Free Lost Wishes by Kelly Gendron Page A

the pain stabbing me in the chest. “That fucker’s been in jail for the past three years, and if he wasn’t, I’d be the one in jail doing twenty-to-life.”
    Katie rises to her feet and steps toward me. My fist tightens. “He was drunk when he hit her?” Her hand lands on my arm, and I want to fall into her touch. Drop everything inside of me and let her catch it.
    “Fuck.” I cram my fist into my wet jean pocket. “I gotta get out of here.” I shrug away from her and start for the door.
    “Fallon, don’t go!” I hear her say just as the screen door slams shut behind me. And I’m almost free from Katie Rustle, her tender touch, and those I-wanna-save-you eyes until I spot Jenn’s headlights. Fuck! I forgot she was coming. She parks the car and gets out. I’m not about to leave Katie to deal with her. Twigs, that little thorn in my ass, is my problem. I gotta deal with it.
    “Hey, Jenna,” I say with a flat smile.
    She pulls her purse up over her shoulder, rushes over to me, her long black ponytail bouncing back and forth. “Is she okay?”
    “Yeah, she’s sleeping. Come on in.” I turn around and tread back into the house with her. I close the door and tilt my head at the stowaway. “This is Katie. Katie, Jenna.”
    “Hi, Jenna,” Katie says, and Jenna returns with a quick smile.
    “She’s in my room, I’ll—”
    “That’s all right.” Jenna holds up a hand. “I can get her. Just point me in the direction.”
    “Down the hall, first door on the left.”
    “Thanks.” She takes off after Twigs, leaving me alone with Katie.
    But to my relief, Katie remains silent until Jenna comes back out with Twigs.
    Swimming in one of my sweatshirts, Twigs rubs her eye and yawns as she shuffles over. “I’ll get your clothes back to you tomorrow,” she says to me then gives Katie a weary look. “Sorry, Katie.” She hangs her head low. “I didn’t mean to do that to ya.”
    “Hey, I’m just glad you’re okay,” Katie says, and Twigs looks up and returns Katie’s smile. 
    “Thanks again, Fallon.” Jenna ruffles Twigs’ hair. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
    I nod to Jenna and wink at Twigs. “See ya, kid.”
    “C-ya, Boatman.” She waves to me then Katie, just before Jenna and her take their leave.
    The low creak of the screen door as it closes jolts me back to my fucked-up situation. How in the hell am I going to get out of here now? Katie tried to stop me before. She’s going to do it again. I stare at the door and watch the rain as it falls from the dark sky. I want to run through it and burrow myself into its darkness. Hell, it’s gotta be safer than staying here.
    “Why don’t you go change into some dry clothes,” Katie says.
    I don’t dare turn around to look at the obstacle standing behind me. Yeah, she’s behind me, but somehow she’s blocking me from my dark haven.
    “I can’t stay.” I set my palm on the screen but don’t push. A part of me doesn’t want to go.
    “Why? Because of what happened last night in the alley?” I hear her sigh. “Listen, it’s crazy, we hardly know each other, but I know you felt it, Fallon. Something’s going on here.”
    She’s right; shit’s getting weird and uncomfortable. “Even if there is, you don’t get it.” I glance at her from over my shoulder. Fuck, she steals my breath. “I don’t want it. I have nothing to give you. The only thing I have to offer, all I can do is take you into my bedroom, tear those clothes off you, and fuck you. If you want that then babe, I’m all yours.”
    “No!” Her lips thin and she shakes her head. “If you’d just talk to me, open up a little…”
    “Open up,” I chuckle. This woman doesn’t get it. I turn around, tackle the two long strides it takes to get to her, and stop. “Believe me, if I was to open up , you’d find that there’s nothin’.” I hit my chest hard with a closed fist. “Absolutely fuckin’ nothin’,” I pound my chest again, “In.