The Forgotten Ones

eye. “I told you I don’t want you near her.”
    “Please, allow me to finish. Helping your mother isn’t the only thing I wanted to talk to you about today.”
    I frowned at him.
    “I believe she’s in danger.”
    “My mother is schizophrenic. There is no chance she can, as you say, recover .” I shook my head in frustration. “And, as far as any danger she might be in, there is nothing more dangerous than having her see you again.”
    “I’m not able to explain further right now, but I’m begging you, please try to trust that I’m telling the truth.”
    “Trust you? That’s a joke, right?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
    “We’ll be watching to make sure your entire family stays safe,” he continued without missing a beat. “But if I do contact you at your grandparents’ again, please understand that it's important.”
    “Wait, what do you mean ‘we’?”
    Liam looked away, and when he looked back at me, his eyes pleaded with me to understand. Ethan was walking across the lawn, looking from Liam to me with a concerned expression.
    “Ethan, your family's home is stunning,” Liam said. “Thank you so much for inviting me today, but I’m afraid I must be going.”
    “All right, man. Talk with you soon.” Ethan glanced down at me, a question still in his eyes.
    “Allison, lovely to see you again,” Liam added with a nod.
    I watched him walk away, every muscle in my body thrumming with tension.
    “You don’t like him much, do you?” Ethan asked, watching me as if gauging my reaction.
    “I don’t even know him,” I replied. Okay, I needed a change of subject. “Are they almost ready for the fireworks?”
    “I think so. Keep your fingers crossed that they know what they’re doing.”
    I laughed at Jeff and Sean across the yard, fighting over a box of matches. Ethan muttered something under his breath, and I turned to see Rachel sauntering over to us.
    “Such a great party, Ethan,” Rachel sputtered, taking a sip of her wine cooler.
    “I’m glad you’re having a good time, Rach.”
    Rachel giggled, batting her heavily made-up lashes at Ethan. “Is it just me, or is it starting to get a bit chilly?”
    “I brought a sweatshirt, so I’m fine,” I said, pointing to the sweatshirt I’d wrapped around my waist.
    “Oh, you’re so smart, All-i-son,” Rachel stammered. “Do you have a sweatshirt I could borrow, Ethan? I’m getting goose bumps all over.” She held her arm up to Ethan’s face.
    She was such an annoying drunk.
    “Yeah, sure. I’ll see what I can find,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind him.
    “You all right?” he asked, his eyes scanning my face. “You seem upset.”
    “I’m fine.” I tried to smile, but I knew my voice sounded shaky.
    “I think I have one of Sean’s old sweatshirts up in my room. She can have that,” he said as he led me through the house.
    “So, are they back together?” I asked him as we walked up the stairs to the second floor.
    Ethan snorted. “Sean and Rach? Who knows? Who cares?”
    He paused just inside his bedroom door and turned to look at me. His face was scrunched in concern. “What is it, Al?”
    “Nothing. I was just thinking about something Rachel said to my cousin the other day.”
    He waited for a moment. “Are you going to tell me what it was?” he asked.
    “Um, no. I don’t think I will,” I whispered. I tried to keep my voice from cracking as he moved closer to me.
    “Well,” he said, his gaze moving down to my lips. “How am I supposed to make you feel better if you don’t tell me what upset you?”
    I inhaled sharply as he kept moving forward. I took two steps backward before I bumped into the wall.
    “She might have said something about you only being interested in me because I’m no-man’s land, ” I managed to squeak out.
    Ethan chuckled, and I could feel it vibrate through me. “No-man’s land, huh?”
    “That’s right. And she said I’m probably a lesbian, anyway.”
    His face was inches from mine now.
    “You’re not a lesbian, are you, Al?” he teased, trying to meet my eyes.
    “I don’t really have much to base my opinion on,” I said, the words just barely audible above the beating of my heart. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”
    “For the sake of your own peace of mind,” he whispered, leaning in so that I could feel his breath on my lips. “I’d be willing to help you figure it out.”
    My pulse spiked, and I willed it to slow down so