His Trouble Maker

Chapter 32

JESSICA

I feel so bad. So fucking bad. But Pierce told me Mom’s coming home and I need to fix myself.

Soltry.

I’ve wiped my face a dozen times, I’ve told myself to breathe, to calm down, to hold it in for five damn minutes–but it just keeps coming. My chest hurts. My ribs feel like they’re caving in. My throat’s raw from trying not to sob out loud.

Pierce is next to me. He’s not saying anything, thank god, but I can feel him watching me out of the corner of his eye. I hope he doesn’t ask hope to god he doesn’t touch me, if he does, I’ll fall apart right here. I’ll scream. I’ll throw up. I don’t know

Mom’s car pulls up. When she entered the house and give us a warm hug, I try to pretend I’m glad I saw her. I press my face to her shoulder and try not to cry. “I’m happy you’re home,” I whisper.

She pulls back just enough to lock at me, her brows knitting as she tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. Her fingers are soft against my cheek. “You okay, Jess?”

“Y–Yeah”

“You look pale,” she says, brushing her thumb across my cheekbone. “Have you been eating?”

I choke on a laugh that almost comes out as a sob, “Yeah,” I lie again. “I’m fine.”

Pierce shifts beside me. I know he wants to say something, maybe call me out, maybe help–il don’t know–but he stays silent.

Mom doesn’t push. She just pulls me close again, arms wrapping around me.” Aw. Both of my babies are so sweet” Pierce growls in the background, making me laugh. He hates it when mom call us babies, “Did Pierce take care of you while I’m recovering, Jess?”

“He tried,” I say, smiling a little because that’s what she wants–what she needs. I can’t give her the truth, so I give her that.

Pierce snorts behind me.“I did take care of her. She’s the one who didn’t make it easy”

Mom laughs like that’s the cutest thing in the world, completely missing how tight my voice is. How stiff my shoulders are

in the kit

After eating dinner with mom and waiting for her to sleep, Pierce and I are left in the kitchen doing the dishes. I mean, I’m the only one doing the dishes He’s just standing there, watching me.

“What?” Lasked, bothered.

I scrub at the same dish twice.

he says, “You gonna talk

don’t look at him.

swirling soap, trying to pretend that if I just keep washing, I can

He sighs. “Jess…

“Don’t,” I whisper.

hesitates, then straightens, coming closer. “You were shaking. I’ve never seen you like

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09:47 Tue, 5 Aug

Chapter 32

whip around. “No. Jesus, Pience.

firmer this time. “Was he

the towel like a

Pierce looks unconvinced

Imeet his eyes anyway.

hurt me, I repeat, “I

just broke my

“Jess

want to talk about it.” I shake my head, fast, desperate.” can’t. If talk about it, I start crying again and Mom will hear and I can’t–i can’t ruin her first night

about to reach for

away and that makes him

edge of the sink tighter, my knuckles going white, my breath hitching high in my chest because it feels like if let go of this stupid fucking dish towel, if let my hands go slack for even

quieter now, like he’s trying not to scare

squeeze my eyes

I know I’m not.

bruised from the inside out, my heart cracked wide open and bleeding down into my stomach, making me sick, making

need to get through tonight” I whisper. “Please, Pierce. Just let me get through

I can feel the words he’s holding back, the way he wants to push, to fix, to be the big brother who drags the truth out of me whether I want

But he doesn’L

too, like he’s still seeing the

“if you just said

will always be protective of me. I know that Tears burn hot at the back of my throat. I shove the dish

don’t want him dead,” I whisper. “I just

my

are around me,

my fists against