Page 21 of Genesis
“I hope so. This is rough,” I say sadly.
“Yeah. Goodnight, Bex.”
“Goodnight.”
After I shut Paul’s bedroom door, I slide down it and let the tears fall. I hold on to Mama’s locket and beg for her to talk to me. Show me she’s not gone forever, but that never comes. Eventually, I get off the floor and remove my jeans. I slide under the comforter and sheets, staring out the window.
From here you can hear the cargo ships’ horns from the Delaware, proving that the world is moving on without my mom.
It hurts.
And as I finally drift off to sleep, I hear the door open. I smell his scent and hear his shoes kick off, and then he climbs over me. Danny gets under the covers with me, and if I wasn’t so hurt, I’d probably stop him, but right now I need the comfort. I need to know I’m not dying, too.
He wraps his arm around my stomach, but I turn to him, snaking my hand over his waist and around his back. I grip his shirt and weep into his chest. He holds me, and I cry myself to sleep, knowing I’m not alone.
I shake my head slightly, feeling the pain of that evening in my chest, as though it just happened. I was mostly crying because I’d just lost my mom, but a small part of me was crying because it had been so long since I’d been close to the boy I secretly loved. After that, I was sent off to live with my uncle Hale who lived in the nicer part of town. I went to a different school and sadly, I lost touch with the O’Brien boys, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t on my mind. I was so happy when Samuel switched schools a few months ago and I ran into him in the hallway.
The boy who watched a movie with me the night my mom died has become an important person in my life. We’ve grown close.
I head into the dining room to get to the kitchen where everyone but Danny is. God, how much he’s changed since the last time I saw him. He’s rougher, meaner.
And breathtaking.
I know I shouldn’t like the boy who walked into the house with blood on his face, but honestly, the bad side of Danny is what turns me on.
And I’m not ashamed to admit that.
“Can I help?” I ask.
“Bexley Walker,” Ma says with a big smile on her face. “Oh, my goodness.” She walks over to me, giving me a huge hug. I breathe in comfort and childhood memories. I know it’s only been five years, but a lot can change in that amount of time.
Like Ma here. She’s grown older, grayer, and her face isn’t as smooth as it once was. But she’s Ma and I’ve missed her so much.
She pulls away, her eyes scanning over me. “My goodness, you’ve grown. Such a beautiful young woman.” She turns to the boys. “Isn’t she?” she says.
“Yep,” Samuel says.
I smile at her, slightly blushing. “Thank you.” Samuel walks over to me, grabbing my hand. I look over at Johnny who leans against the counter.
“How have you been, Johnny?”
He nods. “Fine.”
“Good,” I reply. Johnny and Danny have always been close. I guess that’s one other thing that hasn’t changed.
Danny walks into the kitchen, heading to the fridge. I see his eyes dart down to mine and Samuel’s hands, but it doesn’t seem to affect him. He grabs a beer from the fridge.
“Danny, you know you shouldn’t drink,” Ma says, walking over to the sink to wash her hands.
“And you shouldn’t dip that snuff either, Ma, but we don’t call you out.” He winks at her.
She grins. “Touché.”
Ma’s always just let the boys do their own thing. She’s said,“As long as you stay out of trouble and be smart, then I have no problems.”
Danny twists off the top of his beer. “Let’s go, Johnny.”
My heart drops to the pit of my stomach with disappointment.
