Page 82 of This Blood That Binds Us

“Is there anything we should know about you?” Presley said, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Um . . . I’m a pretty reasonable, forgiving person. I like reading . . . hiking—”

“Oh, Aaron told us you were an orphan, too,” Zach said.

“Zach!” Presley shouted.

I was beginning to understand their dynamics.

Zach pressed his lips together, annoyed. “What? I’m just trying to make conversation.”

“Ignore him. We all do.” Presley ruffled up his hair, leaning back.

Zach stood abruptly and moved toward Presley, his shoulders squared.

It was obvious they’d all spent copious amounts of time together. They were closer than any family I’d ever encountered, not that I’d had many good examples.

Presley almost fell backward out of his chair. “Ah! No, sorry, sorry!”

“It’s okay. Yes, I’m technically an orphan. But that doesn’t mean much to me anymore. The only thing you need to know...is I’m good at reading people. So, don’t lie to me.”

“Oooo a threat. I like it.” Zach took his seat again, relaxing his shoulders.

“Looks like she’ll fit right in,” Presley said, a sly smile spreading across his face.

The doorbell’s loud chime broke our conversation, and we all turned our attention to the entrance.

“Who could that be?” Presley jumped up and ran toward the door.

Aaron rushed out of the room. “No, don’t open that!”

“Too late!” Presley swung the door open. “Heyyyyyy, Chelsea!”

“Oh, there he is! Hey, Aaron, yourgirlfriendis here.” Presley motioned for her to come inside.

Spit suspended in my throat, and I wondered if, somehow, I had missed something. She walked into the room slowly and stopped once she saw me sitting at the table.

Her once calm demeanor turned sour. “Oh, hey. Kimberly, right? What are you doing here?”

I finished chewing the last bite of my grilled cheese, then answered. “I’m just hanging out.” I smiled and waved.

“Oh.”

She stood there and stared at me for a moment, and our awkward silence grew. I glanced over to Aaron, who was still glaring at Presley. Presley’s muffled laughter echoed in the foyer.

Chelsea turned to Aaron. “Are you still going with me to buy my new car today or not? I know we planned it awhile ago, but you said you would. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.”

Aaron and I shared a look before he answered. “Uh...yeah. Just let me get my stuff. Can you wait out in your car?”

She squinted. “Yeah, sure.”

“Oh, wait, Chelsea, we are all still going to that thing tomorrow, right?” Presley called to her before her thick-soled heels clomped with another step.

“It’s going to be great! We invited Kimberly, too.” Zach nudged my elbow.

“It’s out in the woods. There is camping involved,” Presley said.

“Yeah, we heard a lot of college students go the weekend before finals. And our tests don’t come until after Tuesday, so...” Presley said.