Shooting my brother a dirty look, I mouthtraitorat him before I look at my mom. “When is he supposed to be here?”
“Tomorrow.”
Frozen in shock, all I can do is suck in a slow, calming breath. Tomorrow? My mouth goes dry as her words sink in.
“We’ll need to clean out the guest room,” she smiles. “It’s important for you to make him feel welcome, Lizzy. It’s been a difficult time for him. He’s been through so much.”
The guest room is down the hall, across from Logan’s, which is next to mine. Perfect.
“That’s so soon.” My voice sounds distant, as if it’s coming from another dimension, maybe even the freaking Twilight Zone.
My mom reaches over to squeeze my knee. “We know it’s sudden, honey. I’m sorry. We weren’t sure how you would take it.”
Logan’s practically vibrating with excitement from his place beside me on the couch. “This is gonna be awesome! Just like old times.”
But it won’t be just like old times. Not for me.
Even as my insides twist into a tangled knot of anger and hurt, I force my expression to remain neutral. Five years. Five years without a word. Not a letter, not a phone call. Nothing. And now he’s just...gonna move in?
“His flight lands at three p.m. tomorrow,” my dad declares. “Logan and I are going to pick him up from the airport.”
“You knew about this?” I ask Logan, doing everything I can to not scream the question in his traitorous face.
“Yeah,” he shrugs like it’s no big deal. Like he hasn’t been keeping a massive secret from me. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything. Not until we knew for sure.”
“Lizzy?” Mom is watching me with those knowing eyes of hers. “Are you okay with this? We wanted to make sure?—”
“It’s fine,” I snap, cutting her off as I stand abruptly. “It’s your house. And Logan’s best friend needs help. Makes perfect sense.”
“He’s your friend too, Lizbeth,” my dad says gently.
“Was,” I correct before I can stop myself. “Hewasmy friend.”
The room goes quiet and I can feel all three of them staring at me.
“Look,” I sigh, rubbing my temples. “It’s whatever. Still, it would’ve been nice to have a heads-up sooner than twenty-four freakin’ hours. I’ve got homework to finish.”
Before they can say another word, I turn and bolt up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. I close my bedroom door behind me, sagging against it as I try to catch my breath.
What the actual fuck just happened?
Trudging over to my bed in a daze, I sit down and stare out the window in stunned silence.
What the hell am I going to do? Rowan Cole is moving back to Lakeside, and he’s going to be living with us. Sleeping in a room less than ten feet away from mine!
Flopping onto my bed, I bury my face in my pillow and let out a frustrated scream. Turning onto my side, a photo on my desk catches my eye. It’s a picture of me, Logan, and Rowan when we were ten years old I found in a box last year while spring cleaning my closet.
We’re standing in front of the treehouse, grinning like idiots, arms slung around each other’s shoulders. It was a great day. Dad had just finished building it, and we spent the entire afternoon playing pirates, fighting over who got to be captain of the castle and making each other walk the plank.
Scooting off the bed, I walk over and pick up the photo, tracing my finger over Rowan’s smiling face. He was such a happy kid back then. Before his parents died. Before everything changed between us.
“Lizzy?” My mom’s muffled voice comes from behind my door, followed by a gentle knock.
“I’m fine,” I call out, quickly shoving the photo under my pillow.
“Can I come in, honey?”
I sigh. “Sure.”
