“I said I’m sorry!” Lilia says, though she looks anything but sorry.
Ruth turns toward me then, mug in hand, eyes settling in that too-neutral way people have when they’re trying to seem casual but are definitely weighing you up.
“So,” she says, “Lilia tells me you’ll be staying here for a while.”
I nod, even though there’s something stiff in the motion. “Yeah. Just need to grab my stuff from my house.”
That part alone makes me more nervous than I’d like to admit.
Because going back means facing my sisters. And after what happened, the thought makes my palms itch. There’s a knot in my stomach that hasn’t gone away since I walked out the front door. I’m not sure if I’m ready to see them again. I’m not sure I’ll ever be.
Ruth hums softly. “Of course. Lilia will take you after breakfast.”
“Cool,” Lilia says, slumping further down in her chair. “We’re meeting some people after that, too. That alright?”
Ruth takes a sip of her coffee and raises an eyebrow over the rim. “Who?”
“Bea, Will, Kai, Liam, Christian.” Lilia shrugs, already halfway done with her juice. “You know them.”
I assume she means that Lilia had gone to school with them. Or, at least Kai and Will.
“Whose house?” Mark cuts in, and he sounds casual, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes. Like he’s suddenly alert.
Lilia hesitates, then reaches for her juice. “The Steeles’.”
Mark is pouring more cereal into his bowl, but I watch him still. Barely, but enough. He lowers the cereal box, and the crease between his brows appears before he says anything. “Is that a good idea?”
Lilia lets out a soft groan, slumping in her chair dramatically. “We’ve already planned it. Please.” She hits him with her wide-eyed puppy dog eyes, and I know she’s won.
When Mark sighs into his coffee, I’m guessing Lilia figures that out too.
“Besides, what’s wrong with the Steeles?” she throws in, voice light with faux innocence.
Mark shakes his head slowly, the corners of his mouth pulling down. “There’s a lot of things wrong with that family.”
I suck in a breath.
Well. That’s… blunt.
But not entirely surprising.
The Steelesareintimidating. In fact, intimidating might even be an understatement.
I almost peed my pants when I first met Gabriel.
“Elliot is lovely,” Ruth says, shifting the conversation with ease, and I’m almost thankful. Her gaze flicks toward Dawn.
Dawn immediately looks down at her tea, ears flushing pink. She doesn’t deny it, though.
“So is Kai,” Ruth adds, after a pause. Her voice softens, but there’s something else in it now, and she looks thoughtful for a moment. Like she’s trying to find the right word and doesn’t quite like the ones that come to mind.
“Just…” She trails off.
“What?” Lilia asks, frowning. “Just what, Mum?”
Ruth doesn’t look up. Her hands still. “Troubled.”
Kai
