Patience

Chapter 15 - Thanks for the Trauma

"I love you, thank you so much. I don't know what I would do without you." The smell of lavender and hairspray makes its way into my nose as I squeeze Mia in my arms one more time.

"Don't even worry about it, he's my brother too." The small smile on her face doesn't come off as convincing as she thinks and I try not to take that to heart. It took a while but we finally managed to get some paperwork in order to have Mia listed as Tom's temporary legal guardian until things get sorted out.

Taking a deep breath, I take another step back and rest my hand on the top of Tom's head. Wiggling it side to side as he adjusts his school bag on his shoulder before shooting a smile at me.

"I love you and I'm going to miss you but make sure you're good for Mia, okay?" I crouch in front of him, holding that precious face in my hands.

The way he rolls his eyes is so strong I'm surprised they haven't rolled out of his head yet. "I will, I'm not a little kid Sage." God, if that wasn't the truest statement I've heard in a while.

Leaving Tom with Mia meant potentially leading her into danger but we've spent days, weeks even, talking this over. I have things I need to do and plans in place to make all of this come to an end but I can't do that with Tom in the house, I don't know if that makes me a horrible guardian but I don't know what else to do and I don't have anyone to tell me the next step in all this.

After saying goodbye and squeezing Mia one more time, I find myself parked across the street from Hunters house. It's only been four days since my meeting with my dad and one day since I submitted our final paper to our lecturer... by myself but I can't stop myself from thinking about him.

Over the last week I have learnt a thing or two about Hunter, he is the son of my fathers right hand man. Someone that was planted into my life years ago, four years ago to be exact, before I even started my degree. He has been someone that has watched my every move before I knew he existed, before we were paired together for this stupid paper, the same paper that ended with me crossing a line I swore I never would. I let him into my life, into Tom's life and put us at risk.

Puffing out a breath and stalking my way up the porch steps, I knock loudly on his front door and take a step back. The familiar creaking of his front door pulls my attention back in front of me as I lock eyes with a rundown, overgrown, alcohol smelling version of Hunter. "Let me in, I need to talk."

"It's not really a good time Sage, you should probably leave." He spits out, already reaching to close the door at the same time I stick my combat booted foot out to keep it from slamming.

"Well too bad for you, I'm not asking." The taken aback look on his face is trying to create some kind of guilt in the pit of my stomach but I will not be having any of that. This is his fault and I was trying my hardest to remember that as I push past him and make my way into the living room, taking in the packing boxes scattered on the floor. "What the fuck is all this?"

He looks anywhere but at me as he lifts his hand to the back of his neck and scratches at the spot behind his ear, he takes another deep breath but there are no words he seems willing to speak.

"I clearly don't know you very well but is that what you do when you mess up? Run away?" The scoff makes its way out of my mouth almost involuntary as I continue to survey the boxes around me.

"Listen Sage, you should probably leave. I'm pretty sure their watching me." The sound of him moving around draws my attention back in his direction, those blue, blue eyes that I was so used to seeing over dinner or at the park or in my lounge room, look so far away. It's like I don't even know this person in front of me, I guess when it comes down to it, I don't.