Saint Sloan (Saint Sloan #1)(13)

“So that means I’m guilty?”

He bit his lip and his dark brown eyes turned darker. “Maybe?”

Did he really think that, or did he just want to be right? Hopefully, he just wanted to be right because there was no way he’d think she would do drugs. She knew better.

“Well, if that’s what you think.” Tears stung her eyes, and she refused to let them fall. It wasn’t clear if the tears were anger in nature or embarrassment for getting caught taking pills she knew weren’t from the store. In any case, she had to get out of there as quickly as possible. She wanted her home and her bed and away from these two who thought they could control her.

And she wanted to get away from the lying. In six months, she’d never lied to them. Ever. Well, not about anything important anyway.

Now she was. It didn’t feel right, and it didn’t feel natural. Sloan hated it, but she hated more how they’d look at her if they thought she really was taking pills, illegal pills. She wasn’t sure she could take the looks from them if they knew they were right.

“Ray…” Sloan took the time to steady her voice, but she didn’t think she could control the hurt in her eyes. “I’m sorry about Biology. I don’t seem to feel well and need to go home.” She breezed by him and into the kitchen where he’d already gotten her book out and everything ready to study.

It made her feel like the lowest person ever.

But she couldn’t stay.

Not with Aaron’s accusing eyes.

Even though he really wasn’t accusing… Not exactly.

It was her guilt holding her back, and her guilt for lying making her run away.

Sigh.

Sloan grabbed her backpack and threw her Biology book inside, along with her notebook and pen. She heard Ray stop at the doorframe, and she spoke without turning around. “I’m sorry for this. If you need any help, call me, okay? I can’t be in the same house with him anymore.”

“That’s sad,” he said.

Stupid. Stupid girl.

“Because he actually likes being in the same house with you.”

Aaron. Not Ray.

“Could have fooled me.”

She saw Ray’s shadow in the hallway. Just… perfect.

“Quit being like this.” Aaron walked into the kitchen. “I’m not accusing you of anything. Sit down. Do your work with Ray. Stay.”

She stared at him, really not wanting to believe him.

He moved the chair back and motioned for her to sit. “Please.”

Sloan never thought she’d see the day Aaron Hunter said “please” to her and actually mean it. Well, he’d said please to her when she thought he’d attacked her and he was begging her to believe he hadn’t been him, but the circumstances were different. She couldn’t describe how, but it was. His eyes had softened and, though he still had an edge to his voice, he had calmed some.

That calmed her.

And she hated it.

Behind Aaron, she saw Ray watching everything going on. He didn’t look happy. Maybe he didn’t like Aaron moving in on his girl. Though she hated to tell him, she wasn’t his girl. She wasn’t anyone’s.

“Fine.” Sloan gave in despite herself. She tossed her bag on the table and sat in the chair Aaron held out for her.

“Thank you.”

The chair squeaked when he nervously squeezed it. He let it go, and she heard him slap his brother on the back. “Night, brother. I’m taking a nap before work. Don’t study too hard.”

With that, Aaron was gone. Good riddance… maybe. She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about Aaron. She knew he could drive her crazier than any man in the history of men — sans Boyd of course — but she also knew if she wanted anyone on her side, it was him. If she ever needed rescuing, it would be Aaron she’d call for help. Well… Aaron and 9-1-1.

“I’m sorry about that.” Ray strolled in, his jaw set in a ridged line. He sat down next to her and fumbled with their Biology worksheet. “You know how Aaron is about drugs. Our mother and all…”

He didn’t have to remind her. Susan, their mother, had ditched them before because of her drug habit. Aaron never talked about it, but Ray did occasionally. It hurt them both and made them swear off anything that would tear up their family. Sloan hoped she wasn’t something that would put a rift between the brothers. She didn’t want to, but judging by the look Ray had given Aaron earlier when he’d offered her the chair, she could see it coming. Why did she have to choose? Why couldn’t things stay exactly how they were?

“I know. I’m not your mother, though. I’m not doing anything that will hurt me.” She hoped not anyway. She still didn’t know what medicine Darcy had given her. It hadn’t killed her, though, which was a plus. Yay for that. But Aaron was right, not that she’d ever tell him. She needed to stop. Just stop it. Now. Before it got out of hand.

Sure, she felt better than she had in a while physically, but not emotionally. She hated lying, and that’s all she’d done for the past fifteen minutes.

“You promise?” Ray asked.

“I promise.” I’ll never take anything besides over-the-counter pain medicine again, she added internally. If she was going to stop, he didn’t need to know.

He smiled a big smile that put her at ease. Good ole Ray. “Good. How about you come back over tomorrow night?”