Reckless Abandon (Damaged #2) by J.C. Hannigan

Author:J.C. Hannigan [Hannigan, J.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781513707495
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Published: 2016-01-29T05:00:00+00:00

***

By the time we finished breakfast, the roads were freshly plowed and salted. It still didn't prevent me from following behind Everly just to make sure she got back to her parents’ house safely. I already said my goodbyes, so I resisted the urge to stop and follow them up to the house. The thought of encountering either of her parents right now just wasn't all that appealing.

Instead, I drove to my dad's house.

There was no doubt about it, Dad was enjoying his early retirement. When I pulled into the driveway, he was sliding down the man-made hill of ice and snow on a toboggan with my half-sisters, nine-year-old Chloe and six-year-old Jocelyn.

"Hey, son!" Dad called, spotting me approaching them. Chloe and Jocelyn squealed, rushing towards me as quickly as they could manage in their bulky snowsuits and the deep snow. I allowed them to tackle me to the ground, like they always did. The snow felt cold against my jeans, but I didn't care. I was in an incredible mood.

I lifted them both up effortlessly as I stood, done with letting them have the upper hand. I carried them back to the snowy lot, depositing them into a thick pile of snow from Dad's snow plow. I pushed a bunch of snow over with my bare hands, burying their laps deep in it so they had to wiggle frantically to get out. The second they'd freed themselves, they started to roll chunks of snow into balls. Thankfully, the snow wasn’t consistent enough and their snowballs turned to dust before they could even throw them. Still, their giggles were infectious, making an easy smile form on my lips.

It wasn't always like this, me with my sisters. I resented them at first—or at least...the idea of them. I refused to allow myself to get close to them, harboring the anger and resentment I felt after the demise of my parents' marriage instead of appreciating the fact that I had siblings.

I suppose in a roundabout way, I had Everly to thank. Before she showed me how to let people in, I didn't. I was like an abused dog, snapping at those who wanted to help me because I couldn't trust their intentions.

It didn't come easy, this change. I disappeared, and when I returned, I saw how much I'd confused and hurt Chloe. She didn't understand where I had gone or why I hadn't come home for a long time. All the kid knew was that she loved me, and I'd cast the love aside in a selfish attempt at self-preservation.

Reality was a cold stone bitch to swallow. I was still making up for the wounds I inflicted on those around me. My sisters had long since forgiven me—Dad and Vanessa too—but I still had a lot of work to do, particularly with Everly and Cadence.

"Let's go inside and get some hot chocolate," Dad said, calling off the fun as he rubbed his hands together and approached us. My dad was an older copy of myself.

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