Page 5 of Double or Nothing

“Sutton,” I cry out as I run from the house and into his arms.

He just dropped me off an hour ago. How in the hell could this have happened?

It’s a stupid question. His father. It’s always his father.

Sutton grimaces as I wrap my arms around him. “Oh, God, are you okay?” I run my hands along his face.

He pulls back. “I’m fine. I just…”

“Come inside,” I tell him.

He glances at the front door, then back to me. “I shouldn’t have come here. Your mom….”

“Her mom wants you to get your butt into this house this instant.” I turn and see my frail mother standing in the doorway. Tears well in her eyes, but it’s not from the pain or the sickness. It’s from seeing Sutton and the condition he’s in. If she were able to, she would be standing right here with me. Hugging him, checking him, taking care of him. Like a parent does.

Not his parent though. His parent did this to him. And for what? Because he hates him? Great. Hate him. Just don’t do this to him. Don’t cause him to shatter and break. He doesn’t deserve that. He doesn’t deserve any of it.

“Now,” my mother’s voice demands.

I wrap my arm around Sutton’s waist and help him to the house.

“You poor boy,” my mother says as she touches his cheek.

“You should see the other guy.” Sutton’s voice is soft. He cracks a slight smile and I’m not sure if he’s joking or not. He’s never hit him back before. But this time, I’m not so sure. Something in his eyes looks different.

“About damn time,” my mother replies. “I wish you would just let me call the authorities.”

“I appreciate that, Mrs. Keller, but I’m almost out of there. As soon as I land a real job, I’m out.”

“You know you’re more than welcome to…”

Sutton shakes his head. “I appreciate it, but no.”

My mother presses a kiss to his swollen cheek. “Why don’t we all get some rest. We’ll talk more in the morning and figure out what to do.” Slowly, my mother makes her way back to her room, denying my offer of assistance. “Oh, and Sutton?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“When I tell you to have my daughter home by midnight, I mean it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The door shuts behind my mother and I grab onto Sutton again. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Positive, Kitty Kat. I just want to get some sleep.”

I take his hand in mine and tug on it, inviting him to my room.

“Hell no,” he replies.

“What? Why? It’s not like you haven’t spent the night before,” I remind him with the sexiest smile I can muster at this hour.

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t invited those times. Your mother’s doing me a favor, I can’t…”

I love that he thinks that way, though I can’t help to find the amusement in it as well. It was only a few nights ago that he snuck in through my window, and we were going at in my bed. Then the shower. Then against the very window he snuck in through.

I respect his decision, even if I want nothing more than to hold him all night and make him forget what an evil monster of a father he has.

“The couch it is,” I say.

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