Edge of Darkness Box Set by Margaret McHeyzer

Author:Margaret McHeyzer [McHeyzer, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Margaret McHeyzer
Published: 2020-07-16T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Mom and Dad are inside washing up, and the five of us are sitting around the fire pit making s’mores and talking.

Reece has gotten on really well with everyone, even Sophie seems to like him. She makes a s’more and starts eating it. “You know, Reece, you’re nothing like the others.” She looks over to him and smiles. The smile is soft and apologetic.

“What do you mean?” He turns the marshmallow over the fire, crisping it up further. The outside catches on fire and you can hear the sizzle of the small blue flame coating the exterior. The sugars quickly burn and the fire goes out on its own.

“I mean, most of the guys on the team are jerks, Levi being the leader of the jerks.”

“I’m not denying that. It’s only been recently I’ve seen exactly how much of a dick he is.” He sandwiches the marshmallow with a piece of chocolate and two graham crackers and starts eating it.

The whole process is quite hypnotic. Watching the marshmallow burn, then watching the assembly procedure.

“He’s not very nice,” I manage to say in a small voice.

“Neither are a lot of the girls who hang off you guys like you’re some kind of rock stars. You’re not rock stars,” Sam says. “I gotta tell you, it’s sickening! They have no self-respect.”

“I have to agree. I watch the way they act around the team, and how they throw themselves at the guys.” Sophie shakes her head, disgusted.

I crinkle my forehead and scrunch my brows together. “Was I like that?” I ask, looking at everyone.

Sophie averts her eyes and so does Sam. My own sister is implicitly saying I’m the girl she was describing. “Not as bad as Lindsey and Jordan, but you weren’t great either.”

Slumping my shoulders I sink into the chair and look to the ground. “Really?” I ask with a small sigh. Man, how blind was I? Does this mean I was asking for what happened to me? Did I lead someone on? Could I have avoided it if I was a nicer person?

My stomach knots in agitation and my heart starts pounding heavily in my chest. Tangling my fingers together I try not to look at anything but the grass beneath the chair.

Chatter continues in the background. I can’t make out the words they’re saying, but I know they’re still on the same subject. “Sorry,” I whisper to everyone. The talking stops, and I feel four pairs of eyes turn to me. I keep my head down, ashamed and embarrassed at how I once was. “I’m really disgusted by my old behavior. I wish someone would’ve told me earlier.” Looking up I’m met with them all looking at me with different expressions.

Taylor’s confused.

Sophie’s concerned.

Sam’s sympathetic.

And Reece’s proud. “You know now, and you’re a better person for it,’ he says. “You can’t let the past dictate your future.”

“But I was a bitch.”

“That’s right. You were a bitch. Now you’re pretty cool.” Reece winks at me and smiles.

“I’m sorry, guys. I really am.

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