“Out.” He stands and pulls on the black jacket lying on the mattress. I notice a black object that was under his jacket, out of sight until he grabs it.
I tilt my head, scrunching my face as I try to get a closer look by leaning just past his doorway. Jaxon notices my curiosity and snatches the thing from his bed, then stuffs it into hispocket.
“What was that?” I ask, unable to help myself. Jaxon’s been a lot more patient with me, and for that, I’m grateful. Had I asked that question earlier this year, he would’ve already been yelling at me.
He eats the space between us with long strides and pinches my chin between his fingers. “Stop asking questions, Dahlia.”
His eyebrows slash down in a glare that holds no heat. I stand a little taller than him, thanks to the growth spurt and how girls mature faster than boys.
I jerk my chin out of his hold, only for him to catch it again. “Is Dad taking you out again?”
“Dahlia,” he warns.
He pulls me inside his bedroom, then shoves me against the wall. I grunt from the force, but it doesn’t hurt. It only shocks me and steals my breath for a moment. Jaxon leans in closer, his fingers tightening their grip on my chin.
“Stay inside and make sure all the lights are off.”
I blink, then wrack my mind, trying to figure out what he means by that. Halloween happens in three weeks, so it can’t be about trick-or-treaters. “Why?”
Jaxon’s eyes harden, and I know I’m pushing his buttons. “Just do as I say, little sister.”
“But—”
He slaps his hand over my mouth and rests his forehead against mine. “Do you trust me?”
I nod, because of course I do. He’s been by my side since the beginning of the year. He’s the only one who got me a birthday present, and he even made my favorite type of cake. Not even my mom knows that I prefer strawberry cake over chocolate. Jaxon learned so much about me and shows repeatedly that he listens to me, unlike everyone else.
“Then you’ll have the lights turned off, doors locked, and you’ll stay here in my bedroom. Got it?” he says.
I mumble a question, and Jaxon lowers his hand.
“I’m sorry, flower,” he whispers. “Say that again. I’m listening.”
My lips tremble, and my heart fumbles a few beats. He called meflower? I swallow hard. “When will you be back?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know, but don’t wait up for me.”
I bite my bottom lip, holding back everything else I want to ask. He already looks stretched thin, and if I keep asking questions, he’ll eventually lose his cool on me.
Jaxon cocks his head, and tendrils of inky-black hair fall over his eyes. His face softens the longer he looks at me, and his gaze dips down to my lips. His tongue pokes out, wetting his bottom lip. My stomach flips and butterflies fly around, and I don’t understandwhy.
“You won’t get in trouble, will you?” I ask, wanting to distract myself from where my thoughts are headed with him looking at me like that.
Jaxon flicks his gaze upward, and the corner of his lip curls. He settles his palm on the wall above my shoulder, blocking me in like a caged, frightened bunny. “What if I do?” he teases.
I blink back the shock, because Jaxon never teases me. This is a new side to him, and after a moment of digesting it, I smile. “Well, then you don’t get your surprise.”
“Surprise?” he murmurs with a wicked smile. “What surprise is that?”
“It’s not a surprise if I tell you.” I poke his stomach and freeze when I realize what I just did. My eyes round, and I stop breathing, watching Jaxon’s face as he too realizes I touched him. His pupils expand, and I cower back, wishing I could melt into the wall.
“What’s the surprise, Dahlia?” he says, his voice deep and rough.
I gulp and tuck my hands behind my back. He catches mywrist in a firm grip and places my hand on his chest, right above his pounding heart.
“Jaxon?” I whisper.
He leans in, as though he’s about to tell me a secret. “It’s all right, sis. I won’t hurt you.”
