Uri by Dana Archer

Author:Dana Archer [Archer, Dana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781946672841
Publisher: Cherokee House Publishing LLC

Seventeen

Uri

Watching the screaming match between Lyla and her sister reminds me of my frequent disagreements with Ezra. Only, our fights usually end with a bloody tussle between our cats. With the weapons in the house secured and Colin nearby, I have no worries Lyla and Sam’s disagreement will progress to that level of violence, but this has gone on too long.

With the two women on either side of the couch in the living room and no breakable items within reach, I make my way to where Colin has his ass propped on the kitchen counter at the other end of the open downstairs. From here, I too have a perfect view of Sam and Lyla’s fight. Just in case.

“Don’t you think it’s time you intervene?” Before I have to and I don’t know Sam or what will pull her back from the edge.

“And have Sam turn that anger on me?” Colin snorts. “No, thanks.”

“This has gone on long enough. It’s obvious Sam needs you right now.”

“No she doesn’t.” Colin jerks his head in her direction. “Sam needs to get this out of her system.”

“Maybe you’re right. You have been with Sam a long time. You’d know her best.”

“I’m not nor have I ever been with Sam.” Colin’s voice hardens, but he doesn’t take his gaze off Sam’s back. “I rescued her, then acted as her partner until she no longer needed me.”

With my cats’ focus on the fight—listening for anything in either Lyla’s or Sam’s tones that’d indicate the fight might turn violent—I study Colin’s profile. The hard press of his mouth and the tic on his jaw suggests Colin isn’t exactly happy about the arrangement. “She ended things, then?”

“There was no thing to end. There was a mentorship that was never meant to be permanent.”

“Ah…I see.” And I also know when to drop a subject, especially one I have no experience with. Having never been in a relationship before Lyla, I’ve never had to deal with rejection. I’ll make sure the thought never crosses Lyla’s mind either.

Colin glowers at me. “What exactly are you implying? That I screwed things up and deserve this?”

No doubt my stance betrays the awkwardness of this conversation, yet Colin’s still glaring at me as if I want to fight. I clear my throat. “Did you?”

Colin works his jaw and turns his attention back to where Lyla and Sam are now arguing about whether they’ll pay for cremation or a pine box. Sam already shot down the idea of actually giving their mother a funeral.

“I was the one who pulled her out of that cage.” Colin crosses his arms. “In the days after, I got her to realize suicide wasn’t the answer. Then I was there when she healed from what happened to her. You know, picked her up when she needed it and backed away when she wanted to stand on her own. Last couple of years, she’s been good. Mentally good, you know?”

“Being around her for so long, I’d assume you know.”

Colin nods as if that’s the answer he wants to hear.

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