THIRTEEN SUMMERS
The foyer felt too small.
Josie stood just inside the doorway, her back pressed to the wall as if the house itself were closing in on her.
Her breath came in sharp, uneven bursts, chest rising too fast, too shallow.
Tears clung to her lashes and streaked down her face unchecked.
Cameron stood a few feet away, posture rigid, eyes sharp with concern he hadn't yet learned how to soften.
Kai hovered near the door, hands flexing uselessly at his sides, guilt and panic burning just beneath his skin.
Nick stood closest to her. Not crowding.
Just there.
"What's going on?" Cameron demanded, his voice cutting cleanly through the chaos.
His gaze moved between them before settling on Josie. "What happened, Josie?"
She shook her head immediately, tears spilling faster.
"Nothing," she said, the word barely holding together. "I'm fine."
No one believed her.
Her hands curled into the fabric of her sleeves as her breathing worsened, each inhale scraping her throat. The pressure in her chest built rapidly, spiraling.
"I didn't-" she tried again, voice breaking. "I didn't do anything."
Nick stepped closer instinctively. When she swayed, he caught her without hesitation.
Josie collapsed against him, fingers clutching his shirt like it was the only solid thing left in the world.
Her sobs tore out of her, loud and uncontrollable now.
Nick wrapped his arms around her fully, anchoring her.
"Hey." He whispered. "You're okay. I've got you."
Kai looked away.
The front door opened.
Roman stepped inside, and froze.
He took in the scene in seconds.
Josie crying, practically shaking in Nick's arms, Cameron rigid with barely-contained authority, Kai pale and stricken.
"Josie?" Roman said immediately, voice lowering, grounding. He moved toward her without thinking.
The moment his hand lifted, meaning to steady her-
She flinched.
Hard.
She turned her face away from him sharply, shame flashing across her expression like a wound ripped open.
Roman stopped mid-step.
The rejection didn't show on his face, but it landed anyway-deep, sharp, wrong.
Nick tightened his hold slightly as Josie buried her face against his chest, crying harder now.
Roman's eyes flicked to Kai.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
Kai swallowed. His jaw tightened. "We need to talk." He said. "Now."
Cameron exhaled slowly, already bracing himself. "Josie," he said, gentler now, motioning toward the hallway. "Come with me."
She shook her head violently.
"No," she gasped, clutching Nick tighter. "Please-don't-"
Her breathing turned frantic, panicked gasps replacing words.
YOU ARE READING
Thirteen Summers
Fiksi UmumAfter she suffers a great loss, life takes Josephine St. Claire on a captivating journey of self discovery, when she is reunited with a family that was hidden from her. A plethora of siblings but a close-knit family nevertheless, one that she was p...
