Chapter 36 Chapter 36

Chapter 36 Chapter 36


“I didn’t say anything, Nat. She was just-” 

I sprang up from the bed, heart slamming against my ribs, but the words died in my throat. Nat stepped fully into the room, arms crossed so tight over his chest that the veins stood out on his forearms. His eyes burned with pure contempt as they locked on mine.

“You just can’t stop, can you?” he hissed through gritted teeth, taking a step forward. His shoulders were rigid, neck corded with tension. “First you pull that crap in front of the whole school, now you’re putting words in my little sister’s mouth?”

“That’s a lie!” Emma cried out, her hands fisting in my shirt, her body trembling against me.

His gaze shifted to her, softening for a split second before snapping back to me, eyes narrowing into slits, lips curling with disgust. His head jerked slightly to the side, like he was fighting the urge to look away.

“Nat, please,” I tried, my voice shaking as Emma tensed against my side. “That’s not what happened. She told me-”

“Save it.” He snarled, stepping closer. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. “I’ll tear you apart before you tear my family apart.”

Emma started crying again, quieter this time. I pulled her closer, one hand stroking her hair while my own eyes stung with unshed tears.

“What’s going on up here?” Mr. Martinez pushed the door open wider, brow furrowed. “I heard raised voices. Is everything okay?”

“Just a misunderstanding,” Nat muttered. He pushed past his father, shoulder brushing the doorframe as he left.

Mr. Martinez lingered, eyes darting between Emma’s tear-streaked face and my arm still wrapped protectively around her. His mouth opened, then closed. With a heavy sigh and a slight shake of his head, he turned and left too.

For a second I thought about leaving right then, but I couldn’t even move an inch. Emma’s fingers were still curled into my sleeve, her breathing still uneven against my arm. I sank back down with her, rubbing slow, soothing circles on her back even as my own pulse hammered in my ears.

Eventually her body grew heavy and limp against me as she dozed off. I kept rubbing slow circles on her back, my mind stuck between everything she had told me and the look on Nat’s face. I couldn’t make any of it line up into something that made sense, Mr and Mrs Martinez are known for how they loved each other, they even were even featured in the ideal couples show.

Emma stirred later. She sniffled, blinked up at me with puffy red eyes, and rubbed at them with the back of her hand.

“Lie down, baby,” I whispered, helping her settle against the pillows.

She pulled away slowly and lay down, then glanced at me, lips parted like she wanted to ask something then thought better of it and turned back.

The silence stretched between us, broken only by the occasional car passing outside and the faint tick of her nightstand clock.

“Are you mad at me?” She asked eventually, her voice barely audible, fingers twisting the edge of her blanket.

“No, baby. Never.” I squeezed her shoulder, forcing a small smile. “None of this is your fault.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

She nodded, got up, and reached for her drawing pad instead, flipping through old pages. I caught a glimpse of one, the three of us in crayon, Emma in the middle, Nat and me on either side, all three of us smiling. She flipped past it fast, like she didn’t want me to see it either.

I let her have the quiet, grateful for something to fill the space that didn’t need words.

I checked my phone and saw a message from Solane about tomorrow’s class. I replied, then scrolled through social media to distract myself.

About an hour later, the door opened again.

Nat stood there, fully dressed in a brown shirt and white pants. His jaw stayed locked tight, as he looked at Emma.

“Em, get ready. We’re going to Aunt Debby’s.”

Emma’s whole face brightened despite the redness around her eyes. She sat up quickly. 

“Really? Right now?”

“Yeah.” His eyes turned to me for half a second, before he disappeared back down the hall.

She scrambled off the bed, already digging through her drawers for something to wear. She pulled out a yellow dress and held it up for my approval.

“This one?”

“Perfect.” I helped her into it, brushed her hair back into a ponytail.

“Will you wait for me to come back?” she asked, spinning around.

“I can’t promise that, sweetheart.”

Her face fell instantly, shoulders slumping as she stared at the floor.

“I’m sorry for causing trouble,” she whispered, voice cracking. “I don’t want another babysitter.”

“I won’t be here when you get back,” I said carefully, crouching to her level, “but that doesn’t mean I won’t come back to look after you again. Okay?”

The brightness drained from her face instantly.

“I’m sorry for causing trouble for you,” she whispered. “I don’t want another babysitter.”

“I won’t be here when you get back,” I said carefully, “but that doesn’t mean I won’t come back to look after you again. Okay?”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Her expression lifted a little.

“Aunt Debby has nice ice creams not the kind Mummy buys.” She wrinkled her nose, already reaching for her backpack. “Can you braid my hair instead? The ponytail is boring.”

“Sure.”

I redid it quickly, weaving the two sides together while she stood still, watching herself in the mirror the whole time.

“There.” I tied it off. “Perfect.”

“You’re the best,” she said, throwing her arms around my waist one more time before we headed downstairs, her braid swinging against her back with every step.

I followed her down slowly, my chest 

Nat was waiting by the front door, car keys already in hand, not looking at either of us until Emma reached him.

“Bye, Mira! I’ll see you later!” She hugged me quickly, then let her brother lead her out to the car.

I stood in the doorway and watched him get her settled in the back seat, saying something that made her laugh before he shut the door. He crouched at her window for a second, tapping the glass, and she pressed her palm against it from inside, matching his through the glass. I stood there admiring how he loves and takes care of the sister, he looked different when he’s around Emma than he is around anyone.

Then he turned and walked back toward the house, my heart suddenly I didn’t move. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to.

He stopped a few feet away, close enough that I had to tilt my head up to meet his eyes. His breathing was still controlled but heavy, chest rising and falling.

“I care about Emma,” I said quietly. “I would never intentionally try to hurt her.”

“So you did it unintentionally then?” His lip curled as he stepped closer, fists clenching at his sides.

“Stop. No, that’s not-”

“Listen.” His voice rose, a vein pulsing in his neck. He leaned in slightly, eyes dark and intense. “I don’t care what else you pull now.” He jerked his chin toward the house. “You can go hide more of your damn letters. The house is yours.”