Chapter 19
Alle a a konar forliget, Frist von still spend the seat of our praeter titta bolted under the
e agent minute before he murmuratching at the bark of hole fam
Lovel feeling for hired by think ton pinar la
turn and eturulde neer to my plieme. Thankfull
ely one after the pood incident with my phone insurance. Only some costnetic
my se pen dhom more messge from the mystery number. I quickly block it, deleting all the mess
Wathenat prind a propose, I leave the room and head here.
Trever pre any pread deep last night, un maybe dran get
orts tape or smething
Il send in apologize in Alex umurheen. And thank him. Maybe with some sports tape or
Maybe later, Heigh. F’in sumply Morand for it nee
emmat lang on the upret near my home. There’s a familiar car in the doorway, a familiar person at the front door
I really don’t want to deal with this melay
Itum, parking at a neighbor’s finest.
cover lane, umur losses, riper dally the ones near the work, lune moer yard space. As such, the distance between our house and others nearby is
Twote up a spark pote, leaving the on my winddarld and choring another into the neighbor’s door mail slot, I’ll come back and wop Home ASAP
1 juu need a nap Best. Maybe a few hours so I can stop being i
g too tired to think.
Then, I mural by the back and head homer from there. Oliver should still be watching the front and miss me entirely.
The fork door in or a few feet away, and it dont like Over notes anything
taking their
dem quiet steps, I make it to the door, wicking the key into the lock and twisting at it opens curward, and I start to slink into my house.
Bata pale hand marks against the der, forcing it shot.
“Cyndia, poor and not answering my n
My throat starts to close. I try ou nogg the back door open again, but Oliver’s hand keeps it in place.
either tes pres think we’re friends anymore? I’ve b
been worried about yo
(you and everything. But it’s okay.
ary. We can talk
by wry from my mean Don’t speak to me apuse.
DI
(resisting right bene frala an prioriem. Maybe if I let him in this once, he’ll finally
2:18 PM ch
Chapter 19
I shut my eyes tightly, knowing he won’t do that. He’ll keep bothering me forever until he gets whatever it is he wants
Oliver reaches down and grabs the doorknob, opening it to make his way inside with me. I let the hot panic in my chest get smoothed over into resignation
Suddenly, the weight of his presence gets ripped from behind me.
I startle, then quickly turn around when I hear Oliver grunt as though he fell.
A tanned fist wrenches Oliver’s head to the side with the force of his punch.
Alex crouches over him like a wolf to prey. And he’s beating the shit out of him
“A–Ale–ght”
He doesn’t listen. Alex keeps whaling on him, his left fist followed by his right, smacking his face to each side.
Oliver holds up his arms to protect himself, scratching at Alex. But he’s relentless, Alex’s steely expression doesn’t flinch as he easily maneuvers Oliver how he wants him
I stand there, my vision swimming with unshed tears.
Alex seems to always appear when I need help. I don’t understand how he can. But the fact he does overwhelms my tired heart.
I blink, and the tears start trailing down my cheeks.
A moment later, the door behind me bangs open, and Alex finally looks up. Oliver takes the time to scramble from under Alex and immediately start babbling
“A–Alex! Why are you-
“Cynthia!”
My mom rushes over to me. Her pale auburn hair, loose and smooth from her messy bun, tickles against my face when she hugs me. I immediately hug her back, my hands curling into the back of her shirt.
“M–Miss Liz, please! Help! This guy just-
“You be quiet.”
There’s fury in her voice.
It’s rare. She lost her ability to be angry when we were with Dad. But the therapy she’s been going to has helped her regain some of her power and former self.
Mom hugs me tighter.
“Cynthia oh, my baby, I’m so sorry.” She leans my head back and wipes her thumbs against my cheeks, taking tears with them. “I should’ve told you I noticed you two broke up. Seeing your room cleared of all his things….. I just..I wanted to give you space. But not like this. I’m so sorry….”
I can’t stop my tears even if I want to. Mom lets me hide my face against her. She smells like maple syrup, like I’ve always thought she has
“Oliver I heard what you said to Cynthia last night”
He chokes on his own spit, and I hear someone get up. The undertone of pinecones gets stronger..so it must be Alex.
Mom’s fingers curl into my hair.
“If Cynthia tells me that you have ever approached her again, I will not let this go down easily. Do you understand me
Oliver doesn’t say anything.
“I asked a question, Mr. Oakley”
Yes, ma’am.”
wirave?
NOW
I don’t watch hum go. I don’t care to. Instead, I peek out from my mom’s hold to look at Alex.
Chapter 19
He stands so tall, moving to follow Oliver and make sure he leaves. But Mom stops him.
“And you are!”
He flinches a bit, but then he stands straight
“Alex Hewlett Uhm.Cynth’s boyfriend”
“I see.” She hums, suspicious. “Your fists are pretty banged up. Come get those cleaned.
Once inside. Mom’s combative nature melts away and she returns to the soft person she’s always been. She frens over me nervously, getting me a cup of water and sitting us both down in the kitchen.
Morn makes small talk with Alex as she brings over our first aid kit. It’s a bit heftier than what other families have, but we’ve learned how to patch
our wounds
“I’ll do it” I murmur, both Mom and Alex looking over to me.
“Ah, of course, baby.” She gives me a wobbly smile, reaching over and holding my cheeks. “Then. Im going to get some groceries for tonight you be okay here with him?”
I nod in reply, and the darkness in her eyes fades away, glancing at Alex with more trust than before.
“I’ll be back in just a bit. Help yourself to the turkey salad in the fridge, Alex”
“Ah, thank you very much.”
There’s no hint of his usually snarky and kidding nature, all respect. Mom gives him a smile before grabbing her bag, leaving to the garage
Once she’s gone, I wipe my face with my sleeves and open the kit. I know where everything from habit, getting the alcohol wipes and bandages. I start cleaning him up silently, watching as he doesn’t flinch with the wipes against his scratched and bruised fists.
How did you. Uhm. Why?”
I keep my eyes on his fingers as he replies quietly.
“Uhm. You looked really bad earlier. I wanted to know what was up, so I talked with your friend, Hailey. Told me she saw someone at your house. Once she described car, I knew who it was.” He clears his throat. “So, I decided to drive by”
His hand closes softly around one of mine as I wrap his bandages, so I glance up. He stares back at me, wary and curious.
“I don’t know what he did, but it seems bad.”
_Is_what he’s done important?”
He shakes his head.
“He made you cry. That’s enough.”
I look back down at his fist and finish wrapping the first one, the resignation crumbling and warmth returning to my chest. The room smells strongly of pine to me, a smell that’s quickly become very comforting
Thank you.”
