“Landon, I told…” Nathan glances at me, waiting for my name.
“Violet,” I fill in.
“I told Violet we would give her a ride, seeing as we’re on our way there anyway.”
I expect Landon to protest, throw a fit, and get down on his knees to change my tire himself just so he doesn’t have to be in a confined space with me again, but he doesn’t. Instead, he sighs. Deeply.
“Fine.”
Fine.
I’ve never been more relieved to hear that word in my life.
And that’s how I find myself riding in the backseat of what I can guarantee is the most expensive car I will ever have the pleasure of riding in, with the man who hates me and the father who spawned him, all without a shower or a cup of coffee.
“I was just about to ask Violet how she came to have a flat tire right outside your house, of all places,” says Nathan. I don’t say anything. Landon doesn’t say anything. The silence isheavy. “My imagination’s running wild here, you two.”
“She’s Melanie’s sister,” Landon says after a pause, and my entire body stiffens. This is exactly what Mel didn’t want. This is exactly what she warned me against. I doubt Nathan is much of a gossip, but I’d bet my savings his wife is. Unless…unless my lowly service industry status is as much of an embarrassment for them as it is for Mel. They’d keep it a secret then. “She’s…staying with us.”
“Ah,” says Nathan. Every phrase he utters has an odd delivery, theahno exception. His responses are pleasant enough, and his tone is good-natured, but I sense an undercurrent of…something. Judgment. Annoyance. Disapproval. Or maybe it’s just his unique, upper crest way of speaking, as though everyone and everything is beneath him.“For how long?”
I expect Landon to say something passive aggressive, likeyet to be determinedorI was wondering the same thing myself.But instead, he says, “Not sure yet. Melanie’s going to help her find an apartment when she gets back.”
This is news to me, of course, but I don’t say so. I know when to pick my battles.
“I’m surprised we’ve never met you in all the years my son’s been dating your sister. I wasn’t aware Melanie had any siblings,” says Nathan. “Were you, Landon?”
Landon doesn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, I knew.”
Liar, liar, liar.
“Mel and I haven’t really seen each other in a while,” I say, feeling obligated to defend my sister. “I’m from this little town called Green Haven. Kind of a long way away.”
“I thought Melanie said she was from Philadelphia,” says Nathan.
Landon’s body tenses, and his eyes flash to mine in the rearview. They’re unamused and, unless I’m mistaken, slightly accusatory.
I quickly backpedal, because even though Philadelphia is four hours away from Green Haven, itisthe closest city to the small town. “Oh, I mean, Green Haven is kind of pathetic. Most people have never heard of it. I don’t even like telling people I’m from there.”
“But it seems odd that Melanie would lie, right Landon?”
“Dad. Drop it,” Landon says through gritted teeth.
“Drop it? Why? I’m interested in learning more about Violet here. She’s staying in my house, after all.”
“You meanmyhouse,” Landon corrects.
“Well, the house you bought with the moneyIgave you. But sure. For all intents and purposes, let’s call it your house.”
Landon doesn’t respond, but I see his jaw clench.
“So, do you two have any other siblings we should be aware of?” Nathan jokes.
I shift uneasily, starting to realize what I stepped into when I agreed to take a ride. A tangled web of Mel’s lies and half-truths, and all I want isout, out, out. I’m not skilled enough to play this game, especially when I’m figuring out the rules as I go along.
“No, it’s just us,” I say with a laugh, hoping to relieve some of the tension in the air.
“You must have been pretty young when she left town, then?”
