The Good Sister: Part One Read online

  I bit the inner curve of my thumb, holding in the breath that was turning into a breathless pant. For a moment I wonder what was wrong with me. Am I going to have a panic attack? I realized it wasn’t panic, just how he made me feel. Hot, bothered, and on the edge of breathless.

  Reid turned; the muscles of his tight stomach crackled. I panicked, backed up as if he could see me, hit the corner edging of the rock pathway, and lost my balance. I fell, screaming to the ground. My butt made a dull sounding thud on the loose gravel path. Upon impact my glasses slid down my nose, dislodged, and fell into my lap. I was also pretty sure my ankle was bleeding. I sat there for a moment, brooding over my stupidity, when I heard…

  “Trinity, are you okay?”

  Oh God, Reid.

  I didn’t see him. He was too far away, and I lost my glasses into the tangled folds of my shirts.

  “Yeah,” I replied, meekly.

  Reid instructed, “Stay still.” His wet warm hand skimmed across my ankle. I jerked as though a bee stung me. “It’s okay. I’m just looking at your ankle.” I felt him turn my ankle along with a trickle of water that dripped from his body onto my leg. “You’re bleeding.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  I didn’t want to talk. I made my jaw tight, teeth grinding together, and my body trembling as if I were sitting on an iceberg.

  “Trinity, you are not going to flip out on me, are you?”

  That question brought my eyes open.

  “No.”

  “Good.”

  I wanted to close my eyes again, but something about the way he’d asked if I was going to flip out burrowed deeply under my not so thick skin.

  “Do you think you can walk? You might have sprained your ankle.”

  I searched in the folds of my shirt for my glasses. Reid found them and handed them back to me. I slipped them onto my nose, sliding them up into position. “I can walk.”

  Reid helped me to my feet. I wavered. He scooped me up into his arms. I let out a small gasp of air. He was carrying me. My body became as hard and as stiff as a board.

  “Trinity, everything is all right. You need to relax; I won’t hurt you, okay?”

  “Okay,” I said, but my body remained rigid. I held my breath.

  Reid carried me out of the garden, over past the long span of lawn, and in through the back entrance to his house. I had to take a breath or pass out. I opted to take a breath. Upon my inhalation I smelt chlorine and sunshine. Reid smelled like summer.

  “I’m going to put you down,” Reid forewarned. He placed me onto the countertop in a large bathroom. Glancing down, I saw my legs and feet dangle over the edge. “Sit still.”

  Reid rummaged through a cabinet for a moment. He pulled out some peroxide, Neosporin, and a couple of Band-Aids before turning around to face me. I watched him, intently. Observing the hard lines of his body. The wet shirt clung to his muscles like a lover. I also noticed the look of concentration upon his perfect face. My gaze slid down the slope of his nose, over the jet of his cheekbones, the angle of his jaw, the curve of his mouth. He noticed my looking. My head dropped down. Curls enclosed around my face like a golden curtain that very effectively shut me off from view. I was hidden in plain sight.

  As though Reid were moving in slow motion, his large hand reached out for my ankle. A sensation of flushing heat seeped though my leg just as his fingers outlined the cut. My ears were burning hot. It was a mix of mortification and desire that blazed over my skin.

  “This might sting,” he said. He placed the peroxide onto a cotton ball then placed the cotton ball to my cut. I jerked, but stopped when his hand found my flesh again. Reid massaged my calf. “Sorry. I know that has got to sting like a bitch.”

  Reid reached over to grab another cotton ball, more peroxide, and carefully cleaned up the blood that trickled down my ankle. Once the blood was gone he swiped some Neosporin onto the cut, and placed a bandage over the small crescent-like wound.

  “You don’t need stitches,” he offered, “but you’re probably going to have a small scar.” Reid removed my daisy covered flip-flop. It hit the floor. He rubbed his thumb over the top of my foot before moving my ankle, rotating it. I shuddered. “Does that hurt?”

  “No,” I whispered.

  “Good,” he replied.

  The high intonations of a female voice called out. “Reid, are you home?”

  Immediately I stiffened then flinched. Reid patted my leg as if to tell me everything was all right.

  “Yes. I’m in the downstairs bathroom.” A pause. “The blue one,” he clarified.

  An elegant, well-dressed woman with blonde hair worn in a French braid walked through the door. She wore a tailored dark blue dress suit, black seamed stockings, and high heel shoes made out of some form of exotic leather.

  “Hello,” she said in a smooth cultured soprano voice, acknowledging me.

  I stared. Like an idiot.

  “Mom, this is Trinity Winslow.”

  “Of course, Trinity,” Mrs. Addison said. “I’m glad to meet you.” Mrs. Addison looked at her son then back toward me. “It looks like you might be having a bad day.”

  I wanted to say something. Acknowledge her, but I continued to stare.

  “Trinity is very shy,” Reid said.

  Mrs. Addison smiled kindly. Her eyes were the color of lilac. I assumed contact lenses; I’d never seen lilac colored eyes before.

  “She fell, cut up her ankle so I thought I better help her out,” Reid continued.

  Mrs. Addison’s face looked worried. “Trinity, my dear. Should I call for a doctor?”

  I shook my head no.

  “She’ll be fine,” Reid assured, “it’s not broken. And since she can move it, I think everything is okay.”

  “Well, Reid, you better help her back home,” Mrs. Addison instructed before she turned her attention back to my face. “Or would you rather stay? Have some lunch with us? Ryder, that’s my husband,” she explained, “is bringing home Thai.”

  I finally spoke in quite breathy words. “Um … I better go.”

  Mrs. Addison nodded. “Of course, dear. Maybe another time.”

  Reid helped me to my feet, but to my shock, he never let loose of my arm. I slipped my shoe back on, and Reid walked me to the door.

  “Mom, I’ll be back in a few,” he said before he helped me down the hall.

  “Your father should be home in an hour. Are you going to stick around?”

  “Sure!”

  He led the way past a huge living room, what looked like a game room then out through a back entrance.

  I heard, “It was nice to meet you, Trinity!”

  But there was no way I was going to yell back my reply to Mrs. Addison so I stiffened.

  Once outside, I glanced up at Reid. “Sorry,” I said.

  “For what?”

  I pushed my glasses back up my nose. “I don’t do well with people.”

  “Really? I would not have noticed,” he joked, a smile peeking out from the edges of his luscious lips.

  “Your mother probably thinks I’m insane.”

  Reid shrugged his shoulders. A perfect piece of hair fell over his brow. He pushed it back. “No more than any other girl I’ve brought home, I’m sure.”

  I believed there probably had been a lot of girls.

  Reid took ahold of my elbow when we crossed over a stone path, making sure I was steady. I stiffened again. He smirked.

  “If you are going to stiffen every time I touch you than I guess I will need to stop. But that presents a problem because how am I supposed to kiss a girl I can’t touch?”

  I stared at him. I was pretty sure he was trying to joke around with me, but I wasn’t quite sure how to take him.

  “I don’t do well with touching,” I admitted.

  Reid chuckled. “You don’t do well with a lot of things, do you?”

  “No.”

  Reid stopped at the front door to the guesthouse. He let his hand drop from my elbow.


  “Are you going to be okay, Trinity?”

  No, I would probably never be okay, but I knew he was asking in more specific terms of my ankle.

  “Yes,” I muttered.

  “Okay.” He smiled, flashing his perfect teeth and those tempting dimples. “Be careful, all right?”

  All I could do was shake my head in agreement.

  “Hey, asshole!” As if this voice hit me, I jumped, stumbled, and clutched at Reid’s arm.

  “It’s okay,” Reid assured me.

  A tall lanky boy with sandy brown hair and a rounded face approached at a sprint. I tucked myself behind Reid.

  “I’ve been trying to get ahold of you, dickhead. Why aren’t you answering your cell?” the boy said in a deep raspy voice. He noticed me, clinging behind Reid. “Who’s this?” he asked.

  “Trinity, everything is fine. I promise. This is one of my friends. His name is L.J. He didn’t mean to scare you. He’s just obnoxious and loud.”

  “Hey!” L.J. protested.

  Reid turned his head. He gave L.J. a mincing glare. “Can you shut up and give me a minute?” he snapped. He turned his attention back to me.

  “What the hell?” L.J. spluttered and play punched Reid in the shoulder. “Since when does pussy come before bros?” he said with a smart-ass laugh. “Is she why you haven’t been answering your phone? You too busy tapping her little ass?” L.J. stared at me as if I were nothing, confirming what I already felt, more than nothing. “Besides, this chick isn’t your type. You going slumming?”

  Tears streamed down my face. I didn’t want to cry. I wanted to be bold, tell L.J. off, but I wasn’t that person.

  “What the fuck, L.J.? You either apologize to Trinity or I am going to kick your fucking ass!”

  “Are you shittin’ me?” L.J. said, incredulous.

  Reid moved forward, his face stone cold, and harsh. He wasn’t messing around; in fact, he was intimidating at the moment.

  “Now, L.J.! You owe her an apology.”

  L.J. held up his hands in surrender. “Sure. Don’t get so worked up. Fuck, dude.”

  Reid pressed his finger into L.J.’s chest. “Apologize!”

  I was going to lose my ability to breathe. L.J. moved around Reid. I grabbed onto Reid’s arm. Shudders ripped through my body. Reid tucked my under his arm.

  “Listen, I’m sorry,” L.J. said. “I’m an asshole most of the time so you can’t really take anything I say to heart.” He paused. “What’s your name?”

  “Trinity,” Reid interjected.

  “Trinity,” L.J. echoed. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. It’s cool if you’re with Reid. I didn’t mean what I said.”

  I whispered, “I’m not with Reid.”

  Reid held me close. He’d secured my shaking body into the side of him, absorbing my shakes, taking them into his body.

  “Not that it is any of your concern what I do and who I do it with, but Trinity and her family live here, L.J.,” Reid confirmed.

  “Oh…. This is the girl you were talking about last night? The daughter of your new housekeeper?”

  Reid’s face looked angry. “No, this is her sister.”

  My body slumped. Reid had been talking about Bentley. No doubt how beautiful and sexy Bentley was, but what did I expect? Bentley would be Reid’s type, I never would be.

  “Sister Trinity…” L.J. said with a crooked grin that gave him one creased dimple. “You must be the good sister?”

  Reid’s brow pulled down. “What the hell is that supposed to mean, L.J.?”

  L.J. winked. “Nothing. I don’t mean anything by it, Trinity. You just look shy and innocent.” L.J. eyed me. “I would say completely opposite of how your sister was explained to us last night.”

  “Okay, L.J., I think you need to go,” Reid said, coolly.

  “Go? I was trying to get ahold of you about a party on the beach. Grade A ass.” L.J. smirked. “Go get dressed and let’s get going.”

  “I have other plans, L.J.”

  L.J. looked perplexed. His chocolate brown eyes flickered. “Tell me you aren’t going to do the sister thing and bang both of them?”

  “Fucking hell, L.J. You’re not going to be happy until I kick your ass, are you?”

  L.J. chuckled. “Whatever, dude,” he said, as he turned muttering a plethora of smut under his breath while he walked off.

  Reid glanced down at me. “I’m sorry,” he said, moving me forward. He had opened up the front door of the guesthouse and helped me in.

  “It’s fine.” My body was still shaky and my mind was a swirling whirlwind of conflicting emotions and thoughts.

  “No, it’s not. L.J. is an asshole who needs to have his ass kicked. He has a big mouth and he never thinks before he speaks.”

  “I need to sit down.” Reid helped me into the kitchen, pulled out the bar stool, and lifted me up, placing me onto the stool. “Thanks.”

  I placed my head into my hands. My curls swirled around me, completely obscuring my face and arms.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” Reid offered.

  I lifted my head. He walked over to the refrigerator and opened the door.

  “Bentley and my mom went shopping today, so we don’t really have anything. I think there are some bottles of water in the cabinet.”

  Reid opened up the cabinet, pulled out a bottle, unscrewed the top, and handed it over. “Do you want these in the refrigerator? You’re going to drink warm water.”

  “Sure,” I said.

  Reid placed the bottles into the refrigerator before he sat down beside me.

  “So how long will it take to stop shaking?”

  “A while. I don’t do well—”

  “You don’t do well with people, with strangers, with loud noise, with crowds, with touching, with open spaces…” He hesitated. “Have I left anything out?”

  “I’m afraid to fly. I’m afraid of the dark.” I paused. “I’m not normal, let’s just leave it at that.”

  “Who is normal, baby bird?”

  Baby bird?

  “Listen. I have to go. Are you really going to be okay?”

  “Sure,” I lied.

  I walked Reid to the door. His black corded necklace dangled around his neck. The metal barb caught the glint of the sun and sent the metal luminous for a moment.

  “I’ll see you around,” he said.

  My heart sank. I nodded in agreement and watched him until I could no longer see him. The breeze blew. My clothes were actually damp, wet from where he’d carried me. I smelt of chlorine and sunshine. I smelled like Reid, like summer. There was something about Reid that made my want … what? That’s one question that required an answer.

  Chapter Three

  The sun was shining. White billowy clouds floated effortlessly in the clear blue sky. They were puffy, and reminded me of cotton balls. It looked as if you could pluck them from midair. I shivered, and thought it strange to feel a cool crisp edge to the breeze, especially with the sun out. I glanced down to find something glint copper by my feet. I picked it up.

  “Look, dad,” I said. I’d found a treasure, so I held up the bright new penny for his inspection.

  His attention fell to me with loving eyes the color of fresh cut grass. “Make a wish,” he said. He patted the top of my head. “Find a penny pick it up, make a wish and have good luck.”

  I smiled, closed my eyes, and made a wish. Something rang out reminiscent of booming thunder. The earth below my feet began to shake. I gasped, jumped, and opened my eyes. People were screaming, and scattering. The sky was enveloped in dark, forbidding clouds. Floating. People were floating. Billowing gray smoke filled my lungs as though an insidious intruder. I could not breathe. I grabbed at my throat. Coughed. My eyes watered.

  I yelled, “Dad!”

  No answer.

  The earth shook again. I stretched my arms out, but felt nothing. Sirens. Buildings shuddered. The ground quaked. Things tumbled. I heard them fall, and felt the repercussion of th
e impact hit the ground. The noise, the chaos, was shattering.

  “Daddy, where are you!”

  Nothing.

  Someone grabbed my arm. They were tugging me. Some stranger was touching me. I’d lost my father and a stranger was taking me farther from him. Fear, unlike anything I had ever known, gripped me. It attached to my body like slithering tentacles that moved beneath my skin. Terror seeped into my veins, twisted up my spine, and manacled its insidiousness onto my very bones. Black shadows roamed around like demons from hell. I fought, not knowing who or what was touching me. I was unable to fully see.

  Was my mind playing tricks on me? It had been daylight, but now it was dark, black. There was debris; I felt it beneath my feet. Something snagged at my ankle, tore my pants. I tried to say stop. No voice. Some sort of thing dragged me through what must be hell. I reached up with one hand to rub at my eyes. They burned. Smoke and the soured smell of chemicals oozed into my lungs. Things were unclear. Noise came from everywhere. Some sounds were indefinable, some quite definable. I experienced heat. Fire. Breaking glass. Building alarms. More tugging. Screams. Moaning.

  I felt my face. Blood. It rolled down my cheek and mixed in with my tears. I tasted the metallic rusty taste upon my lips. My vision, gone. I no longer had a voice. My breath was leaving me.

  Something covered my face, over my nose. Hands. At least I thought they were hands. They carried me away. Where are they taking me? More screaming. Explosions. Glass shattering. More sirens. Nothing….

  I shot up in bed. Labored for breath. Unable to focus for a moment. The beating of my heart, fierce. I looked around. I was home, in California, in my bed, and not the hospital. I relaxed. My shoulders slumped. My cotton sheets were tangled around my feet, binding me. It took a second, but I shook them free. Bentley, where is Bentley? I focused. Thought. Bentley’s in Georgia. At college. She’s safe.

  I glanced at the alarm clock beside my bed. Bright red numbers glared 1:24 a.m. Saturday morning. Stretching, I took in another breath, rolled out of bed, and felt my feet hit the floor. Air. I needed air. I snuck out of the house, in the dark. This was unlike me. Out of character. I feared the dark.