Fuck, if she doesn't go into music, she really should go into law, she would probably make one hell of an attorney.
"No. That's what he wants. We're going back now to butter him up."
"He will turn it rancid."
I bite down on the laugh that bubbles up.
Fuck, this kid will be the death of me.
"Yeah, well, let's hope not."
"Is that all you got?" She reaches for the radio to turn it up, and my laughter turns to a flare of annoyance.
A kid. She is just a kid. Fifteen isn't anywhere near adult, so I temper myself.
"Leave it, Lyndall."
My sister shoots me a glare. "Why? What's the point?"
"You know that attitude feels really fucking good, but take it from someone who's been your age and with our father, it gets you nowhere but trouble. We will go back early, have dinner, and I will do what I can to try and convince Dad to let you live with me, at least on a part-time basis."
"Part...? He won't let that happen. And I didn't research schools in the Hamptons or Long Island. Plus, there's no way he will let me live by myself for the time he's in Chicago."
"You're right. But you're also wrong. Look, we do this right and you might be able to spend weekends and some of the semester breaks with me."
"But—"
"And you might have to see out the rest of the year at the school."
"I don't want to."
Jesus fucking Christ. "I know you don't want to, Lyndall. But changing schools midyear is hell, and we both know living with me full-time isn't gonna happen. Best case scenario this year is commuting a number of days a week."
"From school?"
"Parents pay out the nose and the asshole to send their kids there. So, you have to have kids who do that. I know they do that. They work with parents and trustees. It's why your dorm is nice and you can spend vacations there or commute some of the week. Dad might agree to that."
She sniffs and doesn't stop hunching or crossing her arms.
She is pissed, I know. And disappointed in the kind of way only teens and kids can be.
"Yeah. It's bullshit." She shoots me a side-eye to see if I'm going to react to her swearing. "I should just run away. He wouldn't notice."
"That would be a great way to ensure he never lets youlive with me. Besides, nothing's going to piss him off more than you going missing from school. And when he finds out and finds you?"
"What?"
I clench my jaw. "You won't be going back to your fancy school. It will be one where you can't leave until you're eighteen. There are stricter schools. Ones with guards. For the super, super rich, and for troubled kids. To me, they both seem similar."
"How?"
I glance at her, then switch lanes. "How? For starters, you won't ever get out from his thumb until you're twenty-five, and you won't get to go to Julliard. Or get to stay with me. So...my way?"
Lyndall huffs but unfolds her arms and leans back, closing her eyes. "Fine. We will do this your way."
"Dad? Can we speak?" I ask after dinner.
"Go to your room, Lyndall. You go back to boarding school tomorrow." He doesn't even look at my sister.
