Page 42 of We Are Yours

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“Me neither.”

Chapter

Sixteen

Kraven

We stood there at a standstill, neither one of us moving or making a sound.

What can I say?

She’d seen my true colors, flashing bright and bold in front of her eyes. My truths were like a warning in the night, telling her to steer clear of the jagged rocks that approached. Like the current of a river, the force of gravity dragged her down the stream right along with me.

There was beauty in her pain.

Realizing we had a lot more in common than I ever considered was magnetic for me. We’d been taken by CPS a few times, but through it all, in the back of my mind, I always knew Julius would reunite us. I wouldn’t admit it to him, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t there. I had someone who loved me and made damn sure we weren’t separated after all these years.

Despite often bumping heads, we fought to stay together. I couldn’t imagine battling that alone. If she had someone to look out for her, they would have found her already, and it took this moment between us for me to truly grasp that concept.

Question after question plagued my thoughts. Each one more unforgiving than the last, tumbling around in my head. I didn’t give any thought to what happened next. I swore I moved on autopilot.

One minute, we’re in Julius’s room, and the next, I’m leading her into my parents’ bedroom, only stopping at my mom’s closet.

I glanced at Isla, who was standing frozen behind me. I couldn’t remember the last time I was in there, let alone with someone.

And not just anyone.

Her.

My brother’s girl.

I wasn’t surprised when she mouthed, “You don’t have to do this.”

Our mom kept everything. She bought stuff simply on a whim, leaving clothes with tags still on them. I didn’t have any personal attachment to the clothes I handed her. They were all new and never worn. The second Isla grabbed them, I was out of there. Slapped in the face, I hastily realized what I’d done and who I’d done it for.

I left her in there.

Not with just my demons…

But with my parents as well.

Isla

I think I just stood there, shocked for a good minute, contemplating what the hell just happened. I’d never been in this room, and now I was in there alone, trapped with the ghosts that were still very much living inside these walls.

I didn’t snoop. I grabbed the first dress that looked like it would fit me and hightailed it out of there. After I was ready, I stood there in front of the mirror, looking at the girl staring back at me. Her hair red and vibrant, beaming against the white color of her dress that fit her body like a glove.

I didn’t recognize my own reflection. I had decided to go light on my makeup too. I felt like the girl I was never allowed to be, the one I was supposed to be. It was such an eye-opening experience I never expected to have. I never considered things like this.

Parties.

Outfits.

Boys.

Now, throwing in wearing a dress their mother picked out added a whole lot of confusion into the mix. She had good taste. She must have been petite like me since the dress fit as if it were made for me.