“You as well, Addison,” Mrs. Murphy said. “The party is wonderful, and I can’t believe all the items you were able to get for the bidding. The auction promises to be a lively one.”
I smiled, sick to death of stalling and desperately wanting to drag my parents out by their hair. “Yes, the city’s generosity has been heartwarming. I just need to borrow my mother and father for a moment,if you’ll excuse us?”
The Murphys waved us away and I linked arms with my parents and hurried them down a quiet hallway.
“Addison, what is going on?” my mother snapped. “Is it necessary to manhandle me like this?”
“Trust me, Mother,” I hissed. “You don’t want me to say what I have to say in front of your friends.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The way you treated Dylan.” I crossed my arms.“I cannot believe how cruel you were.”
“I wasn’t cruel. I told her she cleaned up well. It was a compliment. I didn’t know she could look so... so civilized.”
I gasped. “Nasty, ugly, ungracious words!”
“Addison,” she warned.
I looked to my father, but he just stood there, looking uncomfortable.
“No! You are done treating Dylan like a second-class citizen,” I ground out. “She’s part of ourfamily—”
“She isnot!”
“She is! And she’s going to be legally sooner than later, because Asherlovesher. I love her and he’s going to marry her. So you need to wrap your mind around that, or you will lose us both.”
She sighed. “Don’t be so dramatic, Addison.”
“Dramatic?” I asked. “You haven’t begun to see dramatic. Do you know Dylan was shot at this week?”
My mom looked away.
My fathernodded. “We heard about the incident. But I’m not sure what you think that has to do with us.”
“The man who shot at her... he wants her for information she doesn’t have. They haven’t caught him yet, so he’s still out roaming the streets, probably looking for the chance to get another shot at her.”
Mother scoffed. “That man’s got to be halfway to Canada by now.”
“He could be.” I shrugged. “Butthat’s not a gamble I’m willing to take with my best friend’s life. But apparently you are.”
They both stared at me. “I hope you’re not insinuating that we had anything to do with that fiasco,” Dad said.
“With that one... no. But with this one... yes. Definitely.”
“This one?” he asked.
I glared at my mom. “Yes. Apparently after Mother insulted Dylan, she took off. So now she’s upset and wanderingaround Portland while some lunatic is gunning for her.”
Mother’s expression softened. She looked down and shifted her stance. “You can’t blame us for Dylan’s actions.”
Father had no comment.
“I can, and I will. And so will Asher. If you hadn’t attacked her, she wouldn’t have taken off. If something happens to her, do you really think either of us will ever forgive you?” I asked.
Mother lookedto Father. When he dropped his gaze, she turned to me. “Addison, be reasonable,” she said.
“Reasonable?” My voice skipped an octave. “Thisisme being reasonable. Dylan has thick skin, Mom, so I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve been mean to her. Is it?”
