“You are always at the top of my list,” he said, eyes sparking.
I attempted a bored expression. “Is there a point to this conversation because you are costing me valuable game time?”
“You and Travis need to get a life. I don’t think he has moved an inch off the couch since I brought him the game last night.”
The corners of my mouth tilted. “I know. We must have played most of the night together. It was glorious.”
“Sometimes I think he should be the one stuck with you for all eternity,” he grumbled cutely.
A faint smile crossed my lips. “What fun would that be for you?” I teased.
He looked at me in my leggings and tank like he was undressing me with those silvery eyes. “True. I am much more fun than he is.”
I pretended to gag.
He pretended not to notice. “Come one. It’s breakfast time.”
“Wait, I–” The air swooshed out of my lungs as Chase hoisted me over his shoulders. I hadn’t seen that one coming. “Chase put me down!” I demanded.
Of course he ignored me. “I promised Lexi I would invite you over for breakfast. So, this is me inviting you. It is because of you and that damn game that she skipped school as well. She was afraid she would miss out on all the fun.”
That didn’t explain why he wasn’t at school. I squirmed in his arms to no avail, and my efforts only got me a slap on the butt. “Chase!” I growled. “Try that again and I swear…”
Chapter 6
I was still slung over his shoulder when we entered the Winters’ house, but I wasn’t making it easy for him. He dumped me on the couch beside Travis, who was sporting a silly grin. I pushed the hair out of my eyes and mouth. By this point, I was spitting mad. Not only had he yanked me from my bed, he had also deprived me of my Xbox.
I had been in the zone.
No one messed with me when I was in the zone.
I was going to show no mercy. My teeth were clenched so tight, my jaw started to throb painfully.
“Morning sunshine,” Travis greeted, grinning like a fool. “When I told him to drag your butt over here, I didn’t think he was going to take me literally.”
“Dammit Chase!” I yelled. “I am going to kill you!”
His lethal grin flashed at me from behind the kitchen counter. “You’ll have to catch me first.” Then he started making a ton of racket.
We both knew there was no way on planet earth I was going to be able to actually grab a hold of him, not unless he wanted to be caught. I cursed this stupid bond for not at least giving me inhuman speeds. Come on, was that too much to ask for? I mean, if I was going to spend the rest of my life running from hell’s minions and defending myself from getting butchered to death, I think I deserved a little compensation.
Apparently the universe and its order of balance had other plans. In my current state, the universe could suck it.
My raging pity party was cut short when Lexi bound down the staircase. “Oh goodie, Angel’s here.” She leaped onto the chaise. “Did you hear? We’re playing hooky.”
Sinking into the back of the black couch, I groaned. And just like that I saw my whole day going to hell. There went staying in bed all day playing the BLOPS II and lounging around the house in my jammies, which I just realized I was still wearing thanks to Chase’s unwelcome arrival. Sometimes my neighbors could be so all-consuming.
“Here.” Travis held out an extra controller. “This will make it better. And if we turn up the volume, we might be able to drown out their voices too.”
Travis – my savior. “You read my mind,” I sighed, breaking a grin for the first time since I’d woken up.
Lexi frowned at her older brother. “You are such a loser. Get a job, bum.”
“I’m MLG little sis,” Travis retaliated, Lexi’s burn doing no damage.
I couldn’t help the smile that started to spread across my lips. First, I was pretty sure Lexi had no idea what MLG meant (major league gamer) and second, the look on Lexi’s face was priceless. She looked like he had just told her he had some highly contagious disease that would slowly eat the flesh from her face.
Or that the mall was closed.
“You should see a doctor about that,” Chase called from the kitchen, unable to miss a chance to take a jab at Travis.
Lexi crossed her arms and gave Travis a smug smile, glad to have someone on her side.
You think after the rough start, breakfast, well it was closer to lunch, would have been awkward and uncomfortable, but the one thing that made this dysfunctional family envious, was their ability to forgive and forget. A grudge never lasted long between Chase, Lexi, and Travis – the whole short temper demon thing. They might razz each other relentlessly, but at the end of the day…they were family.
And they made me feel part of it.