Semua Bab Rule Number One: My Brother's Best Friend : Bab 141 - Bab 147

I slumped low in the seat, only my forehead visible through the window, my eyes following as Blaine walked to his car, got in, and drove away. He didn't notice my vehicle or see me. Still, it took a long, long time before I could peel my fingers away from the steering wheel and open the door, stepping out on legs that knocked together as I walked.When Minah answered the door, she stared at me for a moment. Her lips were still slightly swollen, her hair artfully mussed up around her head."Cecily?""Hi."She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me in close. I could smell him on her, the scent of sex, bitter and musky and wrong. She was supposed to smell like Axel, not like Blaine."Come in. I've been so worried about you."I followed her through the house numbly, hardly listening as she spoke. She got me a glass of water and we sat at the kitchen table."How are you feeling?" I asked.She put a hand on her stomach. There wasn't even a hint of a swell of anything there, but she smiled d

I didn't have enough friends for word to spread like wildfire. It spread more like melted wax, dripping and hardening and cracking, the truth burning away until it piled up into a grotesque, uneven lump.Still, Minah's story spread to the few friends I did have. They made sure to tell me how disgusted they were on her behalf, how gracious she was to offer to help me after I'd done so much to hurt her, how selfish and arrogant and creepy I was. Then the messages dried up, my phone stopped vibrating with angry texts and mocking voicemails, and I was alone.I applied for unemployment payments and was rejected. I considered Minah's suggestion of seeing a doctor and rejected that myself. I didn't have that kind of money, and I sure as hell wasn't going to ask Minah for help.I huddled in my basement for a week. The air was hot and sticky, clinging to me, trapping me, enveloping me in spider's silk, but I was so cold. I put on layers of sweaters and buried myself in blankets, sweat dripping

Normal people would probably have directed their anger at Axel. They would have mourned, grieved, then picked up the pieces and moved on, finding some new joy in the world. There would probably be some anger reserved for Minah. She certainly wasn't blameless, but her role had hurt Axel more than it hurt me. Frankly, normal people would probably have been relieved that it was over. Being stuck in the middle of their insane relationship wouldn't have been anyone's idea of fun.I was so far from normal.The first thing I needed to know was if Minah was truly the one hitting Axel. I was fairly certain. He had all but confirmed it, but I needed full certainty before I did anything to her. I needed to see it for myself.We all have to have morals of some sort.I brought my car to the dealership and traded it in for a much shittier car and some cash to pay my next month's rent. Then I immediately drove it to Axel and Minah's house, parked it down the street a bit, and walked to the nearest b