“Classic Don,” she snaps.
I roll my eyes. “Oh, please. Okay—so he’s stubborn, annoying as hell, and has a super punchable face. But he has values.”
She laughs. “You’ve known him, what—all of a week? A month, maybe? I’ve known him since the day I was born, and I’m telling it to you straight, honey. Don’t talk to me like you know better than me. He’s a smooth talker,” she adds. “You’re just another girl who drank the Kool-Aid.”
“First of all, smooth-talking doesn’t work on me. And second—”
“I’m done here.” She holds up a hand. “Don’t waste your breath, Cassie.”
She’s definitely his sister.
“You don’t know the guy he is now,” I counter. “You’re so obsessed with what hewas, you can’t see how he’s changed.”
“I’d have to actually give a shit about his life to notice that, wouldn’t I?” She is so stubborn like Donovan right now, it’s insane. “I stopped caring when I realized our relationship was a one-way street.”
“Bullshit! You needed him and he didn’t step up—I get that,” Icontinue. “But you didn’t speak up, you didn’ttellhim you needed him to be there.”
“You think it was easy for me?”
“Of course not!”
Amelia’s eyes are flashing. “You havenoidea what I went through. It was pure hell. He was everywhere, all the time. There was nowhere I felt safe—ever.”
Shit. Is she crying? Why did I think getting between them would be a good call?I’m the last person to be giving advice—especially when you consider the complete shit show that is my relationship with my mom. But there’s a big part of me that can’t help but jump to Donovan’s defense. He was lame, and I’m not saying he’s perfect—but he reacted the only way he knew how. He was immature, and it’s hardly the crime of the century.
“Donovan is my big brother,” she insists. “He should’ve stood up for me.”
“And if you’d have told him, he would’ve done just that.”
“How the hell wouldyouknow?”
“I know he’s a good guy and he loves you. And I think deep down you know that, too,” I say softly.
24DONOVAN
For the second time since we met, I’m standing with my ear pressed to a door, listening to Carrie on the other side. No shirtless guy on the horizon today, thank God. And no sketchy groaning. My sister and my fake girlfriend are right there in the kitchen, their voices raised just enough for me to hear. I glance over my shoulder, hoping Mom and Dad don’t suddenly burst into the hall.Coast clear.
Carrie pipes up again. “I haven’t known Donovan all that long, and I’m not going to act like what he did back then was great or anything. But Idoknow that ever since he found out about it all, he’s been working on himself really hard.”
“I mean, you’re screwing my brother.” Amelia snorts. “That’s not what I’d call impartial.”
“I’m not hooking up with Don!”
Anymore, you mean. You’re not hooking up with me ANYMORE. Hopefully, Amelia gets right under your skin and pisses you off and we get back into the groove…
“So, let me get this straight—you’re together, but you’re not having sex? I give you a week. Max.”
“We’re just friends.”
“Really?” I can hear my sister’s snorting from here.
“I know how that sounds,” Carrie says. “And yes, itisweird…”
“Mom said you were dating. And when I asked you earlier, you didn’t deny it.”
“I didn’t want to kill the mood.”
“So, what are you doing here?” asks Amelia.
