Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Saving Odette

ODETTE

I had spent the past two days driving across the country, eager to see my brothers. Now that I was here, however, I felt nervous.

I was worried about their reactions when I told them I was moving back for good. They wouldn’t be mean about it. They would pity me, and that was something I didn’t want from them.

Growing up with five older brothers, you learn to be tough and to never show your emotions. Of course, we would be happy to see each other and be sappy in private, but most of all, you had to keep that shit under lock and key.

My brother Wren startled me back to reality. “Are you going to sit in the car all day?”

“Sorry, I spaced out. I need a nap,” I said, forcing a laugh.

“Do you need help with all your bags?”

“Not right now. I’ll come back out later and get them. Thanks for letting me stay, Wren.”

“No problem. It’ll be nice having you around again.”

Wren was the fifth oldest out of the six of us: Sterling, Beau, Winston, Theodore, Wren, and then me. My parents liked older names. They thought it would help us become well-adjusted, hard-working adults.

“To be honest, I figured you would want to stay at a hotel because of Tyler. Is he going to join you later in the week?” Wren asked innocently.

“Umm, we broke up.”

“That sucks. I liked him.” It seemed like an absent-minded comment, but it still struck a nerve within me. Tyler was good at charming people, and most people we knew didn’t believe me when I told them what Tyler was doing to me.

Tyler was the reason I was nervous about being home. My brothers didn’t know that he was an abusive, controlling guy. So, when I saw my job had a position open here, I put in for a transfer and used it as my way out.

“I’m having some friends over later; you can hang out with us, or you can do your own thing,” Wren offered.

“I’ll do my own thing, like take a nap.” I needed one so my social battery for later wouldn’t be empty.

“The condo has a community pool in the back. I lucked out with this complex because all the units are by the pool, so you don’t have to walk down the street to use it.”

“That’s cool,” I said, trying to sound excited.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Etta? You seem off,” Wren asked, concern in his voice.

“I’m fine; I need to sleep. I did a lot of driving.” I’d been more tired lately. I think it was due to all the stress and trying to leave Tyler, and trying to figure out how to tell my brothers. I even found myself not being able to hold down food sometimes.

“All right, I guess I’ll show you to your room.”

Wren’s condo was nice. He had a bottom unit, with an enormous kitchen that was open to the living room. The guest bedroom was nice, with a queen bed.

I wasn’t lying about being sleepy. I was out like a light as soon as I got under the covers.

I woke up a few hours later to the sound of people laughing, which I assumed were Wren’s friends.

As I stretched, my stomach decided it was hungry, so my first goal was to see what they were eating and steal some.

“Sorry if we woke you,” Wren stated. “I saved you some pizza. It’s in the kitchen.”

“Thanks, I’m starving.”

I walked to the kitchen and helped myself to the pizza.

“You need to call Sterling; he said he wanted to go over some things about the wedding with you,” Wren said. He had been the mediator between me and Sterling lately. Sterling’s fiancé, Julie, doesn’t like me, and I always end up arguing with Sterling.

“I’ll see him tomorrow, so he can wait,” I snapped.

“So everyone, this is my sister Odette, but she likes to go by Etta most of the time. Etta, this is James, Marcus, and Will.” I had a feeling that Wren introduced us to change the subject.

“It’s nice to meet you all,” I said politely.

“Etta, do you remember Reece?” Wren asked.

I nodded my head because I had overstuffed my mouth with pizza.

“It’s good to see you again, Odette.” Reece’s voice was smooth, and the little half-smile he did was enough to send the butterflies crazy in my stomach.

“Same here,” I said as I tried to swallow my pizza.

Reece walked into the kitchen, gathered some pizza, and stood next to me.

“So, I’m assuming you came back for Sterling’s wedding?”

“I did. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Are you being sarcastic?” he asked with a small laugh.

“Kind of. I wouldn’t miss it for the world, but I don’t like Julie.”

“I don’t think anyone does, but Sterling seems happy, so why ruin that for him?” Reece’s response surprised me. He usually kept his nose out of people’s business unless they paid him. After all, he was a lawyer.

“That’s why I haven’t said anything,” I countered.

“Any plans while you’re in town?”

“No. Are you asking because you’re offering to hang out with me?” I asked jokingly.

He shrugged his shoulders. “It could be that.”

I was sure Reece was trying to flirt with me, but he was always a flirt when I was younger, so I decided to take it with a grain of salt.

“So, what’s new with you? Do you even still live around here, and are you still a lawyer?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“Yes. Not everyone runs away like you.” I hoped Reece didn’t mean anything by it, but it stung. I did run away. I purposely went to college far away from here.

“I didn’t run away. I went to college and then landed a job in another state,” I retorted.

“Mmhm. How is that boyfriend of yours?” Reece asked.

I was going to hear that question at least fifteen more times—and I was pretty sure I was going to snap.

“We broke up,” I stated.

“Sorry to hear that,” Reece said without any sympathy.

“I’m not. It wasn’t a good relationship.”

“What do you mean?” he asked as he stood closer to me—like he was actually interested in hearing why it wasn’t a good relationship.

“I would rather not talk about it,” I mumbled. Again, I didn’t want people to know how weak I was. I didn’t want them to know that I couldn’t take care of myself.

I knew I had to leave Tyler, but I couldn’t. He was always there, threatening me, and he actually hurt me the last time I left.

I finally told my boss why I wanted to transfer, and he helped me get away from Tyler. He was there when I told him I was leaving and waited for me to pack my bags.

I saw the pity in his eyes, and I didn’t want my brothers to pity me.

“It was nice talking to you, but I’m going to go hide in the guest room,” I quickly said.

“I’ll see you around.”

I waved over my shoulder and went to the room I was staying in. This was going to be harder than I thought.

REECE

What the fuck happened? I scared her away. I never scare women away, especially not Odette Hart. Etta was always sassy. She learned to stand her ground. Being the only girl with five brothers will teach you to do that.

I realized she was afraid to talk about her relationship. Was she worried I would make fun of her for it?

Etta was always pretty, but she had grown up to be beautiful. I was happy to find out she was single again because I did not like her boyfriend. He always gave me a weird vibe. There was something about him that seemed off.

“Is everything okay with your sister?” I asked Wren.

“I asked her if she was all right when she arrived earlier, and she said she was tired.”

“How long is she in town for?” I felt like I was asking twenty questions, but I felt the need to know more.

Wren shrugged his shoulders. “She’s leaving after the wedding, but I’m not sure how long after the wedding. Anyway, are you going to join us or keep pining over my sister?”

“You realize she isn’t in high school anymore, right? You can’t scare men away from her anymore,” Marcus added.

“I don’t want my friends involved with her; it’ll get messy and complicated,” Wren said, turning back to the TV. “Anyway, enough talking about Odette—let’s move on.”

I could tell Wren was annoyed by the conversation. Now, I have no intention of letting him know that I really was asking about Odette because I’m interested.