Previous β Everything Happens for a Reason
For the hundredth time, Iβm looking outside my door, hoping Misa opens hers. A piece of cardboard covers the hole in her door since she refused to answer when the guy came to replace it.
She hasnβt come out of her apartment since this morning.
I slump on my couch.
My heart feels odd. Strange liquid is leaking from my eyes.
βWhatβs the matter, Mili?β Mom has the audacity to ask.
Her and Dad stare at me from their seated positions at my dining room table. In the sunlight, Dadβs scruffy hair looks reddish brown, wearing his regular black t-shirt and jeans. He hung his cowboy hat up beside the door.
Mom is bare faced and curly haired after her shower, swimming in my new black t-shirt and basketball shorts.
My head pounds.
βYou are.β I growl at her.
βEmilian.β Dad warns.
βYou couldnβt wear any of your own shit?β
βMy bags at the hotelββ
βThen go get it.β I snap. βGo on, get out. I donβt want you here.β
βEmilian!β Dad growls.
Momβs eyes tear up. βI know youβre upset. Iβm so sorry. Iβm begging you; I didnβt mean to mess up that girlβs door or car. This smooth talker gave meββ
Here we go.
βI donβt fucking care. Get out!β
βMili please!β
βJust wait outside Khiana. Iβll get your stuff.β Dad reaches out for her, but she slaps his hand away and runs out sobbing.
I see her purse on my counter and throw it at the door. Bunch of stupid shit goes flying out everywhere.
βUnnecessary.β Dad scolds. He looks at me with his hard blue eyes. βNow youβre gonna pick that shit up.β
βNo.β
This is stupid.
I walk away.
βGet back here.β His voice is venomous.
I stop walking but donβt turn around. Clearly, heβs on Khianaβs side.
βYouβre gonna pick it up, then your momma and I will leave. Sometime later, when you cool down, call her. Video, so she can see your face when you apologize.β
Fuck that.
I keep walking.
βHey!β He whistles. An authoritative, swift one that makes me feel like a dog.
I remember what Dad can become if he keeps whistlingβ¦
I glance over at momβs stuff scattered across the floor and pick them up. Dad hovers around me, still talking.
βI know you donβt hate her, Emilian. Sheβs been going through stuff. Last night was the tipping point. She traveled to see you but got bamboozled by some punk at her hotel who fed her wine and pills she thought were headache medicine. Khiana was pitiful enough to take them. She told me sheβs been feeling like she wants to die.β
I set her purse back on the counter.
βWhoβs the punk?β I ask.
βIβll know once I access that hotelβs camera. Whatever she took activated a special type of crazy though, and she sped here with her resentment for me, crashing into parked cars and beating down doors. Itβs unlike her.β
It is unlike mom. But because of her actions, everything I had with Misa may be over.
βWell, weβll get on here. Iβm going to bring Khiana down to the ranch, convince her to stay. Maybe marry her again.β
βDad, seriously? Arenβt two wives more than enough?β
He shrugs. βWe were happy for a time, all three ladies. Even after your momma caught me cheating. Once she started working for that damn Crown after she had you, then the accident with Lux, ah, everything changed. Everything. I still love her. Itβs high time I let her know. Because I know she loves me, too.β
Dadβs words sink in. I look out the window, wondering if Misa still likes me.
If only I could talk to her.
βAre you okay, son?β
βNo. Misa hates me now because of mom.β
βHey, none of this was your fault. None of it. Once sheβs past being upset, sheβll realize that and come around. Trust me.β He winks. βChin up.β
My brother got me that car. I hear Misaβs small, sad voice in my head repeating.
My brotherβ¦
Iβm losing my mind.
Misa hasnβt spoken to me, nor have I seen her in days. She hasnβt returned my calls or texts, even though Iβm waiting to hand the keys over to her new car that arrived. I want to bust down her door, but mom already tried that.
βGood day, Mr. Grim.β Instructor Inga says, watching me with hawk eyes as I enter class.
βMaβam.β Thereβs nothing more I wish to say to that woman. I still didnβt get over her slicing Misaβs face with our ripped-up quizzes.
I scan the room. Misa is sitting at a different table.
How did she get to class? Did Timothy give her a ride?
My blood boils. βWhy are you sitting over there?β I blurt, realizing Iβm talking to her across the room.
She looks at me, then looks away.
This is torture.
βMisaβ¦β I approach her, quieter this time. βCan we talk after?β
Her eyes are puffy and red behind her big circle glasses. Even when sad, sheβs still beautiful. Sheβs in her black sweatshirt and white shorts, just like the first day we met.
Instructor Inga clears her throat in a reprimanding tone. βMr. Grim, your seat is over there.β She points at the table by the window. βSince you two like to cheat.β
Misa slinks down in her chair, embarrassed.
Fuck.
I sit at my table. My heart is racing.
I watch Misa across the room. She looks fragile, depressed.
βMr. Grim.β Inga scolds, staring me down. βEyes forward, young man.β
I stare down at the table, dying to put my fist through it, but I canβt. This is the new table I bought to replace the last one I destroyed. No wonder Inga has it out for me now.
Sigh. Itβs going to be a long class.
My phone vibrates. New texts. Maybe itβsβ¦ No. Itβs Dad.
Itβs the one you asked me to look into. Timothy Hollow. He gave momma those pills.
We need to talk. After class.
I put my phone down and stare straight ahead.
Perfect. Now I get to execute Timothy.
-tbc
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