Page 31 of Unhinged Kallie

“Mr. Robins, that owned the funeral home, let me buy all this equipment when he decided to retire.”

“Let you buy the equipment?” I lifted a brow at him but only got a smirk in return. Yeah, there was more to that story, but I didn’t want to know.

“I’ll help you clean up,” I offered.

“No, I want to do this alone.”

“Okay.” He didn’t have to tell me twice. I walked toward the door, stopped, and turned to face Cain. “I know it’s not my call or my business, but forcing Kallie to stay here is getting her more fired up.”

“So, what are you saying?”

I shrugged. “That staying here like a prisoner may have the opposite effect than what you’re hoping for. No one will hurt her with me around, and it gives me a chance to help her for two years before I graduate. I can keep her on the right path.”

“I’m more concerned with her hurting someone and drawing attention to herself needlessly.”

“Fair, but I think she will behave. I can sit with her at lunch and keep the jerks away from her.”

Cain sighed and looked up to the ceiling. “I’ll think on it.”

Nodding, I slipped out the door and promptly wanted to smash my head into the wall for suggesting this. If he said yes, I would be around her all day, every day. What the hell had I just offered?

“Fuck.”

I walked up the stairs as if I had just been told I was next on Cain’s slab. Rounding the corner, I saw Kallie sitting at the kitchen table with her head in her hands. I didn’t understand what it was like being her or her father. They wanted to kill and needed to end lives. The only thing I could equate it to was waking up hard as a rock and wanting to jerk off, but that didn’t hurt anyone. Terrible comparison, but it was all I had.

“Hey, you okay?”

Dropping into the chair across from her, I helped myself to a glass of the lemonade she’d set out.

“No, I’m not. He doesn’t get it. I need to experience life,” she said and lifted her head. “I’m fourteen, and you’re my only friend. Even if you don’t want to be around me anymore.”

“I didn’t say that,” I said.

It was the complete opposite. I had to keep my distance. We were just separated enough in age that it had become weird to do things that at one time would’ve been normal. Water fights, for example. Two years ago, I could’ve sprayed her down with a hose and not given a shit that her shirt clung to her like a second skin. Now all I wanted to do was kiss her. Hello problem.

“You didn’t have to. You avoid me no matter what it is. I can’t even get you to play a video game with me anymore. If you’re disgusted by me, just say so. At least then, I wouldn’t hold out hope that you still want to be my friend.”

I ran my hand through my hair. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?” Her piercing blue eyes stared into mine, and I couldn’t figure out what to say. “See, I knew it.” Pushing away from the table, Kallie stood and walked away.

Fuck. Why was life so confusing?

Before she could dart up the stairs, Cain opened the basement door and stepped out into her path. I would’ve shit my pants if he did that to me, but Kallie stuffed her hands in her pockets.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I know that I need to get better at controlling my anger, but being here all the time is driving me crazy. I love you, but I need to be around people my own age and try new things and…”

“Yes,” Cain said, and her head snapped up.

“What?”

“Yes, you can attend school in the fall. I will make the call, but…” He held up his finger, eyes narrowing as he gave Kallie his death stare. “If you go off the rails and jeopardize this family and our secret, I will yank you out so fast your head will spin. You also won’t be allowed to return until I feel you’re ready, no matter how long that takes. This is a trial that I’m not sure you’re equipped to handle, but I’m willing to give you a chance to prove me wrong. I’d take it since it rarely happens.”

“Really?” She squealed.

“Yes.”

Kallie slammed into her dad, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Thank you, I promise you won’t regret it. What changed your mind?”