I pass the long dining room table, which is covered with pieces from a newly started jigsaw puzzle. I don’t want to eavesdrop on Wyatt’s conversation, but I also don’t want to interrupt, so I make sure my footsteps are extra loud as I enter the kitchen to pour myself some coffee. Of course, he’s barely noticed me my whole life, so why would today be any different?
“Yeah, Dad, I heard you. I’m not a total prick, okay? I’ll—” Wyatt stops talking, turning toward the door and spotting me in the kitchen. “All right, Blake’s up. I gotta go. You know, make sure she’s fed and watered.”
My jaw drops. What the fuck?
He stubs out his cigarette in the ashtray, then comes sauntering into the house as if he hadn’t just spoken about me in the mostdehumanizing way.
“Fed and watered?” I demand, throwing his words back at him.
He heads for the coffee maker. “Sorry, that was more for my dad’s benefit.”
“At my expense,” I growl. “I’m not a fucking pet, Wyatt.”
“And I’m not a fucking babysitter.”
“Good, because I don’t need one. I don’t care what your dad says—”
“It’s not just my dad,” he interrupts in annoyance. “It’s all of them.” He holds up his phone, waving it around. “They pulled me into Dad Chat against my will and warned me that if I don’t protect our precious Blake Logan with my life, then I, and I quote, ‘sacrifice’mylife.”
“They didn’t.” I narrow my eyes.
Without a word, Wyatt unlocks the phone and slides it across the counter. I lean in, skimming the last few messages in the chat.
Oh my fucking God. My fatheractuallysaid that.
JOHN LOGAN
If you don’t protect her with your life, you sacrifice that life.
GARRETT GRAHAM
You realize you’re speaking to my only son, right?
DEAN DI LAURENTIS
Remember when Logan used to be normal?
JOHN TUCKER
You’ll still have your son-in-law, G. You can sacrifice one.
WYATT GRAHAM
You’re all insane. Please release me from this psych ward.
“Then after I left the group, my dad called me to hammer the point home,” Wyatt grumbles as he gets himself a cup of coffee. “I’m under strict orders to not leave your side this summer.”
“Really? Well, guess what? Youwillbe leaving my side. In fact, you will be as far away from my side as humanly possible.”
As he lifts the cup to his lips, I notice the purple bruise shadowing his cheekbone. I feel a prickle of guilt, but not enough to apologize again. He ambushed me like a feral dock dweller last night. I regret nothing.
We’re interrupted by the buzzing of my phone as two messages pop up. Isaac responding to my angry text. Awesome.
I chug the rest of my coffee and stomp toward the sink.
“He’s in your contacts as ‘the cheater’?” Wyatt sounds amused.
I turn to find him peering at my screen. “Stop reading my messages,” I order.
