Revolution (Collide, #4)(19)

I inched to Sherry quietly and palmed her warm behind. She jumped, gasping, but smiled when she saw it was me. I bent so she could reach my neck and she wrapped her arms around me. I wrapped mine around her slim waist as well and then palmed her behind again. She giggled and squirmed. "What's gotten into you?"

"Those jeans," I said and heard the low notes in my voice. "That's what."

She didn't laugh, but smiled at me like she understood. She brought her hands down and rubbed my bare chest, my bull tattoo actually, with her fingers. He fingers inched to the red mark on my arm; my reminder that Markers and Keepers don’t mix. "I am going to miss our little room."

I chuckled. "Me, too. Never thought I'd say that."

"Me either. But it's true." She sighed and bit her lip as she looked up at me. "I wish…we had time for one more go, ya know. With privacy."

I felt the blood jolt in me. "Mmhhmm." I leaned down to nuzzle her neck. "Who says we can't?"

She laughed and pushed me back a little. "That one says."

I peeked behind me to find Lily covered in chocolate. Knees to face. I smirked guiltily, but Sherry just laughed and called Lily to her. She hoisted her on the countertop and cleaned her up. Then she let Lily run off to play and came back to me. She pulled me down again and kissed my lips gently. "Love you."

"I know," I sighed in happiness.

"I know I need to stop cleaning." She looked around the uselessly clean kitchen. "I just can't imagine Mrs. Trudy leaving it any other way." She licked her lips. "Max is having a hard time."

"I know. I heard, but there's not anything to do about it. He's acting really strange lately anyway."

"Yeah," she half heartedly agreed.

"Hey," Danny said from behind us and jumped to sit on the counter. "What's up? We heading out or what?" Wow, that kid looked weird with a beard and shag head. He wasn't as hairy as the rest of us, but for someone who had shaved twice a day before, he sure looked different now.

"We're heading out," I said with certainty. Max nor anyone else was going to stop me from getting my family the hell out of here. In fact…



I don't know what the hesitation is about, but we're leaving today. It's the best thing to keep everyone safe. It's daytime, they won't be expecting us to move in the day. Honestly at this point, I don't care if someone decides to stay or not; we're going.

No one has a problem with leaving now, Jeff intercepted. Who has a problem?

Max sighed. I have my reasons. I think I'm the only sane Keeper in this group anymore! Everyone else's heads are crammed up some human's butt.

Now hold on just a minute! Kay yelled, making me squint. Maxwell, just because your charge is gone doesn't mean that we're wrong for still being close to ours.

I didn't say that!

I butted in with, Listen, I wasn't trying to start the great debate, I'm just saying, my family and I are leaving with or without you. I hope you come, but don't try to talk us into staying. We need to get out of here as soon as possible and I'm not going to wait around because someone's trying to change everyone's minds.

Duly noted, Max barked.

I let my eyes focus again and Sherry was watching me with a curious expression. "It's so weird how your eyes are still open, but you blank out like that when you talk Keeper talk."

"Sorry. I just remembered something I wanted to tell everybody."

"No, it's fine."

Danny said, "Well it's not cool with me. Rude, man." He grinned and then laughed when Sherry slapped his leg.

"Where's Celeste?" Sherry asked.

"She's crying in the second room."

We jerked to look at him. "What?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "She's pretty upset. She doesn't want to leave, she's scared, she'll miss this place 'cause Mrs. Trudy was here...and her mom."

"Well then go and hug her, you idiot!" Sherry yelled and glared.

"I did!" he defended and dodged her swat. "She said she was fine, that she just needed a minute."

We heard a loud sniffle from the door and turned to see Celeste. He was telling the truth. She looked wracked.

"Celeste," Sherry sighed and opened her Mother Hen arms up to her. She went right into the semi-circle her arms were making and I stepped back a step to give them some room. She sniffled again and let Sherry stoke her back. "Now, what's wrong?"

"Well, Mom…" She didn't finish.

Sherry hugged her for real and I ticked my head to Danny to follow. He pressed himself to Celeste's back and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and he kissed the side of her neck before following me out.

"Dude, this sucks."

"Yep," I said, letting the 'P' pop to show my annoyance. "I'm just ready to get you guys out of here."

"I'm right there with you, Pops."

I looked at him sideways with my What The face. I knew what the little twerp was getting at. "I am not your father."

"I know." He chuckled a little bitterly. "You're here."

"Danny, look." I stopped us. "I know things are rough right now and everybody seems to be going down memory lane, but I've got to tell you, I need you, man."