“If I do that to your father, I’d get fired.” She pointed out. I smiled.
“And I’d just hire you back.” I countered. She chuckled.
“The pilot says we’re ready; he wanted to make sure you didn’t change your mind,” Lucy said politely. I sighed.
“Tell him to take off, please. We won’t be making this trip anymore.” I said politely. Lucy blinked at me. Then she gave me a sympathetic smile and headed towards the front of the plane. I went back to looking out the window. I wasn’t watching as the ground fell away. I pulled out my phone to look through my photos. Lexie’s face looked up at me, her big green eyes contrasting with everything. It was one of Dylan’s photos. He had to hand it to the guy; he knew how to get the right light and a good angle. But the rest was all her. I sighed. Lexie. Why did I climb in bed with her? I leaned my head back and called myself every name in the book. Idiot was often repeated. I was dealing with... things. Yeah, I slipped up the other night and called her Angel. But she was so out of it I doubt she even heard. I was handling it until I was stupid and climbed into bed to hold her. But what else was I going to do? She was crying, she had those fucked up memories that weren’t hers and she... she kept remembering what that psycho felt. Climbing in and holding her was logical, she wasn’t getting out of bed, and I was the only one who could possibly help at the time. I needed to forget about it. I needed to forget how she fit perfectly against me. I needed to forget how her skin felt under my fingers. I needed to forget the feeling of her crying against my chest. I needed to forget how it felt when she hugged me while I told her about Mother not coming back.
My chest grew tight as I remembered how she cried with me. Telling me over and over that it wasn’t my fault. I needed to forget... how I felt about her. Maybe, I should remember that. It was what made me realize how far gone my relationship with Autumn was. How far away from an actual relationship we had been for the last year. I looked down at Lexie’s face again and swiped to the next one. This one was different. I’d seen that face before. It was her ‘I’m thinking of sad things’ face. Why would you want a picture of that? I swiped to the next one; she was laughing with Zeke. I grinned as I remembered her face as she admitted why she was looking for scissors. She was so furious at Mother for abandoning me. She was angry for me, wanting to tear her to pieces for hurting me. Lexie cared deeply about the people in her life. I’d seen it myself. But it always surprised me when I was included on that list.
I kept looking through my photos. I can deal with this. I can get over these feelings quickly. Meet a new girl. There was that brunette in Trig that keeps sending me notes. Lexie is dating Dylan, and she’s really into him. At least that's what she said the last time they talked about it. Not to mention Ethan telling everyone yesterday. I needed to warn her about talking to Ethan when I see her next. She’s dating Dylan, and that will make this a lot easier. My phone vibrated. I checked my texts. I had missed a lot of them. Asher had sent out a group message without Lexie included. It was a big red flag.
Asher: Ally reached the Veil tonight.
I sighed in relief; a big weight lifted off my chest. She wouldn’t have to push herself so hard now; she could get some rest. Remove those memories, Lexie’s going to be alright.
Isaac: Whoop!
Ethan: Yes!
Zeke: Good, now she can get some fucking sleep.
Asher: Yeah, but there’s more work to do in the Veil. I’ll let her explain.
Ethan: Where is she? We’re heading over.
Isaac: Hell yeah!
Zeke: Let her sleep!
Asher: Not tonight guys.
Isaac: But I want Red...
I snorted.
Asher: Dylan dumped her yesterday, in a real fucked-up way. Did anyone know?
Everything in my world went still. Dylan broke up with Lexie? What the hell happened?
Ethan: I thought they were good.
Isaac: No, what the fuck?
Zeke: How did he do it? If he hurt her…
Isaac: I’m with Zeke. Spill.
Ethan: Majority rules. Tell us.
Asher: Keep your traps shut about it, especially you Ethan.
Ethan: I swear if I talk I’ll give up my Lexie back massages privileges. Zeke can enforce.
Wait. Lexie’s giving Ethan back massages now? I kept reading.
Asher: He fucking came down knowing he was going to break up with her, pretended everything was fine then hit her with it after we dragged her out of the party and he brought her back here.
What? They had to drag Lexie out of a party? I kept reading.
Zeke: I don’t remember where he lives. Give me his address Asher.
Isaac: Pick me up on the way Zeke!
Ethan: I’m going too.
Zeke: It was the ‘seizures,' wasn’t it?
Asher: Yeah, ran like a bitch. He told her she had too many problems for him to deal with.
Her concerns from the family meeting made more sense now. That would have hit Lexie right in the heart. Dylan might as well have gutted her while he was at it. I grew tense as I fought the urge to hunt Dylan down myself. He made her feel like a burden when she was anything but. That piece of shit. I took slow calming breaths. I needed to be the calm one.
Zeke: Address NOW!
Asher: Zeke, don’t tempt me. She cared about that fucker. I can hear her crying upstairs.
Zeke: I want blood.
Isaac: Seconded
Ethan: Third.
Zeke: Majority rules, give it up.
The last message was only a minute ago; I needed to be the calm one. The guys interfering without Lexie asking would be a disaster.
Miles: Majority does not rule this time. Lexie does. If she wanted to kick his ass, then she’d have done it or asked one of you to.
Asher: About time you picked up!
Zeke: What he said to her was fucked up!
Miles: Yeah, it was screwed up. But it’s not about how angry we are right now. It’s about what she needs. I’ll be home in a few hours. I expect all of you to be at home and stay out of jail.
Ethan: You don’t need to come back for this.
I exhaled. Might as well tell them now.
Miles: Autumn and I broke up. We won't be dating again.
Asher: Shit.
Zeke: Fuck.
Isaac: What the hell?
Ethan: What is with this week? Is it national breakup week or something? Next, we’re going to hear that Riley dumped Zeke.
Zeke: Hey!
I grinned at that.
Miles: You all know Lexie, is she going to sit around moping?
Zeke: No, she’s going to want to hit something.
Miles: Take her for training tomorrow, I’ll try and make it.
Asher: She gave me that necklace to give back to Dylan. Zeke?
Zeke: What?
Asher: You have dogs, right?
The conversation degenerated from there. I watched as the guys discussed how to send Lexie’s necklace back to Dylan. It was going to be messy and disgusting. Then I thought of something.
Miles: Make sure he knows it’s you guys doing that part, not her.
Asher: I was already planning a note. I can’t hear her crying anymore.
I grinned. Dylan deserved it. If he couldn’t appreciate her, then screw him. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. A feeling of doom sweeping over me. Dylan broke up with her.
“I am so screwed.”
Epilogue
I spent the next few days at Asher’s house, working to get rid of the rest of those memories. Some nights I slept through the night, others I woke up screaming. When I woke up not remembering who I was, Asher was there. Gently reminding me, and sometimes not so gently. It depended on what was happening. I saw a side of Asher that I had never seen before, and it made my heart race. It’s probably nothing. Just... hormones or something. During it all though, the guys were there. The twins for a cuddle if I needed, or a laugh. Zeke, for a kick in the ass. And Miles
, sweet, handsome Miles, always gently reminding me to take care of myself.
Dylan called me two days later; I let it go to voice mail. He apologized for the things he said, that he was an idiot and he didn't mean it. I might have believed him, but the things he said hurt like hell, and he knew they would. There was no excuse for hurting me that way. No, I'm not calling him back.
The dead are still stuck, but I'm working on it. They keep hanging around the house. I had a few nights of uninterrupted sleep before I caught Isaac salting a circle around the house with rock salt. Apparently, the guys and Rory had been taking turns doing it every day. I love those big bastards. I took over, so they didn't have too.
We're going back to school soon, and I'm looking forward to it. Winter formal is coming, and I’m planning on going. Even if I don’t have a date. I want to have some normal. A little normal is just what I need right now.
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When the Dead Come a Knockin' Page 58