years is two too many without your glorious cooking.” I tell her with a smile as I gather her hands in mine and kiss the top of them.

“I can’t believe you’re actually home.” She sniffles, going back to dabbing away the tears that spill down her cheeks with the corner of her apron. “How long are you back for this time? Please tell me it’s longer than a day or two.”

“I’m back for the summer. You have me for eight whole weeks.”

My mother presses her hand to her mouth and smiles lovingly, her eyes watering. “Oh, that makes me so happy. All my children under one roof again.” She gushes, reaching up and caressing my cheek tenderly.

“Ash is back already?”

My mother nods, “Yes, she got back not too long ago. She’s in her room unpacking, she’ll be so happy to see you. Have you eaten? You must be hungry. Shall I make you something?”

I shake my head and brush a kiss on her temple. “No, mum, I had something to eat on the way in. I’ll catch up with Ash for a bit then I’m heading out to catch up with the boys. I’m looking forward to sleeping in the comfort of my own bed tonight though.”

“Okay, sweetheart. Your room is just as you left it, I’ll change the bed sheets for you while you’re out.”

I grab my bags and skip up the stairs. Before I make my way to my bedroom I stop when I reach the door at the end of the hallway and knock lightly. “Come in!” I hear Ash’s muffled voice reply. I push the door open and pop my head in.

“A little birdie told me my twin was home. Have you seen her by any chance?” I ask with a wide grin.

Ashlyn spins when she ears my voice and gasps audibly. The pile of neatly folded clothes goes flying out of her hands when she screams. “Ahhh! Dean!” she shrieks animatedly and comes running toward me, almost tripping over her suitcase. I catch her when she leaps into my arms, and we embrace tightly. “What are you doing here?! Mum said you weren’t coming home this summer?” she queries in a flurry. “I thought you were hauled up in some aircraft training or whatever.”

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