↳ 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑 ー 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘

𝐋𝐈𝐈 ー 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝

◉

Unlike most evenings, the dinner table is quiet save for the odd comment between Hope and Sierra. The brothers are noticeably somber and exchanging words with simple glances across the table.

"That's an idea." Sierra smiles at Hope. "What do you think?" She lays a hand on Kaden's arm. There's a slight flinch before he casually pulls his arm away.

"What?" He pretends to reach for his glass of water but Sierra's frown only deepens.

"Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You've been distant since I got home. Did something happen while I was gone?"

A glance at his brother. "Nothing."

"You haven't touched your food."

Hope nods at the man close to her. "Neither have you uncle Grayson." Since they sat down she's been watching him push his food around his plate with no intention of consuming it.

"Are you getting sick?" Sierra wonders aloud.

"I don't get sick," he nearly grits.

"Okay." She twirls her fork, receiving a frown from Hope when she looks in her direction. "Neither of you seem to be yourselves that's all."

"We've got a lot going on," Grayson expels the words from his mouth.

"Of course. I knew that. You had me worried, I thought maybe I'd done somethingー"

The fragile glass in Kaden's hand suddenly shatters from the force he's applying to it. Hope's round eyes flit to the fragments scattered across the table while Sierra flinches from the commotion.

Grayson shoots him a warning glare. His jaw ticks as he turns his hand, watching the shards tumble from his palm. Fortunately the glass was empty before it burst in his fist.

"Let me see." Sierra reaches out.

His chair scrapes across the floor from the force of it being shoved back. "It's fine."

"It's not fine." She removes the napkin from her lap and scrunches it, throwing it beside her plate. "I just want to make sure you haven't hurt yourself."

"It's nothing." He grabs a set of keys.

She throws her arms up. "Where are you going?"

"Out." He almost rips the front door from the hinges. Expectedly Grayson follows him outside. She's stood like a statue, listening to the door bang behind them and the engine roaring in the driveway.

"What the hell?" Hope finally breaks the silence. She leaves her seat to scoop Bunny up before he can step near the broken glass on the floor.

"Maybe don't invite Rosa over tonight."

"Yeah." Hope cuddles the whining dog, more so for her own comfort than his. "She'll understand."

○ ○ ○

The following morning Sierra trudges down the stairs and makes her way towards the kitchen. Still clad in her cotton pyjamas since she hasn't yet got the energy to change out of them.