Page 24 of Breakaway

Sighing, I unlocked the door and turned on some lights. I had the sudden urge to turn on the TV and radio to fill the space with noise so I could trick my mind into thinking I wasn’t here by myself. Lady Sterling purred near my feet, and I jumped back, slamming my back into the doorknob.

“Ah!” I screamed, then realized it was just the cat. Lady curled around me, purring as she weaved in and out of my legs. She didn’t give a damn that I’d just screamed; she wanted my attention. Chuckling, I bent down to rub behind her ears, her purrs increasing in volume.

“I know you love me the mostest. Don’t worry; I won’t tell Punchy. It will be our secret,” I cooed, happy she was here.

I pulled out my phone and took a selfie with the cat, sending it to the group text thread before standing back up. I grabbed some food from the fridge to cook and stared around the kitchen as I waited. The house was eerie without all the people here to fill it.

My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my joggers, smiling at the message that had come through. Thank goodness the school plane had Wi-Fi, or I might’ve died of boredom.

Punchy

Don’t corrupt my cat.

Dax

Can’t corrupt the corruptible.

Punchy

Hmm. There are so many things wrong with that sentence.

Dax

How was the game? I haven’t checked yet. I just got in.

Daddy Fletch

We won. It wasn’t easy, though. TS was there.

I swallowed, grabbing my bowl from the microwave as I sat at the table. We’d all agreed to refer to the Society as TS in text in case we were being monitored. It wasn’t the hardest thing to figure out, but it gave us a hint of deniability. Or at least, that was what Fletcher had told us. The man had gone full Daddy since he’d revealed his bomb of a secret. He’d so easily stepped into the role; it made me wonder what else he’d been holding back on all these years.

Petal

Arenas got hurt. She had to stay back until she’s cleared to fly.

Dax

Shit. I’m sorry, baby.

Petal

Kurt was there.

Dax

WTF!

Punchy

And that dipshit kid. The father you followed.

Dax

I’m guessing that’s the TS news?

Daddy Fletch

Yup.

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