Sins Chaos

Chapter Nine

Roz

SENK LAKE CITY

RIXTON MILITARY BASE

WASHINGTON

TWO MONTHS LATER

Aerin walked into the kitchen, spotted me, turned on her heel, and walked right back out.

I prayed for patience as I set my cereal bowl down on the counter and started after her. Ever since that night back in June, she'd been avoiding me—déjà vu here—like I had contracted the plague. Again.

While it was really grating on my already thin patience, it was actually pretty entertaining to watch. After all, she did live in my spare room.

Unless she was forced to, she didn't so much as breathe in my direction. Let alone say a word to me. It was like history was repeating itself all over again. I had dealt with it at first because I figured she needed some space after the attack.

After the first month, I started to believe it was personal and had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she was attempting to get over a traumatic event. By the end of the second month, I realized that this was going to be the norm until Clare and Decker came back on world.

After two months of living under the same roof as her, which was freaking awkward in its own right, her avoiding me and nothing getting resolved was getting old fast.

I grabbed her arm before she yanked open her bedroom door. She swore and fought to get her arm out of my grasp. I let go, smirked, and pushed her back against the wall, slapping both hands down on either side of her head.

I glared down at her.

She stopped struggling, her back stiffening. I had, once again, managed to effortlessly cage her in.

"Now, would you like to tell me why the hell talking to me has become so damn hard?" I demanded through gritted teeth. "I mean, you really have never had an issue calling me names or telling me exactly what you thought of me in the past. I will take that over the deafening silence."

She studied my chest, pretending to read the lettering on my shirt. She was purposely avoiding eye contact with me. She knew I could read her like an open book.

"Aerin," I spoke her name with patience, almost like I was talking to a shy toddler. There was an undertone of pure frustration in that one word. "My face is up here. Look me in the eye and tell me the truth. That's all I want. I can take whatever it is. I'm a big boy. Promise."

Her light green eyes met my blue ones, her cheeks turning slightly red. "I can't, Roz. Please."

I heard the fear and hurt in her voice. A small piece of my heart broke for what this—what I—was doing to her. While I felt for her, I also knew there was something she was hiding from me. She was afraid to tell me what it was.

What bothered me the most was the question I read in her eyes. "Rin, I understand where you're coming from. Believe me when I say that I really do. I can't do anything about it unless you talk to me."

She looked away, then back. "Where does Veronica fall into this little equation you have written on the board? How many times have you reworked the problem to get the answer you want?"

Damn. It was like that. I had seen that question coming from a mile away. I was at a loss for words, even with the advanced warning.

And, wow, there was a lot of attitude thrown in with those questions, especially considering she had been the one avoiding me like a cat avoids water.