Free Fractured ( Fractured #1) by Holleigh James

his defense. What he really meant was, “I can’t let you be a normal teenager, especially an independent one. Someone needs to be home to take care of Dillon, and to keep an eye on your mother.”
    I brushed passed him and marched into the kitchen. “Yeah, well I’ve saved enough holiday and birthday money to buy my own car, and if someone was around to take care of Dillon when he came home from school, I could get a job to pay for the insurance.”
    I didn’t look back, but imagined his shocked expression. By his silence, I knew he realized I was right, but he didn’t want to do anything about our dysfunctional family. Instead, he wanted to continue to enable my mother, and his excuses for working late to avoid coming home were annoying.
    Bryan had two jobs. He was responsible for his own insurance. Dad even helped him with repairs to his car, free of charge. I had nothing of my own, except new art supplies. It was so unfair… but then, I was a girl.
    Banging the cabinet doors, I rummaged through each one, looking for ingredients for dinner. I hoped it sent the hint that I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Things would never change. Instead, I wanted to remember the nice day I spent with Rob, standing in the ocean, looking at the clouds on the horizon, getting to learn the ripples of his body through my pencil, without actually touching him.
    Dinner was the same old routine. Bryan ha d a knack for shirking any household responsibility. He and Jimmy walked in just as I was serving. Perfect timing.
    Dillon separated all of the items on his plate by color , and ate at his usual snail’s pace. Dad ate quickly. He went into the living room to watch the baseball game on television. No doubt, he wanted to avoid any rehash of our previous conversation. Bryan and Jimmy joined him, which left me, of course, alone to clean up. Although Mom preferred having liquid meals, I made a plate for her and left it on her nightstand. I tried to wake her, but it was no use; she was completely out of it. Maybe it was better; that way I wouldn’t have to duck if she flung the plate at me.
    I started a load of laundry while all four guys sat around the television set. I don’t think Dillon even knew what was going on. He was probably in his own world, but he sat on the couch and stared at the television like the rest of them.
    Mid-way through putting the pots away, Jimmy walked into the kitchen. “Need a drink or some chips?” I asked.
    “Nah. Came to see if you needed help.”
    He c ouldn’t be serious. “Ah, I’m just about finished here, Jimmy. You should’ve come in sooner. Thanks anyway.”
    “Sorry.” He was quiet for a few minutes. “ Wanna talk?”
    Continuing with my task, I l ooked up at him. “About what?”
    “ Nothin’ really, just talk.”
    “Okay, so talk.”
    “Who was that guy you were hangin’ out with at the beach today?”
    “Rob Cooper. He’s Eric Bowman’s cousin. ”
    By Jimmy’s lack of reaction, I knew he didn’t know who Eric was. “Oh. I haven’t seen him around.”
    “ There was a fire at Rob’s house. It killed his parents. He’s staying with the Bowmans until he turns eighteen.”
    That caught Jimmy’s interest. “Why? What happens when he’s eighteen?”
    I shrugged. “I guess he’ll move in to his parents’ house. He’ll be legal to own it then.”
    “Is that why you like him?” Jimmy ran his fingers along the refrigerator door handle. He bowed his head, his straight blond hair hung in his face.
    “No. He’s good-looking and nice. He came over and started talking. I couldn’t ignore him.”
    Jimmy looked up. He nodded in agreement, but it was obvious that he was disappointed that I had been talking to another guy . I guess he’s been picking up my father’s bad habits.
    “Besides, you and Bryan were out c ruising the beach for hot babes,” I reminded him. A rosy color dusted his cheeks, and he looked down at his feet again. I gave him a light punch in the