My mind goes back to this morning with Dean. I wonder if I should tell Colin about it, though I have a feeling he'd be more upset about Dean asking me out.
So, maybe I’ll just wait.
I somehow make it to my room in my sick haze and spot my bed. The comfy purple sheets are calling my name, inviting me to snuggle with them. Quickly, I change into a pair of shorts and a tank top, taking them up on their offer, and wrap myself in my comforter.
I’m hoping I have the right balance to ward off being too hot or too cold. I close my eyes and let the exhaustion take me to la-la land.
I’m later awoken by a hand going through my hair and a kiss on my temple. My eyes blink open and see Colin sitting on the edge of my bed.
“Hey, you. It’s a little early for bed.” He smiles down at me. This perfect man, with his hair standing on all its ends, is here, sweetly brushing back my hair, and I all I can think is that I can’t kiss him right now.
I mean, I could, but my throat feels like it’s on fire and my lips are chapped. There’s no way I could enjoy his kisses right now.
“I think I’m dying.” I groan and curl myself more into my blankets
“Yeah, you do kind of look like shit.” He chuckles, and I have the urge to hit him. “You were fine this morning. Very fine.” His hand runs over my covered body, then back to my face.
“Yeah, well I knew I shouldn’t have gone to school. It sucked the life out of me. Can you lay with me? You make me feel better.” I bat my watery eyes at him and pull my arms from out of the blanket to reach out for him.
I don’t want to do anything but just have him hold me. Use him as my blanket instead.
His arms are my security blanket.
“No, I just told your mom I would come check on you. It's dinner time and you haven’t been out yet.”
“I’m not hungry.” I drop my hands and let one graze over his crotch. “I mean unless it’s you…”
He grabs my hand stopping my attack. “Behave. I’ll bring you some green tea.”
I think my heart just skipped a beat. I love it when he shows me he cares. It makes me feel like more than just a—fuck.
“Awww.” I swoon. “You’re so sweet.”
“Nah. My reasons are selfish. I want to be able to fuck you in the morning.” He winks, standing up from my bed.
Never mind. Moment lost.
“Be glad I don’t have the energy to throw something at your head, jackass.”
He laughs, and I watch that sexy ass as he leaves my room. He can be so fucking annoying, yet he’s mine.
I figure I should get out of bed and head downstairs. I’m hoping if my mom sees me she’ll let me miss school tomorrow, so I continue lying on my deathbed.
Making it to the kitchen archway, I hear Victor hiss, making me freeze, “What are you doing?”
“Making Abigail tea?” Colin answers it as a question, as if it’s the worst thing he could be doing.
“Let the girl come down and get her own. I thought Audrey told you to make her come down for dinner.”
Thanks, ass.
“She’s sick. I’m being nice to my sister.” He stretches the word sister and it makes me cringe. We haven’t been acting anything like siblings over the past weeks, more like husband and wife, if one wants to put the family title on it.
“I don’t get what the problem is? I didn’t see you or her mom doing it?”
“Don’t you…” Victor’s voice gets more gravely, ready to strike.
I decide these two are about to blow and need to break it up. Entering the kitchen, I dramatically start throwing a fake coughing fit, which ends up turning into an actual one.
They both turn to look at me and Colin’s eyes go wide. He clears his throat and looks away from me.
What the hell is that about?
Maybe I should’ve checked myself in the mirror before I came downstairs. I touch my hair and realize it’s not too bad of a rats nest. I’m sure he’s seen my hair in worse condition.
“Nice of you to make an appearance, Abigail.” Victor sneers and I watch his eyes roam over me, his already black eyes darken, making my skin crawl. “Maybe it would be better if you put some clothes on before you join us for dinner?”
I peek down at my outfit; I forgot I’m only in a pair of booty shorts and a thin tank top. Though this isn’t any worse then what I would wear in the summer, it just so happens right now my nipples are poking out through the cami. I cross my arms over my chest, feeling mortified that Victor saw me like this and now I just want to run away. “Sorry, I was hot.” My voice trembles, “I think I came down with something.”
Victor glances over at Colin and then back at me, something sinister surging through his eyes. I can’t make it out, but I suddenly feel naked and uncomfortable. “Go put something on and join us.”
“I just came down to talk to Mom. I’m not hungry and will probably go back to sleep.” Victor grits his teeth together but doesn’t say anything else before he moves to the dining room. “Did he always have something up his ass or is this just something my mother inflicted up there?” I ask Colin who pushes the mug of tea over to me.
“Always has. You knew that.” He moves closer and slips his arm around my waist, then over my ass, giving it a hard squeeze. “I do have to say you look hot, Abbs.” With his free hand, he places one of mine over his crotch. “This is what you do to me, baby. Even sick and dying you turn me on. I just want you to know that.” He kisses my nose and then steps away from me.
His timing couldn’t be better because my mom enters and comes straight for me. “Abby, Victor said you're not feeling well. What’s going on?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Colin head to the dining room. He looks back at me and winks before he disappears.
“I think it’s just a cold or something. I just feel like crap.” I frown and sip the tea Colin made for me. It soothes my throat, even if it's just for a second.
“Well, you don’t look well. You’re red and nasally. Go lay down and I’ll check on you in a bit. You sure you’re not hungry?” She runs her hand down my face, genuine concern on her face. I don’t know why I’m surprised by it. This is what my mother was always like until Victor came into the picture. These moments come few and far between, so I’m going to relish in it, even for a second.
“I’m sure.”
She pushes my hair back and smiles. “Okay, we can talk about how you feel tomorrow. Now get to bed and get some rest.”
My eyes fly open, with a heavy gasp. My chest heaves, my mind going into overdrive, thinking someone is touching my boobs, and their thumb rolling over my nipple. A touch that I don’t know. I sit up with a jolt and search the dark room. I don’t see anyone. “Hello?” I call out like an idiot to what seems like an empty room. There are no sounds, just complete silence.
With my heart now pumping out of my chest I figure there’s no use to try to go back to sleep. The feeling of someone touching me still lingers on my skin, making it impossible for me to calm down. If it was Colin, he wouldn’t have just left.
This fever is playing tricks on my mind. It was just a dream.
It had to be a dream.
But it felt so real.
My breathing starts to shallow out and I glance at my alarm clock and see it’s a bit after six a.m. I had hoped my mom would check on me again last night, but it seems according to Colin, Victor ‘took her to bed.’
Gross.
It’s a good thing I’m getting used to being forgotten by her. At least I have Colin, and he cared enough to bring me meds and tea, and kiss me goodnight.
I do wonder how much he truly cares about me…Or is it a level of care that knows it will get him laid?
Shaking my head free of those thoughts, I rub my throat, trying to soothe it due to how sore it feels. It’s not working, so I figure that I’m just thirsty, but I’m out of drinks. I convince myself to get out of bed to go get some more. Victor and my mom should be on their way to work by now, a
nd Colin is probably still asleep. I skip the robe, finding myself still sweating in the most unsexy of ways from this fever.
Once I get to the kitchen, I grab a glass from the cupboard.
“What the hell did I tell you about those clothes?” Victor’s harsh voice barks at me and I drop the glass to the floor, shattering it into a million pieces.
I turn around to look at him and place my hand over my heart. Trepidation lurches in my stomach. “Sor–rry.”
His eyes thin, looking at the mess surrounding my feet. “Now why did you go and do that for?” He shakes his head, clucking his tongue, and moves to the broom closet. I bend down and start picking up the loose pieces of glass on the floor. I jump when Victor drops the dustpan at my feet.
I deposit the shards of glass into the pan and take the broom he offers me before standing up. Victor is now standing so dangerously close to me that I’m sucking his oxygen.
“I didn’t know anyone would be home. You and Mom are usually gone in the mornings,” I mutter. “You scared me.”
You did more than scare me, you freaked me the fuck out and I about died from a heart attack.
“My apologies.” His lips curl into an evil smirk, stepping aside to let me clean up.
I sweep up the mess and feel Victor’s eyes greedily stare at me as I do so. For a man that was pissed moments ago, he now seems cool and collected, but he still gives off the creep factor.
I’m forced to conclude the man has some kind of multiple personality disorder.
“I decided to stay home today...with you. Your mother thinks that you’re too ill to go to school today?” he asks, tilting his head.
I rather go hack up a lung during class then stay home with this dude. Does he think we’re going to hang out and watch ‘The Price is Right’ while he nurses me back to health? Fuck that shit.
“No, I think I’m going to go.” I choke on my words when he places his hand on my cheek.
Chills. Cold chills run down my bones. His eerie touch is like the one from earlier. I’m unnerved, and I take a step back. “You should stay home, you still feel feverish.” His hand runs down my arm, the tips of his fingers brushing the side of my breast, and I gulp. He turns and walks back to the other side of the kitchen and grabs his cup of coffee. He looks me over again, “Also, change your clothes. I do have a hormonal son running around this house and you’re dressed like a tramp. He might find you a bit tempting. Easy. Unless that's what you are going for?”
It is what I’m going for, but I’m nowhere close to looking like a tramp.
“No,” I mumble.
He doesn’t say any more, but he keeps his eyes on me. I feel extremely out of place all of a sudden, a different dimension of hell than I’ve known for the last year and a half. I don’t want to be here and now I have to plan to hide in my room all day—well, maybe until I’m eighteen at this rate.
I still have the dustpan in my hand, and I look away from him and head for the trashcan. Do I tell Colin about this? I know he already knows his father is a creep, but this is different than anything I’ve faced before with him. How do I tell him I think his father is checking me out?
That would go over well.
I hear a moan behind me as the glass pieces fall to the trash, but when I turn around Victor has now left the room. I rush to put the broom away and grab a water out of the fridge before making my exit to my room.
I fling open my door, ready to bury myself under my blankets for the day. I hear footsteps in the hall and thinking it’s Victor, I slam my door and lock it behind me.
I fall to my bed and wonder if I’m just overthinking everything from the dream I had. That it’s all a coincidence and my brain overworking. That the feeling that bugs are crawling all over me is just how Victor makes me feel, period.
Maybe it’s time I find a way to tell my mother, but will she believe me?
My phone buzzes on my nightstand and I go to grab it. It’s Colin
Colin:
How are you feeling?
Like crap.
Colin:
Poor baby. Do you want me to come take your temperature? I think you said yesterday it worked well for you.
The boy always has sex on his mind and some lame pick up line to go with it.
No.
I reply simply, wanting to rile him up.
Colin:
No? But Dr. Colin Wagner has just the prescription you need. Maybe something salty down your throat to soothe it might help instead? ;)
Wow, Dr. Wagner, you’re really full of yourself this morning. As much as I would love for you to insert your magic stick in about any one of my holes, we can’t. Your dad is home.
Colin:
Go turn on the shower and let me in.
What part of his dad is home does he not understand?
No.
Colin:
Yes.
Colin Wade Wagner. No. Tomorrow. I think your dad is watching me like a hawk.
Colin:
Damn babe, full name, are you going to spank me too? I’m coming, so you better be ready. Dad just went back to his room.
I don’t answer. Not only is his dad home, but he knows I’m sick. I do not want to have sex right now. I toss my phone back on my nightstand, irritated, and flop back on my bed, covering my face with my arm. My head throbs and I just want to go back to sleep. My phone buzzes and I ignore it. Seconds later, there’s a soft tap on my door.
“Let me in, Abbs.”
I swear I’m going to kill him.
I shuffle out of bed and open my door a crack. “You really want us to get caught, don’t you? And didn’t you ever learn that no means no.” I go to close the door in his face and his hand comes out to stop it. He’s too strong and pushes the door open, letting himself in, locking it behind him.
Colin grabs my face and lays a soft kiss on my forehead. “I didn’t want to come in here for sex, Abbs. I was just messing around. I wanted to check on you.”
“Because that was so clear in your text.”
Releasing my face, his hands drop to the bed, his lips forming into a hard line. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to see you. Make sure you're alive.”
“Well, I’m alive.”
“But you’re not okay.”
My face twist and I hate that he already knows me so well. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s not, so fess up. Don’t hide from me.”
I raise my eyebrow at him. Did he just say that to me? The same guy who weeks ago wouldn’t talk to me about the punch his father laid into his face.
Yeah, okay.
“Your dad just made comments about my clothes again. Said I look like a tramp, but then he sort of touched me.”
“What do you mean he touched you?” he asks appalled. I’m sure unpleasant visions circling around in his head.
“Not like that. Just on my face and arm, it just made me uncomfortable. He makes me uncomfortable in general. I don’t know. Forget I said anything.” I wave it off and move to sit back on my bed.
“I’m not going to forget anything. He has no fucking right to touch you,” he growls and starts pacing the room. Back and forth he walks and mumbles angrily in French. The only thing I can make out is the curse word. The rest I need Google Translate for, and a girl doesn’t have time for that.
“Colin, calm down,” I yell over him, and he halts in his steps, turning back to me.
“How do you expect me to calm down?” His voice is low and sounds horse.
“I get your upset, but it’s not like you can confront him. I’m going to tell my mom. I promise.”
Colin blows out a heavy breath and shakes his head. “If he does it again…” He moves to sit next to me and grabs my face with both of his hands. “You’ll tell me, right? Because I swear I’ll serve his ass on a platter.”
Then why don’t you ever hit him back, Colin? I muse, keeping the thought to myself. I just see the conversation between them going so well.
“I w
ill.”
“Good.” He stares at me, and I beg him with my eyes: it’ll be fine. He places a kiss on my nose and pulls back my messy blankets for me. “Now, lay down.”
“I don’t need you to take my temperature,” I joke, and I move to lie down. I’m wiped and it’s only seven in the morning.
He laughs and lays down next to me. “I wasn’t going to. I’m just going to lay here till you go back to sleep. Then before I go I’ll bring you some drinks, snacks, and meds, so you don’t have to leave your room until I get back.”
“How did I get so lucky to get a step-brother like you that actually cares about his sister.” I bat my eyes and place my hand over my heart.
“Shut up.” He pinches my ass and I fall into a fit of giggles that turns into a coughing fit. He shakes his head at me. “Serves you right, brat. What have I told you about calling me your brother?”
I nudge his shoulder, unable to make a smart-ass comment back while trying to calm down from my fit. Colin reaches over for my water and tells me to drink. I take a couple sips and allow it to soothe my cough.
Once I’m done dislodging my lung, Colin wraps me in his arms and kisses my forehead. I inhale his scent of pine and clean laundry and take comfort in him being here with me, caring for me, even for a little bit.
I've been in my room since I came home, lost in my favorite book. The heroine is a witch and the hero is a witch hunter, but neither knows that about the other. They each fight their own evils until they’re tasked with having to kill each other. Love, witchcraft, and explosions, what could be better? It’s a fun little fantasy I much rather be in then face the reality that lives outside my room.
For the last four weeks, I hide away in my room as soon as I get home to avoid any unnecessary interaction with Victor. I try to keep myself busy outside the four walls of this house, but my doom is always awaiting me when I get back. It’s getting old.
So Wrong So Right Page 7
