* * *
My eyes creak open.
At first, I’m disoriented, confused as to how I got here, but it’s not long before it all comes rushing back. The pool party. The hot tub. Mel’s unexpected return. I groan, rolling onto my side to grab my phone and check the time. It’s early, not even seven, but my head’s throbbing, my mouth’s dry, and there’s no way I’m falling back to sleep.
Thank God it’s my day off.
Mel’s back. My sister’s back, but it doesn’t fill me with excitement like it should. Instead, I can’t shake my disappointment at her return, though maybe that’s the hangover talking.
Mel’s the reason I came here. To reunite. Connect. Bond. I should be thrilled she’s back. A good sister would be thrilled. A good person would be thrilled.
But now I have to pack.
Now I have to move out.
Now I have to say goodbye to Landon.
Wait, what? Why does that matter?
I suppress that last thought, which has no business taking up space in my head. Absolutely no business at all.
In desperate need of some water, I drag my sorry ass out of bed, and I’m halfway down the stairs when I hear the raised voices coming from the kitchen. Slowly, I creep down the remaining steps, tiptoe down the hallway, and peek around the corner.
Mel’s sitting at the kitchen island, a cup of coffee clasped between two manicured hands, and Landon’s standing opposite her, arms braced against the countertop, shoulders hunched in aggravation. Judging by their body language and the palpable tension in the air, it’s clear they’re continuing their argument from the night before.
I should turn around and give them privacy, but I don’t. I lean closer, listening harder because I have zero self-control and a desperate desire for answers.
“Because I can’t do this anymore, Melanie,” Landon’s saying. “I’m done.”
“Done withwhat, Landon?” my sister demands. “Say it.”
“Done withyou. Withus. I know about him.”
I wince, waiting for Mel’s reaction. Waiting for her to grovel after being caught in an affair. She doesn’t react, though. She doesn’t even blink. “You know aboutwho?”
“The guy you’ve been fucking,” Landon says, his voice eerily quiet. “Who else?”
Mel scoffs, rolling her eyes, playing it off. “Real classy, Landon.”
“I know that yourconferencesare bullshit. We both know you haven’t worked in a year. I know you’re just flying out there to meet up with him.” My lips part in surprise, as this is news to me, but it makes a lot of sense. I can’t help the disappointment I feel at her behavior. Landon’s not an easy person to be around, sure, but I thought Mel was better than this. “I’m done walking on eggshells around this house. I’m done with your manipulation. I’m done with your lies. This time I mean it.”
I brace myself for Mel’s response, but if anything, she looks calm. Way too calm to be breaking up with her boyfriend of six years. She just takes a sip of her coffee and studies him over the rim, her expression dispassionate.
“Say something,” Landon snaps.
“I’m not ready for this to be over,” Mel says finally.
“I don’t care, Melanie. I want you out.”
Mel sighs, like this conversation is boring her, and my stomach churns uneasily. I don’t recognize the woman before me. Sure, she was always level-headed in a crisis, but this is different. This is more. This is worse. “How many times have we had this talk, Landon?” she asks, and then she drops the bomb. “If you try to push me out of your life, I’ll let your entire family know you were young and stupid and did the one thing they wouldneverapprove of.” I frown, because this almost sounds like…blackmail. “I’ll do it. I’ll tell them,” Mel continues. “Don’t think I won’t. And then they’ll disown you like your brother, and your father will liquefy his shares, and your entire world will crumble, because all you fucking care about—all you’veevercared about—is that fucking company.”
My heart stops because I was right. I didn’t think Mel was capable of something like this, but if I’ve learned anything since moving here, it’s that my sister isn’t who I thought she was.
Landon’s shoulders tighten, and I’d give anything to see his face. “Get out,” he snaps.
Mel doesn’t move. “I’d be careful how you talk to me right now, Landon.Thinkabout your words before you spew them everywhere.”
“Eavesdropping, are we?” Eli’s voice next to my ear makes me jump, and I immediately snap my finger to my lips to shush him. He obliges, smirking as I drag him away, up the stairs and down the hall to my room. I quietly shut the door and whirl on him.
