Page 111 of Remiss

“Uncle Val? Hello?”

Glaring at her, he slammed the ice cream back onto the tray. “I got two good ones. Stu to pid or fo to ol. Choose, ‘cause they both fit.”

Rebel flipped him off. “Kaia’s is better and more romantic.”

“Kaia’s is neither and if you think it is, then you don’t got the brain to love Dieselorhim.”

“Fuck you!” she screeched. “Take that back.”

Axel poked his tongue out at her. “Make me.”

Anger surging into her, Rebel got to her feet and started for the door, but Axel ran ahead and blocked her way.

“I’m not finished talking to you, Reb. And you were going to fix me a banana split.”

“I’m done talking to you,” she sniped. “And I’ve changed my mind, so move.”

“No,” he said stubbornly. “I’m your brother and you got to listen to me, especially since you made me cry.”

“I did not! Your miserable little eyes are dry.”

“Notnow, stupid. When Mom got you out of the water.” He squirmed and met her gaze, his eyes as green as hers were blue. “You wasn’t moving or nothing. I was so scared, Reb.”

The words burst Rebel’s anger and her sad restlessness returned.

“Were you?” he whispered, tears suddenly lurking in his eyes.

She pulled him into her arms and kneeled, so she could hug him tighter. Feeling his little arms around her neck and hearing his sniffles tore her up. She wanted to cry, but she was afraid she’d fall apart. And she especially didn’t want to trouble Axel with the sobs bottled inside her.

The day Diesel told her about Torie, she’d sobbed, then told herself she didn’t care and she’d never forgive him. But she did want to talk to him. So badly.

“Were you scared too, Reb?” Axel asked again, leaning out of her embrace and swiping his hand across his nose.

“I didn’t have a chance to be,” she said softly. “Not when he pulled me under the water.” But during their fight, when she thought he’d hurt her, she’d been terrified. Then he’d become her Rule again, the twin she adored, and she’d believed him. “My back was to him and he hit me in the head.”

Axel began to sob again.

“No, Ax,” Reb whispered, hugging him. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

“You aren’t,” he cried, his voice muffled against her pajama top. “You’re not the Blonde Viper anymore. You’re just so sad and quiet. If Winnie had blonde hair, I’d let her borrow the name.”

“Does she want a nickname?” Rebel asked, hoping the question diverted Axel’s attention.

“Yeah, but I can’t tell you why. I promised I wouldn’t.”

Standing, she straightened her little brother’sSpider-Mantop. The pajamas were a size too small, but he’d begged Momma to buy them. “C’mon, the ice cream is probably melting.”

“Not as cold as it is in here,” Axel said, grabbing her hand and pulling her back to the bed.

“True. The thermostat must be ridiculously low.”

Axel walked to the nightstand on the other side of the twin bed, opened the drawer and pulled out his phone. “Let’s play eenie, meenie, minie, mo. My hand is for Diesel. Yours is for Kaia. Wherever it lands, that’s who we call.”

“Who doyouwant to talk to?”

“Definitely not fucking Kaia,” Axel grouched, fully recovered. “Oh, yeah. Would it be pervy if I said you smelled good?”

“Brothers and sisters compliment each other.”