“What the hell would you like me to do, Mom?” I scoff. “Pretend she doesn’t exist?”
Her eyes lift to mine. “You know what? That’s a great idea! I’m already stressed out enough as it is without having to worry about this. If you so much as speak to the girl, I will ship her away to live with your Uncle Perry in California. Do you understand?”
Red-hot heat spreads through my chest. “Perry? Are you serious?”
She stares at me, dead serious.
This is fucking crazy.
“You can’t do that to her. Perry’s a total creep. After everything she must have been through—”
“She will be fed. She will have a roof over her head. She will befine, Easton, but if it concerns you so much, simply keep your distance, and there will be no need to worry.”
My voice is barely restrained. “A bit dramatic, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t. Eva is not just some girl from school. Once her adoption is finalized, she will be your sister. Do you grasp the significance of that? I will not let you, or her, tie any more scandals to our name.”
I glance away, trying to ignore the discomfort settling in my chest.My sister. The full weight of that hits me now. “You don’t know if the adoption will go through. She probably has someone looking for her. Parents, or something.”
My mother blinks. “She has no one. As far as records go, she doesn’t exist. It will go through, and when it does, she will legally be my daughter,yourlittle sister. If I catch even a whisper that either of you are up to anything—anythingat all—she will be on the first plane to California. I can promise you that.”
My throat constricts, and my eyes scream with everything I can’t get past my lips.She’s not cargo. You can’t ship her off.
For the first time since Christmas, my mom’s expression softens. She exhales, letting her arms relax at her sides.
Her voice is butter. Raw, liquid, slippery butter. “Easton, darling. I admire that you care. I do. But I need you to trust me that this girl is important for our family’s future. If you really want what’s best for her, what’s best for all of us, you will keep a thick wall between the two of you at all times.”
She steps close and pats my arm. I can’t even bring myself to shrug it off.
“That’s all I require, sweetie. Is it really so much to ask?”
My heart pummels in my chest as my mom walks around me and disappears down the hall. Her chirpy voice taking a call sounds, but I can’t hear past the ringing in my ears.
Is it really so much to ask?
For a year, I’ve watched her.
And now, that’s all I’ll ever do.
Eva
(Fifteen years old)
Blaring music, wandering hands, and the overpowering smell of beer.
It’s just a party, I tell myself as I walk farther into the living room.My first party. No big deal.For once, just be normal.
A blond guy across the room spots me and nods. Carter something. A sophomore, a year older than me. I nod back, and he smiles before saying something to the person in front of him.
That was easy. I can do this.
Someone bumps into my shoulder, and I gasp as the drink in their hands sloshes onto my shirt.
“My bad!” the guy shouts over the music. He turns sideways to pass me, having to slip between the hordes of bodies around us. His chest rubs my shoulder in the process, and I tense. My pulse sprints. The floor tilts.
“You good?” he asks, looking at me funny.
I only stare back because I can’t get my throat to work while he’s standing this close.Does he know? Does he know what I’ve done? What I’ve let guys do to me?His shoulder is still touching mine, and the contact feels like fire ants biting beneath my skin. I hold my breath while I fight the urge to push him away.
