Sea Breeze 02 - Because of Low

coffee.
    “Are you coming back tonight?” He asked after a few minutes. I wanted him to be asking because he wanted to see me. But I also knew I needed to get those thoughts under control before I set myself up to get hurt.
    “Not sure but I doubt it. I’m probably going to stay at my sister’s,” I didn’t want to elaborate but I was due a night since I’d kept Larissa yesterday. Besides I couldn’t move into Cage’s bed.
    A frown creased his forehead and he appeared to be thinking about something that bothered him.
    “You know I don’t mind you being here. If you need to stay here I’m completely cool with it. This is Cage’s place after all.”
    I smiled and swallowed my last bite of bacon.
    “Thank you but that isn’t why. I can’t just move in here. It would crimp Cage’s life and he’d eventually get annoyed with me. He doesn’t see it that way but I don’t want to wear out my welcome.”
    Marcus shook his head, “You won’t wear out your welcome. I’m positive Cage would never want you somewhere else. He’s very protective of you.”
    I smiled and stood up to take my plate to the sink.
    “Whether he realizes it or not he needs his freedom and room to breathe.”
    Marcus frowned but didn’t respond.
    “Thanks again for breakfast. It was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. I appreciate it.” The small frown eased at my words and he smiled but I could still see the concern in his eyes. God he was going to get past my barriers. I needed to put some distance between us.
    “I’m gone. See ya later,” I called out as I headed for the door without looking back.
    “Bye Willow.”

    Marcus

    Amanda called me from school upset shortly after Willow left. Apparently Dad hadn’t come home last night and Mom had locked herself in her bedroom crying and wouldn’t come out this morning. I’d gone by to check on Mom first and she’d put on a happy face for me but the dark circles under her eyes told me she knew the truth. It was time I had a talk with dad.
    As I pulled into the parking lot at Sea Breeze High School, I spotted Amanda sitting on a picnic table outside the cafeteria entrance with Sadie White right beside her. Sadie’s arm was wrapped around Amanda’s shoulders as she cried. I wondered how much my sister had shared with Sadie. I hadn’t seen or spoken to Sadie in over two months. I missed being around her but it was just easier if I kept my distance. Sadie had been the one that got away for me. She’d been snatched out of my reach by a freaking rock star as crazy as that sounds. Jax Stone, the hottest teen rock star in the world had been both mine and Sadie’s employer last summer. We’d worked as staff in his summer home located on the private island connected to Sea Breeze. One look at Sadie and he’d been hooked. Unfortunately for me she returned the feelings.
    I parked my truck and headed over to get my sister. Sadie’s concerned gaze met mine as I approached. I could tell by the look in her eyes she knew.
    “Hey Sadie, thanks for being here for her,” I said as I walked up and reached out a hand to my little sister. She threw herself at me and began weeping harder. I wanted to kill my dad with my own bare hands as her sobs shook her body. Damn him.
    “She told me Marcus,” Sadie said quietly, “I’m sorry.”
    I nodded, “Yeah, me too. He’s an ass. A selfish bastard.”
    Sadie didn’t even flinch. She understood being furious with a parent. She’d had her hands full with her mother until Jax Stone fell in love with her and proceeded to fix all her problems. Sadie’s spoiled selfish mother, Jessica had been one of the things he fixed.
    “I just want to get away from it all. Can I come back to your place?” Amanda asked through her hiccups.
    “Of course. Sadie, let the office know I have her would ya.”
    She nodded and stood up, “Of course and Marcus if there is anything I can do please don’t hesitate to call me.”
    “Thanks Sadie”
    I pulled my sister up tightly against my side and headed back to my truck. First I’d deal with getting her calmed down then I was going to have a talk with my dad.

    Chapter Four

    Willow

    My sister wasn’t going to let me stay the night. I slipped my hand into the pocket of my jeans and squeezed the key Cage had given me. As much as I feared wearing out my welcome I needed somewhere to stay. Besides I’d left my suitcase in Cage’s bedroom this morning. To pay him back for yet another night this