Forest Lake

Chapter 30

Just the thought of living in a world without her made me sick.

I don’t really know how I survived nine years not knowing where she was or what she was doing. I kept telling myself that she was enjoying her life without me in it. I kept telling myself that she and mom were far away and had forgotten about me and my dad. I kept telling myself that I hate them for abandoning us.

As it turned out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I don’t want to go through that ever again. I don’t want to spend a day without her. I can’t let anything separate us again. I can’t let anything hurt her again.

I buried my nose in her hair, reminding myself that she was right here. She was okay. She was warm. She was not hungry. She was not in pain. I was holding her, and I was never letting her go.

Emma rubbed my arms soothingly, leaning even more into me.

I felt Cassie’s gaze on me, and I turned my head to look at her.

She looked sad. She was staring at Emma with an unreadable expression on her face.

Jax kissed the top of her head, and she turned to him. She smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder.

The movie ended, and I didn’t watch a single scene. I didn’t even know the name of it.

I spent the entire time, staring down at Emma, reminding myself that she was okay, and thinking about ways of making it up to her. I had a lot of making up to do.

“That was scary.” Cassie mumbled when the movie finished.

“I knew I wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight.” Jax sighed, standing up and turning the light back on.

The rest of us chuckled, and Cassie rolled her eyes.

I looked down at Emma and placed a kiss on the top of her head. I needed to talk to Cassie, and I needed to do it in private. I didn’t want to embarrass her in front of my friends. Unfortunately, that meant that I would have to leave Emma for a few minutes. I was terrified to do it, though.

“Chris, Jax.” I said, looking up at them. “Could you take Emma and Hazel and wait outside the door for me?”

Emma looked up at me, furrowing her eyebrows. Jax gave me a confused look. I ignored him. I would talk to him some other time.

“Don’t take them anywhere.” I continued. “I need Emma close. Just wait for me in front of the room.”

“Of course, Mase, don’t worry.” Chris said, giving me a knowing look.

“I will be right here, okay Emmy?” I said quietly. “It won’t take long.”

“It’s okay, Mason.” she smiled as she stood up. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

I sat up, placing my feet on the floor. I heard Cassie getting up as well.

My heart hammered in my chest as I watched Emma leave the room with Chris, Jax, and Hazel. This was the first time in days that I would leave her alone, and I didn’t like the feeling. I needed to hurry up.

“Come here, Cass.” I said as soon as the door closed.

I turned around to look at her as I patted the empty spot next to me. Cassie walked to me slowly. She didn’t say a word since I asked my friends to leave the room.

“I can’t help feeling that you don’t really like Emma.” I said, deciding to be direct.

Cassie wasn’t a stupid girl, and she deserved to be talked to like an adult.

“I like her.” Cassie mumbled, staring down at her hands. “She is really pretty.”

“Of course she is.” I said, chuckling. “She looks like me, and I am very pretty.”

Cassie looked up at me and gave me a small smile.

“But that is not what I am talking about, Cass.” I continued. “I think that you don’t want her to be here.”

My stomach twisted just saying those words. This is where Emma belongs.

“It’s not that.” Cassie sighed. “I am glad that she is here. I am afraid that she will steal you away, though. She already did.”

“Oh, Cass, no.” I said as I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I will always be your prettier brother, don’t worry about that. I just missed my twin, and I am having a hard time being away from her right now, especially now when someone is kidnapping girls. I am going to spend a little bit more time with her right now. That doesn’t mean that I love you any less, though.”

“Promise?” Cassie asked, looking up at me wide-eyed.

“I promise.” I smiled. “Give her a chance, will you? She is an amazing sister to me, and she will be an amazing sister to you too.”

“Okay.” Cassie said quietly. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” I smiled.

“Does Jax like Hazel?” Cassie asked, a small smirk appearing on her face.

I laughed, shaking my head. She really is a little devil.

“I think he does.” I said, winking at her.

“I knew it.” Cassie chuckled.

“You have the best brother, you know that?” I asked, smiling. “I wish I could be like him. I wasn’t a really good brother to Emma in the past, and now I want to be like Jax.”

“He is great.” Cassie smiled.

“I don’t know why you even want me when you have him.” I teased her.

“I need at least one pretty brother.” Cassie said, rolling her eyes.

“Of course.” I laughed. “How could I forget that.”

Cassie smiled, and I stood up, pulling her with me. I hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

“Okay, kid.” I said as I let her go. “I am glad we had this talk. I will see you tomorrow.”

“Where are you going?” she asked, furrowing her eyebrows. “This is your room.”

“I am sleeping in Emma’s room.” I said. “I don’t want her to be alone.”

“Oh.” Cassie mumbled as something I couldn’t understand flashed in her eyes.

Was it jealousy again? I decided to let it go. She needed time to adjust. That was it.

“Good night, kid.” I said as I opened the door.

“Good night, Mason.” Cassie said with a small smile.

I saw my friends waiting for me in front of the room, and I reached for Emma immediately. It was really hard for me to be away from her. Not being able to see her made me want to throw up.

I wrapped her in my arms and turned to Jax and Chris.

“Good night, guys.” I said. “I will see you tomorrow.”

I could tell that Jax wanted to ask me what Cassie and I talked about, but it could wait. I wanted to sleep.

“Good night.” Chris said, smiling at Emma.

“Good night, Chris.” Emma said softly, smiling back at him.

“Good night, Elly.” Jax smirked, closing our bedroom door.

Hazel rolled her eyes, but I could see that she liked the nickname.

The three of us started walking back to their room.

I held Emma’s hand tightly, reassuring myself that she was right next to me where she belonged. No one will take her away from me again.