The Mighty Storm (Raura Revised)

Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Being back here with him, kissing me in the dark like this, with only the sound of the rushing falls around us, feels amazing.

"Thank you," he murmurs.

"What for?" I push my fingers into his lovely thick hair.

"For this, bringing me here ... for being you."

"You like?" I check.

"I love. We should come back here once a year. Make it our thing. It is our place after all."

"Once a year it is."

He takes my face in his hands. "Just like this, Laur, late at night, just you and me, alone. No one around for miles."

I nod my agreement. Ross kisses me once more, lightly on the lips, then moves off me, and lies down beside me, flat on his back.

Feeling content, I stare up at the night sky, with its gentle smattering of stars and bright glowing moon.

Ross lets out a light sigh.

Instantly, I know his mind and mood have shifted elsewhere, and I think I know where to.

Maybe bringing him here to Lumb Falls hasn't been as effective as I had hoped.

I can almost feel his thoughts pouring out of his mind. I want to ask him what's wrong, but I know with Ross it's best to wait until he's ready to talk.

"You called my mom and asked her to come didn't you?" He turns his head to the side, looking at me.

Truth or denial.

Denial.

I want him to believe she came off her own back.

"No," I shake my head, blinking.

"Laur..." He gives me the 'I know you did' look.

Biting my bottom lip, I release my sigh out through my nose. "How did you know?" I concede. "Did your mum tell you?"

He shakes his head, no. "I just know you."

"Are you angry with me?" I screw my face up.

"No of course not." He looks surprised.

"Are you angry with your mum?"

He presses his lips together and shakes his head.

No, he's not angry, he's disappointed, and that's worse. Way worse.

"She didn't realise how much it was affecting you, Ross. The instant I told her, she came off the phone and booked the next available flight to Manchester."

Turning away from me, he looks up and the sky. I hear him exhale.

"He tried to rape her that night." His voice is so quiet in the night air.

I turn on my side, facing him. "Your dad?"

He nods.

"He was drunk and high, he'd been out gambling, fuckin' around like normal ... he'd been gone for weeks."

"I remember," I breathe.

"I liked it when he wasn't there. I always liked it best when he was off on one of his benders."

"I know." I put my hand on his chest over his heart.

"And that night he rolled home, broke, wanting money off mom like usual. It was late, but I was still awake. We'd been watching a movie together – I can't even remember which one now, but she sent me to my room the second she heard his key go in the lock. She told me to lock myself in my bedroom and to not come out no matter what. I mean – what kid has to have a lock on their bedroom door, you know?" He laughs, but there's no humour there.