Page 31 of Make Us Yours
I stopped begging, though. I used to. I used to beg and plead for her to wake up, to give me a sign that she would come back to me. But after the first year passed, where all she did was lie there, motionless, I understood that day would never come. So, I’ve just been holding on, for the both of us.
“Remember that girl I told you about? The one with the funky colored hair that changes all the time and the fiery attitude. Last week, I told you she started working for me and Gabe. But I wasn’t sure how that would go since she kind of hated us.” I chuckle.
“Well, it’s going pretty great. She’s been spending a lot of time with us, and it’sbeen really nice. We laugh and have fun. I think I’m finally getting somewhere with her.” I stop and look down at my hands, unsure what to do with them. They ball into fists as I think about what I witnessed this morning.
“Well, I thought I was. But now I think she might have a boyfriend or something...” I lean farther back in the chair, my head dropping back as I close my eyes. “I saw her this morning with some guy. Clearly, he had spent the night with her.”
I work my jaw as I remember the way he had his hand on her back, the way he hugged her and held her waist. “I’ve never felt so jealous in my life. I hated seeing them together.” I let out a breath. “I don’t know what to do, Trinny. I could really use your advice right now.”
I open my eyes and bring my head back up, looking down at her tiny form. She’s twenty-five now, yet she still looks nineteen. It’s as if she stopped aging the moment her accident happened. Or maybe it’s just me who can’t see the difference.
I stand from the chair and walk around the room to the dresser. Above are photos of my family, me and her, her and Dad, and some with all three of us. I pick up the one with my father hugging us both. It’s the last picture we have of him before he died. Just a year before Trinity had her accident.
“She hugged me yesterday, which is new. She’s not much of a hugger, and she even held my hand a few times, so I think those are good steps in the right direction. Don’t you think?” I look back at the sleeping beauty in bed.
With a sigh, I put the framed picture back down. “She’s beautiful, Trinity. I wish you could see her. I think you two would get along. She’s only a year younger than you, after all. Plus, she seems adventurous and wild, like you are… like you were.”
I walk back to the chair and take a seat once more. “Veronica’s always so fierce and stands tall, like she could walk through fire if need be. She looks like a badass, with her full sleeve tattoos, all her piercings, and colorful hair. Can’t forget the colorful hair. And before you say it, yes, I know, she’s not my usual type.” I laugh to myself.
“But I think it’s all fake. I think she’s just putting on a show to hide who she really is inside. Kind of like what I do to protect you. I’m just not sure what she’s trying to protect, and from whom.” I sigh.
“I won’t be able to stay much longer today, sis. Veronica isn’t feeling well, and I don’t want to leave her alone for too long. She’s a bit stubborn like you and still came in to work, despite it being her day off,” I say, chuckling before gazing down at my sister.
She looks so much like our mother; sometimes it hurts to look at her. She doesn’t deserve to look like such a horrible person. But nonetheless, my mother was astunning woman, at least from what I remember before she abandoned us, and my sister took all her beauty.
“I wish you were here, baby sis. I wish you could see how my life turned out, all the amazing friends I’ve made. They’ve really become my family. You’d fit right in with all the girls in our little group.” My head drops as I rest my elbows on my knees.
“I wish you could have seen me play, Trinny. Just one game. That’s all I would have wanted… I miss you, Trinity. I miss hearing your voice. I miss hearing you laugh when I’d try to cook us dinner on those late nights when Dad was stuck working.” A broken laugh falls from me.
“I cooked for Veronica yesterday. Let’s just say it was horrible and likely won’t happen again. But she didn’t care, just said she was proud of me. Like you used to say every time.” I feel my throat clogging with emotions and decide I’ve had enough for today.
I stand from my chair and lean over her body, kissing her forehead. “I gotta go now, sis. I’ll be back soon. I love you, Trinity.”
I leave her side reluctantly and walk out of the room with a heavy heart. Like I do every time.
Chapter eight
Noah
Cramps and secrets.
Driving into the underground garage, I park in my usual spot as Gabe’s red Porsche pulls up next to me. I kill the engine and step out, waiting by his driver side door as he pushes it open. “Already done with your shoot?”
He joins my side with a beaming smile. “What can I say? Apparently, my face is so perfect that it only took one take to get the perfect shot.” He winks arrogantly.
I chuckle and shake my head as we make our way to our private elevator and up to the penthouse. When we enter the foyer, it’s eerily quiet, and a sense of worry creeps its way through my veins.
“Veronica?” I call out, walking farther into the living room and looking toward the kitchen.
“Do you think she already left?” Gabe asks, looking around suspiciously.
I shake my head. “No, the groceries are getting delivered later on, and her things are still by the door.”
He heads down the hall, looking into the rooms on the main floor, and comes back empty. We both look up the stairs and head up, looking for our girl.
“Vixen? Where are you, baby?” Gabe says once we hit the landing.
I take a step forward, ready to search the rooms up here, but my foot catches onto something. Veronica’s phone. I kneel down to pick it up and notice the screen is entirely shattered. Just as I’m about to call out for her again, I hear a faint cry coming from my room. Gabe’s head whips my way seconds before we both bolt toward it.
