Callum’s jaw clenches, and I can tell that it’s not going to take much to get him to snap.
“Don’t start, Adam,” I warn under my breath.
But he’s already started well before he entered this house. Drunk and smug is an annoying combination and I know this is only the beginning. I just hope that Callum and I have convinced my parents we’re in love because I think our stay here is going to be rather short.
“So, did you decide to settle for Callum because no one else wants to date you?” Adam slurs. I’ve seen him drunk at parties before. Lord knows he’s called me a million times to drive him back to the football house. I can honestly say though, I’ve never seen him this bad before.
Callum shifts, but doesn’t speak, and that’s never a good sign. Callum is only quiet when he’s ready to strike. Adam is no match for him stone cold sober, but now? He’ll kill him with little resistance.
My brother leans back in his chair and looks me over with a sneer. “Of course you’d go for someone like him. You alwayswere a spoiled little brat who couldn’t follow directions even if her life depended on it.”
I don’t have time to react, but I do notice the horrified looks on my parents’ faces and I know that it’s not because of what their favorite child just said to me.
I didn’t feel Callum get out of his chair, and all I can hear is the gruesome crack of wood on bone that takes over all of my senses. That is until my mother rivals it with her screams.
My brother’s face slams for a second time against the old oak table, silverware clattering as wine spills everywhere
“Callum!” I shout, jumping to my feet.
Callum has my brother’s head pinned down, one hand fisted in his hair.
“This is your warning. If you speak about her like that again, I’ll make sure you swallow your own teeth,” Callum practically growls the words. I knew this meeting wasn’t going to go well, but I didn’t anticipate that it would turn this bad this quickly.
“Get off of him!” my dad yells, rising suddenly, the legs of his chair scraping against the floor.
Callum doesn’t move because he’s not afraid of anyone in this house.
“Callum,” I whisper, stepping between them. “Please.”
His nostrils flare, and for a second, I think he might ignore me. But then he lets go, righting his posture slowly, his hands shaking with rage. My brother gasps, clutching his nose.
“Get out!,” my father snaps.
“Gladly,” Callum mutters, grabbing my hand, but it’s Adam who stops us.
“No, don’t go. I was out of line. I deserved that,” Adam says, still holding his face that’s still dripping blood.
Out of every reaction I was expecting right now, I wasn’t anticipating Adam asking us to stay after he just had his face bashed in.
Dad shakes his head at Adam, and for the first time I’m not the only child he’s disappointed in. He leaves the room only for mom to say, “Don’t leave. Just go outside and cool off before bed. We’ll talk in the morning.” She doesn’t leave room for discussion because she’s leaving the room to run after my father.
Adam is groaning, the pain probably charging through his drunk stupor, and he wanders away from us toward the kitchen.
Callum leads me outside and around to the side patio. I know where he’s taking me without him having to say a word. Before I know it, I’m curled into Callum’s side on the porch swing, both of us swaying as we look up at the night clouds.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he says quietly. I note that he doesn’t say he’s sorry that he did it, just that I had to see it.
“He deserved it,” I murmur, leaning up to kiss his cheek. I know there’s no visibility from the house to this patio, so the kiss wasn’t for show. It was just for the two of us.
Before he can agree with me, my phone buzzes. I check the screen and frown. It’s Danny. He’s never called me before, but I don’t think it would be hard for him to get ahold of my phone number. I hesitate, but answer.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“Lilac,” Danny says, and it’s like I can sense that he’s shaking even though I can’t see him. “Are you okay? I just heard about Tara. She’s…dead.”
I already knew, but my stomach still drops at hearing it verbalized again.
Before I can respond, Callum swipes the phone from my hand.
