***
We spent hours together in the kitchen playing Canasta, a game I was apparently terrible at. But it was so much fun. Mrs. Caldwell made these delicious cheesy snacks and we all just sat around laughing. It was the most relaxed I’d been in…a really long time. I didn’t think about Isabella once. All I thought about was how easy it was to fit in with the Caldwell family.
I smiled over at Matt as he threw his cards down on the table.
He smiled back.
“It’s a draw,” his mom said.
“What?” Mason said. “No way. We smoked you guys.”
We had played boys against girls. And Mason was right, I definitely brought Mrs. Caldwell’s team down. There was no way it was a draw.
“A tie,” she said.
“Mhm,” Mr. Caldwell said and leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Mason, do you mind escorting Brooklyn upstairs for the night? I need to have a word with Matthew.”
“Sure.” Mason tossed his cards on the table too and stretched.
“A guest room,” Mr. Caldwell added.
Mason didn’t reply to that comment. So I didn’t either. I didn’t want to be in some random guestroom. I wanted to be snuggled up to Matt’s side. Permanently.
“Goodnight, Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell,” I said. “Thanks for letting me stay.”
They both smiled at me.
“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Caldwell said. “You’re welcome any time. I hope you sleep well.”
I gave Matt what I hoped was a reassuring smile and followed Mason out of the warm kitchen.
“Night,” Mason said over his shoulder before the door closed.
There was an awkward stretch of silence. My thoughts were back in the kitchen. What did Matt’s dad want to talk to him about?
“You okay?” Mason asked as we made our way up the stairs.
“Mhm.” I didn’t know what to fill our silence with. I barely knew him. “My dad likes you,” I said. I have no idea why that was the thing that fell out of my mouth. As if it would be a compliment. His family hated mine.
He laughed. “Really? Huh.”
“And you were really good in the homecoming game.”
He smiled down at me. “Thanks. You should come to more games. There’s nothing I love more than my brother embarrassing himself in public.”
I laughed, remembering Matt’s amazing performance, as we stopped outside of Matt’s bedroom. I knew Mason’s comment wasn’t true. He’d taken Matt away the other night at homecoming. Specifically because he thought Matt was embarrassing himself. Why was he pretending he didn’t care?
“Aren’t you going to show me to a guest room?” I asked.
“I already cock-blocked Matt once today. No reason to do it again.”
“Thanks? I guess?”
He laughed. “You know…I could get used to having a sister. It’s kinda fun having someone else around to mess with.” He winked at me. “Night, Brooklyn.” He turned around, leaving me at Matt’s door.
“Goodnight, Mason.” I could get used to having a brother. But I’d never get used to having a sister. I looked out over the bannister at the chandelier. And even though I knew the history of this house, I felt safer here than I did at the Pruitts. I retreated into Matt’s room and closed the door.
I was finally figuring Mason out. He was kind, but in more of a joking way. Not funny like Rob. Just…hesitant. As if he was scared to get too close to anyone. I wondered why. He was probably the most popular guy at Empire High. He didn’t have to lose anyone if he didn’t want to.
I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold. Matt’s kitchen was comforting. His room without him in it? Not so much. I stared at his nightstand. Were there still pictures of Isabella in there? Was there still a huge box of opened condoms? Was there actually a vampire coffin somewhere tucked away in one of his closets?
I looked over my shoulder at the closed door. Surely I had a few minutes to explore.
Chapter 9
Sunday
I pulled one of Matt’s t-shirts over my head. He’d told me once that I’d look better in one of his. I hoped he meant it. I folded my mom’s squirrel pajamas and placed them on top of Matt’s nightstand. There was only one thing I really cared about looking for. I opened the bottom drawer of the nightstand. The envelope full of pictures of Isabella was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief. No more private investigator. No more blackmail. It was done. Matt was free from Isabella’s clutches.
I just wasn’t sure I was yet. How was my dad going to protect me from her? He couldn’t just throw her out. Isabella was his daughter too. I didn’t see how any of this could be resolved.