The Bullies Who Loved Me by Mia Belle

Author:Mia Belle [Belle, Mia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-28T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Eric

It’s after midnight when I come home. I completely forgot about picking up Phoebe from her friend’s house. And like a dumbass, I left my phone at home so she couldn’t call me. I told her she could always call Caden or Ryder. Maybe she figured I wasn’t with them and she didn’t want them to get curious and discover our secret.

I’m still pissed at my brother and myself. I don’t know if I’ll ever let this go, but I need to shove it aside and focus on my sister. She needs me to be strong.

And she can never learn the truth. She needs to see her oldest brother as this perfect being, someone she could look up to and who will give her hope.

Dad’s slumped in his chair, a wrestling game on TV, volume maxed out. I peek into the kitchen to find it spotless. There’s some leftover spaghetti in the fridge. That’s all Phoebe knows to make. Damn it. I should have been here tonight. I shouldn’t have left her alone with the drunk.

I find her in bed, huddled under her blankets like she’s trying to protect herself. I lift the blanket before sliding in with her.

Her bed’s tiny for me, but that’s fine. I wrap an arm over her.

“Where were you?” her sleepy voice asks. Sitting up on one elbow, she looks down at me. “I had to make him dinner. He threw it against the wall. Then I had to make another.”

I lift myself on my elbow and pull her close with my other arm. “Sorry. I should have remembered to pick you up.”

“Arielle’s mom drove me home. I told her you were coming, but you never showed up and she didn’t let me sleepover. Says Arielle’s had enough distractions.”

I frown. Does that mean Arielle’s mom doesn’t want my sister over at their house anymore? She has more friends, but she’s the closest with Arielle. Damn it.

“It’s fine,” Phoebe quickly says. “I’ll find somewhere else to go. The library or whatever.”

I rest my chin on her head, hugging her tightly. “I hate that you have to live this way. A kid should have a home where she feels safe.”

Phoebe looks into my eyes. “You’re a kid, too. You’ve given up so much to take care of me. But what about you? You’re missing out on swimming and your friends and girls…”

I internally snort. Girls? Who’d want to go out with a guy who needs to be both a mother and a father? And who would want to deal with someone who has a drunk for a dad? And besides, I don’t have time for girls.

Phoebe searches my eyes. “What’s wrong?” She turns on her bedside lamp. “Have you been crying?”

“I fucking killed her.”

My heart is still in pieces, but I push that aside and give my sister a look. “Of course not. I never cry.”

She returns the look, but doesn’t reply. We both know I have cried. Like a fountain during Blake’s funeral. And I definitely cried at my mom’s, but I was six.

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