“I’ve been calling you all God damn morning. Why haven’t you answered any of my calls?” she huffs out with an irritated glare directed at her brother.
“My phone has been on silent since I went to bed last night. What the fuck is so damn important you had to beat the God damn door down and scare the shit out of Shannon?” She cuts her eyes to me and they soften. There is sympathy pooling in her blue gaze.
“I’m sorry,” she tells me, and then flashes her eyes back up to her brother. “I need to speak to you,” she says, giving him a pleading look.
“So speak,” he demands.
Nikki glances back at me. Whatever it is, she doesn’t want to say in front of me. I’m guessing it has to do with their father. I could use a cup of coffee right now, but I don’t want to set foot into my kitchen. There is probably a lingering smell of eggs and I don’t want to chance hurling again.
“Why don’t I go feed and water the dogs while she talks to you,” I tell Nick and try to take a step back out of his arms. Nick’s body stiffens and I look up to see wide eyes.
“She doesn’t know?” Nikki questions, giving Nick a disbelieving look. Know what? What don’t I know?
“Nick?” I question. My eyebrows pull together as I wait for him to tell me.
“For fuck’s sake, Nikki,” he hisses at his sister before looking down at me. “Um…I…” He’s reluctant to tell me. This is bad.
“What is it?” I whisper. I look at Nikki who is biting her bottom lip. I glance back up at Nick. Whatever it is, he’s having a hard time trying to tell me.
“Niko is…” he pauses briefly and my eyes dart around looking for the dogs. They weren’t in the bedroom when I woke up. They always sleep in our room. And then, he shocks me. “He’s dead,” Nick sighs out and I gasp.
“What? No…he was…how?” No. That can’t be right. This is a shock. This is beyond a shock. What the hell? That dog saved my life yesterday. What the fuck happened and when? I don’t understand.
“I don’t…” Nick starts to say as he runs his free hand through his dark hard. He looks sad. “…know,” he finishes.
“I don’t understand,” I say as tears pool into my eyes. Nick pulls me into his chest, hugging me tightly.
“He was lying on the door mat in front of the door when we got here last night.” Nick takes a deep breath and I pull my head off his chest. “I nearly had a fucking heart attack until I found you, and when I did, you were lying on the floor in the closet. I didn’t know,” he pauses, blinking rapidly, “that he was gone until Jase confirmed it last night when I brought you into the living room with me.” Nick takes another deep breath and looks up to the ceiling.
“Where’s Charmin?” I ask. He looks back down, but it’s Nikki that answers my question.
“She’s at my house,” she answers. “She’s fine.”
“But how?” I ask. I still don’t understand.
“My father,” Nick says.
“How do you know that, Nick?” Nikki questions him, her tone accusatory. What am I missing here? Nick cuts his eyes at his sister.
“Shannon told me Niko bit him yesterday,” There is a quick pause before he continues. “I’m only assuming,” he tells her as he throws his arms up.
“I can’t believe this,” I mumble. My stomach begins to churn again.
“Nick?” Nikki says in a low tone. He looks back at her.
“What?”
“I really need to speak to you.” Again her tone is low, but it’s laced with something I can’t figure out. She is pleading with him.
“For the love of fucking God, what?” he yells.
“I don’t think−”
Nick cuts her off. “Just spit it the fuck out already!”
“Dad’s dead,” she blurts out and I gasp. My eyes snap to hers. She’s biting her lip and looking at Nick. I look down, trying to gather my thoughts. Isn’t this what I wished for? Now that it’s real, how do I feel? I feel like the weight of the world has just been lifted off my chest.
“Good,” Nick says calmly. Too calmly, which is what catches my attention. Now, I start to wonder. My eyes flicker back to his sister. They are staring at each other as if having a silent conversation.
“Did you?” she asks, also calmly and my mouth gapes open. How can she think that? I speak before Nick has a chance too.
“Of course he didn’t. He’s been here with me.” I say. “The whole night,” I add for clarification. The expression on her face doesn’t change as she continues to look at her brother. Nick continues to be silent. No….he couldn’t. “How?” I add.