Page 66 of Xactly What She Needs

“What? You’re really asking ‘what’? As if you’re not considering putting yourself in prison for life? You can’t think that’s a good idea!” Dani cries out.

And if Dani is against bringing any kind of harm to Jack, then they should recognize that they’re completely out of their minds. Dani is the last person I’d expect to have a clear head in any situation like this. I’m so grateful that she’s on my side in this.

“If you’re planning anything, you’d best make sure I’m involved too, because there’s no way you’ll be able to get away with this without my help.”

Oh for fucks sake. I was obviously being a little too optimistic there.

“Dani, don’t even think about it, or I’ll tell mom.”

“Oh, you’ll tell mom?” she mocks.

I’ve always hated that voice on her. She’s so annoying. Of all the people in the world, she’s always been the most capable of pissing me off. She knows just how to get under my skin.

“I will,” I promise. “Right now!”

“With what? He burned everything you own. ID’s, phones, laptops, all your clothes and earthly belongings. You know what you have left to your name, Bri? The underwear you escaped from the house wearing, and not even that, because it was nearly burned right off of you.”

The anger seems to snap, suddenly, and Dani has tears in her eyes.

“He nearly rid the world of you. He nearly took away everything that you built back up after you had to run away from him. If you think for one minute that I’m going to let him get away with it, you’ve got another thing coming. Understood?”

“Understood.”

“Good.”

I don’t think they took in a single word of what I said, but I’ve said what I can. With time and perspective, I hope they can see the plan for the foolish endeavor that it is.

****

“Is everyone ready?”

Jenny is dancing from foot to foot, her mouth holding a steady frown and her eyes glittering with anxious tears. Marrow has the college website loaded, and we’ve gathered around so that we too can see the screen. Mikkey is here too, though the baby doesn’t offer much encouragement as she gnaws on the teething ring, drool dripping on the floor.

“Your baby is leaking,” JT warns Edge.

“I’ll make your head leak, if you’re not careful, Runt.”

The threat would hold much more water if it wasn’t said with the baby voice. JT rolls his eyes in a show of grand dramatics, and then skips out of reach before Edge can cuff him around the neck.

“Marrow, Edge is trying to maim me!”

“Stop maiming the kids, Edge,” Marrow says in a distracted voice. “Now, Jen, remember, we’re here for you no matter what. If they don’t let you in, that’s their loss. Hear me?”

The teenager nods shakily. She’s pale, and I can only imagine how sick she must feel. I’ve been in her place before. I know just how bad it can feel to wait for someone to tell you what the rest of your life is going to look like. Her slight body is trembling so hard I think she might actually knock a few teeth loose.

If she hadn’t been the one to call on us and ask us to be with her while she got this news, I’d have insisted on hanging back. She’s a smart girl, she’s worked hard, but if she doesn’t get in, would she really appreciate us all being nearby to watch? I know I wouldn’t.

“Hey,” I cry out, when Dani purposely bumps into my side. “Watch it. I’m still sensitive.”

Ever since being released from hospital two weeks ago, Xander and I have been dutifully applying burn cream to our bodies. Where we were red before, the skin is now just pink, but I’ve not worn anything other than thin, oversized t-shirts and loose fitting shorts since the incident. Every shift of fabric sends a buzz of pain over her skin.

“Oops, sorry about that.”

I’m about as used to the pain as I am to the contrite way that Dani talks whenever I remind her of the fire. I’m in serious hate of the fact that she’s so cut up about it. Almost as much as I hate how Xander can’t talk about the fire without his eyes going blank.

“Okay, kid. Let’s do this.”

We’ve been staring at the same page for so long that it’s almost burned into my eyes.

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