-Evangeline-
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Mr. Winters's voice strangles the tension in the air with his threat toward August.
With those words, I didn't think I'd get any wetter from this shower.
He drops August's jaw and walks out of the bathroom without looking at me, leaving August holding his jaw and rubbing the light bruising that is appearing with a glimpse of fear striking his eyes.
"It looked like you were afraid," August's attention looks at me from staring in the room.
"I wasn't afraid," I roll my eyes.
"Sure you weren't. Now get out of here and let me shower," August rolls his eyes and walks out, closing the door behind him, leaving me with the only sound of water splashing against the ground.
I take a deep breath -after being left alone by Mr. Winters just like that.
After stripping the rest of the way and finishing my hot shower, I walk out of the bathroom wrapped in a robe and a towel wrapping around my hair.
I stop and stare at the red stain on the hardwood floor from that day. It makes me wonder if Mr. Winters is going to change the floors or leave it there. Knowing his mastermind, he's, most likely, going to change the whole flooring in the house.
I jump from the sudden loud boot footstep on the floor, "August, what are you doing?" I say as August leans against the doorway of the room with his arms crossed, wearing his normal outfit.
"Just checking in," My eyes narrow in confusion.
"Why would you be checking in for? You never check in on me," An eerie feeling rises in my bones as August stares at me with a face of worry like he's trying to tell me something.
A sudden realization sets in, "August, why were you here on the day of the engagement party?"
"You call that a party?" He scoffs, "That wasn't even a party. I should know. One time, I spent the whole twenty-four hours partying in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day. It was the second-best day of my life."
Why would he be trying to change the question?
I cross my arms, staring at him with a straight face, "August?"
August sighs in defeat, "I can't tell you now, but I promise, in the future, I will explain everything. The best I can say now is Mr. Winters invited me to take care of some business."
"So, you're telling me the only reason you showed up here is because Mr. Winters invited you?"
"Evangeline, don't take it that way. I didn't know you were going to be here, or even engaged to him, but I don't regret reconnecting our bond. If I could, I wouldn't have left you behind. The only regret I have in life is watching you suffer every day, looking for me. I would have taken you with me, but now that I'm here, you're going where I go. Nothing is going to separate us again."
I roll my eyes, uncrossing my arms, "You're always the over-protective brother."
A small smile appears on August's lips with a tiny laughter escaping, "Someone has to."
"Can I ask you something?" I say with a quiet voice.
"Sure. Go for it."
"Do you think I'm going to be a good mother?" I look away, not wanting to make eye contact.
"No. I don't think you're going to be a good mother," There's a pause before August speaks again, "That being said, I don't think you're going to be a bad mother, either. Every mother is different in their own way, but I know that Johnny's going to be lucky to have you as a mother. Hell, I bet you're going to be better than our mother."
Even though August's words were brutal, they were the truth. I can always count on August to tell me the truth, no matter how harsh it is.
I smile and look August in the eyes, "You want to be on it?"
August lets out a laugh, and bites his upper lip with wide eyes, "I say yes. Like old times?" He grins evilly.
"What's the price this time?" I ask daringly.
"Hmmm," August rubs the light scuffle on his chin in deep thought, a smug smile pulls at his lip, "How about a tattoo?"
I roll my eyes and cross my arms, "There's no way I'm getting a tattoo."
August laughs, "Suit yourself," He turns around towards the hallway and takes a step before he stops, "Why would you question you would be a good mother?" He says, turning back around.
I sigh as I remove the towel from my hair, letting my wet hair drip down my shoulders, "I don't know. Mr. Winters wants me to be a stay-at-home mother. I mean, can you imagine me carrying Johnny while cooking dinner, or baking cupcakes? Or maybe cleaning the house after staying up all night with Johnny?"
August chuckles, "Sounds harsh, but that's parenthood. The question you have to ask yourself is: are you ready to be a parent?" I open my mouth to answer. Before I can, August turns around and walks away.
August's question stuck with me as I got my night outfit and night face on as I lay in bed, staring out the window at the moon.
Am I ready?
The rising sun came up before I knew it. I peer my eyes open, smelling the fresh trace of Mr. Winters on the side next to me, but his body is nowhere to be seen.
I look at the clock, sitting on the black table-stand next to the bed, bolding a bright red 10:04 a.m.
I haven't slept this late in a long time, but it feels like I haven't slept at all.
I assume Mr. Winters went to work. Why didn't I wake up to the alarm going off?
He didn't give me a chance to answer his proposition of being a stay-at-home mother, or was it a proposition?
"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST," I look at August standing with a disgusted look at me, "What the fuck is on your face?" I roll my eyes, taking the night mask off my face.
"It's a night mask. You expect this beautiful face to happen on its own?" August laughs.
"Don't worry, even using the mask, you're still ugly. Get up and dressed. We've got things to do."
I roll my eyes, "You're my twin. Calling me ugly is like calling yourself in the mirror ugly."
He rolls his eyes, annoyed, "You don't look like my twin. Just get dressed. We have plans."
"What plans?!" I call out as August walks out of the room.
I sigh as I get out of bed and walk to the bathroom. After my morning routine, I put on one of Mr. Winters's oversized grey shirts with pajamas and toss my hair into a bun.
As I walk out of the bedroom, loud noises come down the hall. Being the curious person I am, I follow the noises into the living room, seeing August playing on an old PlayStation.
August's head turns towards me, "Hey! Finally, two hours later, come and join me."
I suspiciously walk towards August and sit on the couch next to him. He grabs a controller and hands it to me.
"What? Don't tell me you're too mature now to play a round of zombies with me," I roll my eyes and grab the blue controller from his hands.
"Of course not. But, I didn't expect the 'plan' to be playing video games," August smiles.
"What else did you think I had planned? Did you think I'd take you on a mission with me while you're pregnant?" I close my teeth together and say nothing.
"Oh my- You did! You must think I'm a real idiot if you think I'm going to risk my nephew's life just because you want to hack into a bank," I roll my eyes and set the controller on the coffee table.
"Don't start without me. I desperately need something to eat," I get off the couch and walk towards the doorway.
"You better hurry. You have until the loading screen starts the match. I swear if I'm guarding your ass and end up going to the kitchen just to see your 'snack' is Mr. Winters, I'm letting you go down."
I roll my eyes and turn towards him, "Mr. Winters is at work. Unless some people, he actually works," I walk out of the living room and walk the long hallways and stairs to the kitchen.
The kitchen is quiet. Too quiet for my liking.
Mrs. Dontia is still out visiting her family, so the food-making will be up to me to decide.
As I grab a handful of snacks and food, I stop and stare at a picture of Mrs. Dontia and Mr. Winters on the fridge.
Maybe I should text Mr. Winters and see how he's doing.
I grab my phone out of my pocket and look for any messages.
No new messages
Maybe I'll sound too desperate if I text him. Then again, he's probably busy, and the odds of him replying are low. I wouldn't want to sound desperate like before.
I put my phone back in my pocket and made sure the fridge was closed before I went back upstairs to August.
"What the fuck is all of this?" August scans all of the food, junk food, and drinks I set down on the coffee table before I sit down on the couch next to him.
"Snacks for playing," I say as I crack open a pop.
"Bullshit. Most of this looks like diabetes in a bag," I roll my eyes.
"Just because you're a super health freak, doesn't mean you didn't used to eat like this when we were young," I grab a pop and hand it towards him, "I got you your favorite. It's red. Drinkable. Sweet," He grabs the pop from my hand.
"Fine. Just this one. Now, let's get started. I can't keep guarding you from all the zombies. We're already on round five," I smile as I grab my controller and get into a comfy spot on the couch to play.
***
"BULL FUCKING SHIT! YOU STOLE MY GUN!" I yell as I push August's shoulder.
"No, I fucking didn't! It's not physically possible to steal your gun in the game!" August yells back.
"Yes, it is! You got the box first! Therefore, you stole my fucking gun!" August rolls his eyes.
"Whatever. It's not my fault you didn't get the box first. You snooze, you lose."
"Motherfucker-" I raise my fist in the air, about to strike August when a hand grabs my wrist, stopping my hand in mid-air.
"Should I be worried you're about to fight August over a game?" His deep voice fills me with warmth, feeling his heat behind me, I look up above and see Mr. Winters standing over me from behind.
A smile forms over my face as I drop my fist and turn my body towards him while getting off the couch. I wrap my arms around his torso, squeezing a tight hug.
"I've missed you!" I say as I snuggle my face into his body.
Mr. Winters chuckles, "Did you, now? I didn't see any text messages from you to tell by," His hand strokes my hair as he looks at me with a grin.
I back away, looking at his loosened tie. His suit jacket is nowhere to be seen on him, and the long sleeves of his dress shirt are rolled up. His black hair is tousled from its neat form as if he ran his fingers through it from a stressful day.
"I didn't want to put more stress by disturbing you from your work. I know how important it is for you not to be distracted," He lifts my face with his thumb and forefinger, making me look into his eyes that pool with smokey blue.
"Kitten, you are the distraction I need. Besides, it was a more stressful day not hearing from you," My cheeks start to flush with red.
I lick my bottom lip, and Mr. Winters's face grins as his eyes see my tongue.
"What time is it?" I ask, changing the topic.
"It's almost five," August's voice rings behind me as Mr. Winters's eyes don't leave my mouth.
"I have to get ready for tonight," I lean on my tiptoes, and kiss Mr. Winters's cheek.
I walk away from his hand on my chin, and he grabs my arm, pulling me back in front of him.
"What did I say about not giving me the real thing?"
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-End Of Chapter 75-
Thank you sooooo much for reading Chapter 75 Of CRASHING DOWN INTO GLORY! <3