of me every second, when I was away, well I feckin’ talked 'bout ya until I saw yer gorgeous face again. So, by the time I came home, I dinna think about Erika. I thought about my hen.”
“Your hen,” my voice fades. Why am I tormenting my husband? I'm sure Erika fell in love with him when they were children. She has eyes, and I have an Eros, Phalia, Ludus, Agape, Mania—definitely a manic love for my husband. I huff. “You're supposed to be mine, Leith.”
“My word stands, Chevelle. Ye’re mine.” Frustrated, Leith clasps my shoulders. The restrained strength, the determination in his eyes begs me to give him a chance.
All I want to do is cave, love him hard, per the usual. Coldness creeps into my heart. I tell myself to use his connection to Erika as my sole reason to guard my heart. “Whatever, Leith. I’m not discussing this in the presence of your parents.”
I stalk out of the sitting room. The towering ceilings make every word echo as I tell Leith, “Go away so I can think!”
“Wit’s the matter with the two of ye?” Nan asks. Damn, she’s following us.
Leith and I shout contradictory words. While he’s hot on my heels, his mother’s pursuing the two of us.
I’ve made it to the row of guest rooms on the opposite side of the living room.
Leith stops. “Mam, I’ll handle this.”
I open the door to the guest room across the way, twisting the knob’s lock. I slam the door right in Leith’s face.
“Leave me alone!” I shout. Great. Childish antics. Now, I’m the one locked in a room.
Chapter 46
Leith
“Chevelle!” I shout, slapping an open palm against the wood. After a few beats, I lean against the door and mumble a silent apology. There’s nary a peep on the opposite side of the door. I head off toward my fifteen-year-old brathair’s, Jamie, room.
Camdyn is standing in the hallway, leaning against the door. He’s running the flame of a lighter along the length of a joint.
“The feck are ye doing?”
“Open your eyes, bro. Can’t you see I need some chill?” He sniffs. “I’m preparing it for later if you want in. This ain’t cheap shit.”
I roll my shoulders, unable to deny the truth in his logic.
“By the way, Dad hates us?”
“Da hates me. Ye, not so much. Give him time to cool down.”
“Nah, I acknowledge my faults. Same goes for you. Except in your case, it’s called being noble. And that shit has gotten us into this shit.”
“Och, feckin’ philosophy from my wee brathair.”
“I can’t stand that word wee. Ain’t nothing wee about me. Need references? Ask all the cute bitches at my school,” he says as I open the door to Jamie’s room.
“Bitches. I can’t stand that word,” I counter, closing Jamie’s door in his face, or perhaps not. Cam’s already walking away.
On the edge of the bed, Mia lies on her stomach, propped up on her elbows. Cartoons have replaced her tears with a sloppy smile. My youngest brathair, Jake, laughs with her. Thirteen-year-old Lachlan looks up gloomily.
“Everything’s fine,” I mutter.
“Is Erika dead?” Lachlan whispers.
“She ain’t dead,” Jamie cuts in.
“Nae. She’s strong.” I start to rustle his hair. When he doesn’t stop me, much as he’s been doing recently, I finish by pulling him into a hug.
“Everything’ll work out.” I wink, punching his chest softly. “Be tough.”
Da must not have taken Lachlan under his wing yet. I crouch down in front of Mia.
“That was so much fun, Daddy. Uncle Cam jumped me, and then we army crawled around! I’ve never—”
“Wheesht!” I snarl. Her excitement’s infuriating.
While Mia’s bottom lip trembles, tears as fresh as the water in the loch gleam across her face.
“Och, lassie, forgive yer da.” I grip her face. “Ye did good, listened to yer auld uncle. But when ye hear a sound like tha . . .” I pause. The words jumble in my throat. Da taught me how to respond in a firefight. My wee brathairs all acted accordingly, too. Still, one can never be prepared. This was something I never wanted for my weans. And not because of Chevelle, we were in harmony in this regard.
“Ye will never hear that sound again,” I assure her. “But ye did good, Mia.”
I plant my lips on her forehead. “Listen to all yer uncles.”
She nods.
“Tell me if yer mam decides to,” I clear my throat, “leave with ye.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
Settling back on my haunches, I give my girl my biggest smile. “Hey, where’s Da’s heart?”