Storm by Mankin Michelle

Author:Mankin, Michelle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Michelle Mankin
Published: 2020-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

Storm

HER HAIR IN a wet braid, Lotus came out of her dressing room cave, wearing a denim pair of overalls and a white tube top that looked amazing with her tanned skin. Sadly, the sun was too high beyond the cliffs to spotlight her like I thought it should.

“Ready?” I asked, studying her closely and noting shadows were back in her eyes.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “I just need to slip on my flip-flops.” Her footwear was on the concrete landing by the stairs. She started babbling concerns one after another about Cork as we ascended the steps single file—her first, then me, then Cork.

“Can you watch our boards for me?” I asked, making eye contact with Cork when we reached the top. I laid Lotus’s board and mine against the metal railing.

“Sure.” He crossed his arms over his chest, looking pleased to be given the responsibility.

“I need to talk to you a sec.” I pulled Lotus aside, dragging her by her upper arm several feet away from Cork. She glanced back at him when I stopped. “He’s almost a man.”

I put my other hand on her other arm, holding her in place. I wasn’t sure she was going to like what I said, but it still needed to be said.

“You gotta give him some breathing room, babe.”

“I know, but I can’t.” She bit down on her lip. “The edge of the cliff is just on the other side of that railing.”

“I know it is.” I searched her wary eyes, just barely able to resist skimming my thumbs over the soft skin of her upper arms. “But he has a task. He’s not going to spontaneously decide to do something dangerous.”

“What do you know about it?” She cocked her head, her expression not confrontational but contemplative.

“I watch. I observe. It’s part of my loner nature, as Cork insightfully pointed out today.”

Her lips curved, but her gaze wasn’t on me. It was on her brother.

“He’s smart,” I said, pressing my point.

“He is.”

“And you gotta give him some credit for that.”

“But—”

“But nothing,” I said, cutting her off. “He’s got his whole life in front of him. You gotta let him see what he can do, not hold him back because of the things he can’t.”

Her brow furrowed. “The restrictions are to keep him safe.”

“Too many restrictions will stifle him. Cars and surfing, I agree those activities require supervision. But too many beyond that, and he’ll get frustrated. Like he did earlier when you almost didn’t let him go with me. He doesn’t need to be restricted from hanging out with a friend.”

As she searched my features, I held perfectly still, allowing her that time. I wasn’t in a hurry. I was perfectly content just to hold her.

“Maybe you’re right,” she said.

“I am right,” I said firmly.

“You seem to know something about it.” She tilted her head. “About having too many rules, I mean.”

“Not a big fan of rules. I think some are necessary, but not too many. Cork needs to have the freedom to make his own choices within the boundaries you set.

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