WITH EACH MILE I TRAVELED down the road, her temper hit me with little stabs in the chest. My sister was angry. The sensation grew stronger the closer I got to my apartment.
My car rolled into the parking lot. I slammed on the brakes, coming to a stop right beside the stairs where Blair sat on the bottom step, waiting with her arms crossed. I tossed the door open with an apology on my lips.
“Don’t even.” Her fingers flicked up, dismissing me.
Hitting the trunk button, the flap popped up, allowing her to put the tuba case inside the back of the car. “Come on, Blaire. I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to . . . to spend the night.”
“I don’t give a shit that you spent the night.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“I texted you almost two hours ago. I know it doesn’t take that long to get here from his weird compound. Then I felt all those butterflies and shit. You’ve been cramming your tongue down his throat while I missed rehearsal.”
“I really am sorry. I made progress with him and I just couldn’t leave.”
“Just where have you been, Emma Sawyer?” The deep voice came out with a nasty twist. I spun around, seeing Kurt next to Blaire. He was too close to her. Glancing at my sister, she grew flustered at his sudden presence.
He spit tobacco straight on the cement, which splattered a little on Blaire’s foot. His beady eyes drifted slowly back and forth between us. The little brain in his head still couldn’t get over the fact there were two of us. His other little brain got it very clear, which made the sick feeling creep inside the pit of my stomach.
“What do you need, Kurt?”
“I’m just asking the same questions as your little sis here. We were both so worried that you didn’t come home last night. I’m getting a little concerned. You’re always coming and going . . . somewhere.” He shut the trunk on my car. Kurt looked at the red dirt on his hands that came from the white paint. Watching my reaction, he smeared it across the thighs of his jeans.
“Bye, Kurt. We are in a hurry.” I ran to the driver’s side as Blaire climbed in the passenger’s seat.
“You just had to provoke him over some dog.”
“Stop it.” I put the car in drive, speeding out of the parking lot. “I didn’t know he would get all crazy about it.”
“I told you stuff doesn’t seem right about him.”
“I know. I know.” I blew a blonde curl out of my eye as I came to a red light.
“By the way, I did a search on Wyatt.”
“You did?” I glanced over, bracing for whatever incriminating information she’d found on him. “I didn’t even think about looking him up.”
“I figured. And no. I didn’t find anything. Are you sure that’s his name?”
“Yes. I saw it on a Bible in his dresser. People don’t make that kind of stuff up and stamp it in gold on a Bible.”
“Well, I guess whatever is wrong with him is personal and not criminal.”
“This has never felt like something criminal. He’s hurting. I just don’t know why.” I parked in front of the building, clicking the trunk button. I thought my sister would jump immediately from the car, but she stayed in her seat, staring blankly out the window.
“That’s your heart talking, Emma. Not your common sense. But I get it. I felt it from you today.” She hesitated, letting the words form in her mind before speaking. “Do you think I will ever feel something like that? Am I capable of it?”
My heart broke a little for Blaire as her voice betrayed her true emotions. My sister wanted something she couldn’t even understand. I hoped one day it would be true. I hoped Blaire Sawyer could experience everything in life.
Reaching over, I grabbed her hand in mine. “I think you are. I believe you are. Those feelings only exist when you meet someone who makes them happen. I believe it’s possible. You just need to meet the right person.”
“I don’t know. We both know I’m not like other people.”
“There’s love inside of you, Blaire. But love is not the same for every person. It will be different for you than me. But it will make you happy.”
“You love him?” Her identical eyes caught mine.
“I-I don’t know.” It wasn’t exactly love, but I sure felt something for him, especially since I was so close to a breakthrough. I think Wyatt was finally going to let me help him.