Page 76 of Unbound

I back out of the room, taking the hall that leads to the closest bathroom before circling to the one where the basement door is located. As I pass the kitchen from a different side, I hear my aunt ranting.

“I swear she knows exactly how to get under my skin. I’m not going to make it through the week without throttling her. She acts like her grandsons are God’s fucking gift, when they’re actually just a bunch of arrogant pricks who don’t give a shit about anyone but themselves.”

I don’t need to hear more to know who Deidre’s referring to. I also know the same could have been said about me and my cousins not so long ago.

Hopefully no one points that out to her.

Reaching the basement stairs, I silently open the door. Taking a deep breath, I step through the opening, as ready as I’ll ever be to face my past. Probably because I’m not doing it for me.

I’m doing it for Sybil.

24

Sybil

Iwas all prepared to make up some shit about why we were here, but Deidre is so wound up about Constance that she hasn’t even asked about our unexpected arrival. Walker’s aunt just keeps churning out cookies. I’m not mad about it because they are flipping delicious, but Walker is going to give me his frowny face when I tell him I’m not hungry for dinner because I ate a dozen freshly baked cookies.

Still worth it.

“I just don’t understand why she has to be so difficult.” Deidre aggressively shovels her latest batch onto a cooling rack. “The woman has never liked me, and she still insists on coming here.”

“Constance doesn’t dislike you.” I’m actually willing to bet Constance thinks Deidre is great. “That’s just how her face looks.”

I’m not going to deny that the old woman does look a little sour most of the time, but I think she’s just serious. She’s been through a lot in her life, and I’d be shocked if it hadn’t made her a little stoic and reserved.

The same thing happened to someone else I know.

Deidre huffs out a laugh. “All she does is pick at me. Point out everything she finds lacking.” Walker’s aunt savagely slaps scoops of what looks like white chocolate macadamia nut—possibly with cranberries?—cookie dough onto an empty baking sheet. “My house. My cooking. My hair. My sons.”

“She actually had a lot of really good things to say about your boys last night.” I start to grab another cookie, but stop myself. Not because I don’t want more, but because I’m very interested in the newest concoction. “I think she’s actually a little jealous.”

That has Deidre stopping, her eyes lifting to me for the first time. “You think Constance is jealous of me?”

“Of course she is. Her grandsons sound like they’re royal pains in the ass, and you get to have family dinners and babysit your grandkids.” I shrug. “She doesn’t have any of that, and it sounds like she probably never will.”

There’s something about me that tends to make people spill all their secrets. Maybe it’s because they know I won’t judge them. It could be because I have what I’ve been told is a ‘sweet’ face. I’ve also wondered if in my quest to know everything about everything, I’ve somehow learned to ask the right questions.

Regardless of the reasons behind it, you won’t hear me complaining. I have found out a lot of interesting shit over the course of my life. Including how annoyed Auntie Constance is with her grandsons and their aversion to becoming family men.

A little of the frustration seems to bleed out of Deidre. “Her grandsons are pretty big pains in the ass.” She tips her head, going back to scooping cookie dough, this time a little more gently. “Good-looking and rich, but that’ll only get a man so far.”

I wonder if that’s what happened to Walker. God knows he’s not single because no one wanted to look at him naked. And, based on his house and vehicles, I’m also guessing he’s not struggling financially. It’s more likely, most women looked right past him because he’s not charming. He doesn’t flirt. Isn’t the sort to dish out compliments or smooth words.

He’s the kind of man who says what he means and means what he says. The kind who feeds you, makes sure you’re hydrated, and then fucks you within an inch of your life.

That last part is an educated guess.

I’ll pick the guy making sure I’m taken care of over the one feeding me a line of bullshit any day.

Like my thoughts summoned him, Walker strides into the room, his expression tight and his hands empty. He barely shakes his head at me, like I couldn’t already tell he didn’t find anything by the look on his face.

“Welp…” I steal one last cookie to help me deal with what’s coming next. “Thanks for letting us drop by unannounced.”

Deidre looks genuinely confused. “You two are always welcome to come here whenever you want.”

I give her a smile, glad she looks a little less stressed than she did when we showed up. “Thank you.”

Walker hooks an arm around me, urging me to the door. Probably to keep me from eating any more cookies. It’s not a bad idea. My stomach is starting to hurt a little. But I’m not sure if it’s an abundance of sugar or dread upsetting my insides.