by J. M. Walker
“Come into the light.”
I wanted to laugh. Not sure why my stepmom didn’t just drag me out into the open like she usually did, I tried ignoring her.
“Toy.” She came into the room which was unusual for her seeing as the room was dirty. She was always dressed in nice clothes. Her hair and makeup done. She was always well put together. While I, on the other hand, was stuck being dirty.
Her dark eyes roamed over me.
I shivered, trying to shield myself but stopped when she frowned. I had learned the hard way that she didn’t like it when I hid from her.
“You hungry?”
My stomach rumbled. “Yes,” I croaked.
“Good.” She left the room.
I jumped, a sheen of sweat coating my skin. Breathing through the nightmare invading my mind, I pinched the bridge of my nose and inhaled.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
Breathe. Keep breathing.
The nightmares didn’t come as much as they used to. I was sure my parents were thankful for that. A child’s screams got old and quickly.
I covered Luna’s hand that was on my chest, taking all the strength from her that I could muster.
She continued sleeping beside me when a knock sounded on the door. I kissed her cheek, slid off the bed, making sure not to disturb her, and put my pants back on.
Trudging to the door, I made sure I was at least a little decent and greeted whoever was up at this godforsaken hour.
“Hey.” Gigi stared up at me with Meadow standing behind her.
Meadow yawned, running a hand up and down her face before giving me a small smile.
“What are you two doing up?” I asked, keeping my voice low so not to disturb Luna.
“Couldn’t sleep and…” Gigi looked at her sister before meeting my gaze. “We heard a noise.”
Meadow snorted. “Gigi heard a noise and she woke me up.”
I stepped back into Luna’s room and grabbed my dress shirt before joining the girls out in the hall. I slipped into the shirt when I remembered. Fuck . My scars.
Gigi and Meadow both stared at me with wide eyes.
“Don’t,” I grumbled, stomping down the hall. How the hell could I have forgotten about them? Not that they covered my front really but as soon as I turned around, they could for sure see the marks on my back. Shit .
“I didn’t see anything.” Meadow walked past us and headed into the living room.
“Zach,” Gigi said gently.
“It’s nothing,” I murmured, running a hand through my hair.
“Maybe not now it isn’t.”
“Listen.” I dropped my arm to my side. “If anyone is going to know anything about my past, it’ll be Luna. Until then, you didn’t see fuck all. Now tell me where you heard the noise.”
“Fine.” Gigi started walking down the hall. “It was outside. We hear shit all the time. The neighbors aren’t exactly quiet. But this was different.”
“How different?” It wasn’t like I could do anything. I wasn’t trained but I knew people who were. We all did.
“I don’t know.” Gigi huffed, heading to the patio door. She turned on the backyard security lights. “It just was. But we can’t call our dad, or he’ll lose his shit and make us move home.”
“No. He would make you move home,” Meadow pointed out. “I’d go hole up with someone else.”
Gigi rolled her eyes.
“Where did you hear the sound?” I asked, ignoring their banter.
“In the backyard.” Gigi rung her hands nervously in front of her.
“I’ll go check it out.” I held out my hand. “Give me your phone.”
She placed her cell in my palm.
I turned on the flashlight and headed out into the backyard. Not really sure what I was looking for, I checked both sides of the house. Nothing was out of the ordinary. It was a rather warm night. Humidity was thick in the air, but something was off. The hairs on the back of my neck tingled. Yup. Definitely fucking off.
Once I was done checking out the rest of the yard and satisfied that everything was fine, I headed back into the house.
“Well?” Gigi asked, chewing her bottom lip.
“I…” I glanced back outside. “Nothing was out of place. I didn’t see anyone, but I’ll tell the twins since they’re here more than I am.”
“Okay.” Gigi joined her sister at the kitchen table. “I hate being paranoid, but I swear I heard something.”
“I believe you,” I told her as Luna came into the living room.
“What are you guys doing up so early?” Luna asked, rubbing her eyes.
“They heard a noise,” I told her, my body vibrating with the need to wrap her in my arms. To take her away from here and keep her safe. Fuck it. I went to her and cupped her face.
She stared up at me with wide eyes. “Zach?”
Before she could protest, I crushed my mouth to hers.
***
(Luna)
Voices sounded around us followed by a squeal and maybe some cheering. Either way, I wasn’t sure. All I could focus on was Zach’s lips pressed against mine. In front of our friends. Holy hell. Although the kiss didn’t last long, and it remained PG at best, it still stirred something inside me that he laid claim on me in front of people.
He broke the kiss, leaning his forehead against mine which I had come to love. To crave. To expect. I knew that the forehead touch was calming for him in a way.
“Well it’s about fucking time,” I heard Meadow say.
“No kidding,” Gigi responded.
“Maybe you should take a note from them.”
“I…it’s complicated,” Gigi mumbled.
Zach chuckled, grabbed my hand, and led me to the dining room table.
“So…” Meadow waggled her eyebrows.
“Stop.” Gigi smacked her.
“What?” Meadow scowled. “I’m just happy alright? It’s about time and I’m just…happy.” She sighed. “I’m not a romancy type girl but this gives me all the feels.”
I laughed, my cheeks heating. “So you heard a noise?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah.” Gigi stood. “I’m going to go make coffee.” She left the table and headed to the kitchen.
“What did you mean that she should take a note from us?” Rumors had gone around that Gigi had a thing for my brother, but I wasn’t sure how true that was.
“It’s complicated. Apparently.” Meadow shrugged.
“Well, I’m good with it. If the rumors are true, I would love for Gigi to date my brother. Lord knows he needs a good girl.” I grimaced. My brother dated some major bitches. I had no idea where he found them, but they were vile human beings. Especially his most recent ex who he remained friends with even though I had no idea why.
“Who’s dating whose brother?” Gigi asked, coming back into the dining room and placing four mugs on the table followed by the coffee pot.
“You are,” I said.
She coughed. “I’m not dating anyone’s brother.”
“Maybe not now but you will.” I grabbed a mug and poured myself a cup of coffee then did the same for everyone else. Once I had milk in my cup, I sat back and took a sip, embracing the heavenly aroma.
“That will never happen.” Gigi sat at the table across from us, resting her chin in her hand.
“It will,” I said. “Give it time.”
Zach placed his arm on the back of my chair, brushing his thumb back and forth over my bare arm.
I sighed. This was bliss. Zach and I were moving forward, and life just seemed almost too good to be true.
“You would be fine with that?” Gigi asked.
Before I could answer, a bang sounded from the backyard.
“See!” Gigi cried, shoving to her feet. “I wasn’t losing my damn mind!”
“Stay here.” Zach rushed to the patio doors and turned on the light leading into the backyard. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
“What�
��s going on?” I asked, my heart racing.
Zach looked back at us before opening the doors and stepping outside.
I passed a glance at Gigi and Meadow before I jumped to my feet and followed him. “Zach?”
Once I stepped a foot outside, my eyes widened.
Zach was walking toward me with…
“Aiden?” I rushed to them.
“He’s drunk,” Zach muttered, helping Aiden walk toward the house.
I went to his other side and hooked his arm around my shoulders, helping Zach.
“What the hell?” Meadow demanded, coming up to us. “You said you were going to stop this shit,” she said, scolding Aiden.
He only grunted.
“He probably won’t even remember anything you say to him,” I told her.
“Fine. I’m going to go bake.” Meadow spun on her heel and headed into the kitchen.
Zach and I brought Aiden into the house and laid him on the couch.
“Here.” Gigi handed me a glass of water and two Tylenol.
“Take these,” I said, handing them to Aiden.
“Fuck,” he grumbled, doing as he was told. When he was done the water, I took it from him and placed it on the table before kneeling on the floor beside him.
“What happened?” I asked him, not wanting to judge but when this had happened more often than not, it became a bit of a concern.
“Nothing.” He rested his arm across his forehead, shielding his eyes.
“Luna.” Zach reached down and grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet. “Let him sleep it off. It’s all he can do right now.”
“Fine.” I pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and covered him.
“Thank you,” Aiden muttered, his breaths soon becoming even.
I sighed.
“Well, I’m going to get ready and head to the center early,” Gigi said. “Or I can stay here with him.”
“No.” I looked back at Aiden sleeping soundlessly on the couch. “I don’t have to work today. I’ll go to the center when he wakes up.”
“Luna,” Zach bit out. “You’re going to stay here with him? By yourself?”
“On that note, I’m off.” Gigi rushed down the hall to her room, the sound of the door closing a moment later.
“What are you accusing him of, Zach?” I demanded, placing my hands on my hips. “He’s not Ashton. He hasn’t made a move on me if that’s what you’re worried about. You need to trust your friends.”
“I’ll trust my fucking friends when they stop hitting on you.”
I rolled my eyes. “He hasn’t hit on me. That was his dickhead brother. Who I also love, like a brother.” I raised my hand when Zach went to speak. “You need to trust me.”
Zach blew out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. “I do trust you. I just don’t trust…”
“Anyone else,” I finished for him.
“Exactly.” Zach wrapped his hand around my upper arm and pulled me into the alcove before wrapping his arms around me. “I know I shouldn’t worry but you’re beautiful, Luna. You don’t see what I see.”
I scoffed. “Please. Ashton only made a move because you did.”
“No.” Zach leaned back and cupped my cheek. “He made a move because I didn’t.”
“That doesn’t matter. I meant what I told you. My feelings for you.” I placed my hands on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart beneath my palm.
“I know,” he said, his voice low. He leaned his forehead against mine. “I have to head to the city, so I should get going.”
“Okay.” I tilted my head back, placing a soft peck on his mouth. “So…we’re good?”
“Yeah, Moonbeam.” He smirked. “We’re good. We’re very good.”
***
(Zach)
As much as I didn’t want to leave Luna, I had a long day at work ahead of me. But first, I needed coffee. And a lot of it.
Once I left the girls’ house, I was checking my phone. When I looked up, I almost bumped into… “Ashton. Sorry.”
“No problem.” He jutted his chin. “How’s my brother?”
I glanced back at the house. “Sleeping,” I said, putting my phone in my pocket. “One of the girls call you?”
“Yeah, Meadow did. She also ripped me a new one.” Ashton whistled. “Geeze, that girl has a mouth on her. Giving me shit for letting Aiden drink.” He grunted. “As if I have any control over what my brother does.”
“She’s worried about him. We all are.” I went to walk past him when his next words stopped me.
“I’m sorry, Zach.”
I slowly turned around. “For what?”
“Shit, man.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re going to make me say it?”
“Yes.” I crossed my arms under my chest. “What are you sorry for, Ashton?”
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Listen, I’m sorry for the shit I said. For causing problems and for…”
“And for kissing Luna?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You know about that?” Ashton took a step back.
“I do. I won’t kick your ass now, but you touch her again and I’ll make my mother come out of retirement.” I spun on my heel and headed down the driveway.
Once I was seated in my car, my phone rang. I frowned, wondering who the hell could be calling me so damn early.
“Porter,” I said, placing my phone on speaker and setting it on the passenger seat beside me.
“Zach,” came a feminine whisper.
“Mom?” I picked up the phone. “What’s wrong?”
“Your father.”
My heart jumped to my throat.
“Zach,” her voice wavered. “He had a heart attack.”
Zach
“WILL YOU ALWAYS BE my father?”
Coby frowned. “Of course I will, buddy. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Well…” I chewed my bottom lip. Although I wanted to tell him what was on my mind, I didn’t want to upset him. I didn’t want to give him any reason to hurt me.
“Hey.” Coby dried his hands and hung the towel over the edge of the sink before turning around to face me. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t know how,” I confessed.
“Okay.” Coby pushed away from the sink and sat at the table beside me. He grabbed my hands. “Listen. I’m going to tell you a story. Brogan and I wanted to have a baby. We wanted so badly to have a baby. We tried. For many months, we tried.”
I didn’t understand exactly how babies were made but I listened intently, interested in what he had to tell me.
“One day, we found out that we were successful. We were so happy. Your mo—Brogan was pregnant. We celebrated that night by going out for supper. But a week later, God decided to take that baby home with him.”
“How come?” I asked, my eyes wide.
“Maybe he felt this world wasn’t safe for a baby.” Coby leaned forward. “I know you’re a smart boy.”
“I’m almost twelve,” I told him.
“You are.” Coby grinned. “I also know that you’re strong and you can handle this world. Your life may have started out rough, but I know that it’ll shape you into one of the strongest people I know. Maybe the strongest.”
“So you think God took your baby home because they couldn’t handle the world but gave me to you because I can?”
“Exactly.” Coby looked down at our joined hands.
I followed his gaze.
He turned my hands over, palms up, and slid his hands beneath them with mine resting on top.
“I know we’re not blood. I know Brogan didn’t give birth to you. But we love you, Zach. We love you with every inch of us. You’ve made us stronger. You’ve made our love for each other grow. You’ve made us happy. And I promise to take care of you. To help you be the best man that you can be, and I also promise, to show you the motherfucking world.”
After I got off the phone with my mom, I sped across town to the hospital my father was at. The tires scre
eched as I turned into the parking lot. Thankfully, I found a free space rather quickly.
I couldn’t think straight.
Please be okay. Please be okay.
It was at the back of my mind that I had to call the office. That I had to call someone. Anyone.
Luna .
Once I parked the car, I quickly dialed her number and ran to the doors of the emergency room while I was waiting for her to answer.
“Zach,” she greeted after a couple rings. “Sorry I was a—”
“I need you,” I blurted.
“What’s wrong?”
“Come to the hospital.” I barged through the doors and ran to reception.
“Oh God. Are you okay?”
“It’s not me.” I blew out a slow breath. “It’s my dad.”
“I’m on my way.” She hung up, the sound vibrating through every inch of me.
When I reached the receptionist, I went to demand where my father was when a gentle hand touched my arm.
“Zach.” My mom stared up at me, her chin quivering.
“Oh, Mama.” I threw my arms around her and crushed her to me.
She sniffed, hugging me tight. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Of course I’m here.” I released her and cupped her face. “What happened?”
She shook her head. “I…” A shuddered breath left her. “I’m not even sure. We had gone to a club just as a night out. Sometimes you need to get out of the house, you know? We rented a room and were laying on the bed watching a lame romance movie. Your dad…he…”
“Hey.” I grabbed her hand, leading her to a nearby room for visitors. Sitting her down, I kept her hands in mine. “Take a breath.”
She inhaled, blowing it out slowly.
“Again,” I demanded gently.
She did it again, a small smile creeping across her lips. “God, you may not be our blood, but you are so much like your father, it’s uncanny.”
“He’s the best man I know.” My throat became thick. “So, thank you.”
Her breath hitched. “I can’t lose him.”
“You won’t.” I squeezed her hands. “Tell me what happened after you started watching that lame movie.”
