Stay(102)

I heard Lily get up. She complained about how the humid weather instantly caused her naturally curly hair to frizz, while Rochelle helped with her makeup, promising to almost eliminate the signs of her bruised face. I stayed hidden under the covers until Lily and Rochelle stomped up the basement stairs, leaving for another night’s work.

A loud thud from upstairs made me jump. Nate shouted at someone, but no one replied. I held my breath and listened. He said something about a payment being late and threatened whomever he was talking to, but still no one fought back.

“He must be on the phone,” I whispered to myself. He wasn’t yelling at Jackson … for now. I sighed and spun around, heading to the shower. I washed quickly, not wanting to be in the icy water for any longer than was necessary. I put on a pair or grey leggings, a black t-shirt, and Jackson’s sweatshirt. I braided my hair and sat at the card table reading.

About an hour passed before an exterior door opened and closed. I looked up at the ceiling as if it would allow me to better hear what was going on. The distant hum of an engine came to life and gradually faded. Then the house fell silent.

I couldn’t help the apprehension I felt when someone unlocked the door. I set the book down, sliding the tray over top of it.

“Addie,” Jackson called from the landing. “It’s me. Come here,” he whispered.

I jumped up from the table, grabbing the book. I shoved it under my pillow and rushed to the stairs. He waved me up. My sock-covered feet didn’t make a sound as I jogged up the steps. Jackson grabbed my hand and guided me forward. He nervously looked around and shut the basement door.

He stepped close, locking his arms around me before he kissed me, his tongue opening my lips. He pressed against me so that my back pushed against the door. I wrapped my arms around him, my heart instantly fluttering. For a second, everything bad disappeared. Only Jackson existed. I breathed him in, feeling a warm tingle between my legs, which was a long forgotten but most welcome feeling. When Jackson finally pulled away, we were both breathless.

“Hello to you too,” I panted.

His hands ran down my arms and into my hands. He pulled me forward. “Rochelle got arrested.”

“Are you serious?” I asked.

He nodded and took a step forward. “Yeah. For prostitution. Nate just left. The new guy is still here though.” We sneaked through the dark kitchen. “He’s in Zane’s room. I think he’s watching porn,” he added quietly.

I felt a prickle of nerves when the stairs came into view. Moonlight gleamed on the polished wood. I tightened my hold on Jackson’s hand and followed him up to his room.

Since I had been less than aware the last time I was up here, I hadn’t noticed the lock on the outside of his door. It was the kind that could only be accessed from one side. I swallowed hard, not wanting to think about Jackson being locked in his room. At least it was better than the basement.

“What’s going to happen to Rochelle?” I asked once we were in the safety of Jackson’s room.

He shrugged. “She’ll get released. Eventually. This isn’t the first time she’s been arrested, either.” Jackson pulled the covers back on his bed and moved the pillows so that they were straight against the headboard. “I don’t know how the legalities of it work. She’s usually home the next morning. I think Nate might pay someone off.”

I sat on the bed and tucked my feet under the covers. “When will they come home?”

“A few hours at least. Nate does the talking but I know Zane is there, waiting in the parking lot. He won’t leave until she’s out.”#p#分页标题#e#

“What’s up with them? Does Zane love her or something?”

“He has some sort of obsession with her, which isn’t love. He loves the way she loves him, if that makes sense. He can get her to do anything. She’ll fawn and fight over him just for a minute of his attention,” he explained.

“What a creep,” I mumbled. Unable to shake the chill, I looked around his room. It was just as I remembered it. As plain as possible, it housed only a bed and a dresser. There wasn’t a mirror above the dresser. If it weren’t for the boxes of books, the room would look like no one inhabited it. I got up and knelt down next to the books.

“You have an interesting variety,” I noted and picked up a large textbook about anatomy and physiology. Behind it was another heavy book entirely written in Spanish.

Jackson shrugged again. “Since I didn’t get to finish high school, I like to read whatever I can.”

“You don’t seem—” I started then stopped myself.