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The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was a great idea, even if it would be torture for me. My mom was so warm and kind. I knew she’d wanted more kids than just me, but it hadn’t been in the cards for her. She poured all that extra love into her husband, her ex, me, and the causes she fought for.
It could extend to Rebel too. They were neighbors now, and I knew my mom’s bleeding heart. She’d spend one evening getting to know Rebel, realize she was completely family-less, and take her in without another a thought.
That was the sort of person my mother was. Karmichael tolerated all her strays with love and compassion. They both loved Brooke, even though Brooke really wasn’t very lovable, with her cold attitude and disinterest.
Rebel was the polar opposite.
She was easy to love.
I swallowed thickly, not wanting to analyze too deeply why that thought left me slightly breathless.
20
REBEL
I didn’t know how, but I somehow found myself agreeing to go to dinner at Vaughn’s mom’s house. It had the desired effect of dousing the fiery argument with water, and Vaughn watched me walk around the parking lot, delivering the last of my flyers in silence.
I might have been quiet, but I wasn’t happy with him. My conversation with my dad had been something nice to focus on. It had kept me from thinking about the fact Hugh hadn’t even noticed me when I’d walked right past him in the café. It had kept that anger at bay.
Now that Vaughn had popped my bubble, that anger had room to move back in. It mixed with the healthy dose of annoyance I’d developed for Vaughn since he’d brought his bad mood back with him.
If I didn’t want to jump the man’s bones at all hours of the night and day, it would have made life a whole lot easier. Even now, with him leaning on his car, arms folded across his chest, his gaze following my every move.
It was hard not to be attracted to someone who watched and watched out for you so intently. Especially when he looked that good doing it.
When my hands were empty, I held them up in the air. “All done. I’m going home.”
Vaughn pushed off his car. “I’ll drive you.”
“And who’s going to drive mine?”
He glanced over at my old brown junk bucket parked at the end of the lot. “Fine. I’ll walk you to your car then.”
“That’s very gentlemanly of you, considering you’re anything but.” I knew I was giving him attitude, but I didn’t care. He deserved it.
He kept walking, glancing all around us like the boogeyman was going to jump out of the bushes.
God, that was annoying. “You aren’t in a James Bond movie, you know? You don’t have to act like we’re going to get ambushed at any minute.”
A man stepped out of the shadows in front of us.
Vaughn glanced over at me. “Don’t I? That’s Leonn who just stepped out of the shadows next to your car.”
I’d recognized the pudgy doctor as well. He was dressed in his green scrubs, a streetlamp farther down the line of cars casting a yellowish glow over him.
The last time I’d seen him here, I’d been completely frozen. Terrified.
This time was different. I’d seen how he’d reacted to those photos I’d put on his car. I saw the way he clutched one of my posters just now, his fingers crumpling the paper that trembled lightly in his grip.
He was no longer the terrifying figure from my nightmares.
He was a scared, middle-aged doctor who was in over his head.
I felt no remorse. “What do you want?” I called, stopping a few feet away.
Vaughn kept going, his gaze focused on the man who’d taunted me. Trapped me. Hurt me.
Even still, I grabbed Vaughn’s arm and hauled him back to my side.