“Add on the fact that he’s always wanted her,” Presley continues like she’s been sitting on this thought for a while now.
I stare at her, mouth open in surprise.
Presley’s eyes narrow. “You didn’t know?”
“Alie told me when we met that they were just childhood friends and nothing ever happened between them.”
“Hmm,” is all she says.
I swallow hard, now thinking about my gut instincts telling me there was more to this, and here it is.
“Well, Alie would never. So, don’t worry about that.” Presley cuts into my thoughts.
I nod slowly, feeling unsure.
Presley leans back and folds her arms. “Aaron’s motivation is obvious. He wants you out of the picture and always has. He thought you were erased, but now you’re here.”
My pulse hammers.
“Why?” I ask tightly. “Why continue the lie though? He knows I know the truth.”
Presley gives me a look like I’m naive.
“Because if you’re gone,” she says, “he gets to keep playing the long game. He gets to keep playing the hero who stayed. The one who ‘helped’ raise Sera. The one Alie leans on, depends on.”
Pure rage courses through me.
“He’s hoping,” she continues, “that one day, Alie will wake up and decide she owes him something. Or that they’ll just be together for Sera’s sake.”
I see red.
“You don’t do that to a kid,” I say, voice low. “You don’t mess with a father and daughter like that.”
“I agree.” Presley’s tone is firm. “But Aaron doesn’t play fair. He’s a spoiled brat with mommy issues.”
My hands curl into fists.
Presley touches my arm gently, bringing me back to the conversation.
“I know you’re frustrated and you probably feel powerless right now,” she says. “But you’re obligated to be here. You know you have to. We need you to help this organization shine again.”
“I know.” I nod.
“You need to stay focused,” she pushes. “Because if you get benched, or hurt, or you blow up at camp … Aaron wins.”
That hits me in the chest. Because it’s true. If I lose my composure, I give Aaron exactly what he wants.
I blow out a breath. “So, what do I do?”
Presley’s gaze sharpens like she’s already forming a plan.
“Let me talk to my sister,” she says. “I’ll go to Alie and make her look me in the eye and tell me what Aaron said. And then I’ll remind her of what really matters.”
“Do you think she’ll listen to you?”
Presley gives me a fierce smile. “She’ll listen to me because she knows I’m brutally honest with her. And because she knows how much I love her and Sera.”
My throat tightens again.
